Recurring Gifts, Stock, and Donor Funds

Fall is when many households set their giving plans for the year ahead. Three methods are worth knowing about before you do, and none of them asks you to give a larger amount. They change how a gift arrives, and two of them lower the tax cost of the same generosity. This article explains how each one works. It is information to consider, not a request.

Recurring Giving Through Church Center

A recurring gift puts your regular offering on a schedule you set: weekly, twice a month, or monthly. Your giving continues through a travel week or a Sunday you miss. Steady income also makes ministry planning easier. Gifts drawn from a bank account carry the lowest processing fees, so more of each dollar reaches ministry. Set one up at Give Online under "Set up recurring gift," or in the Church Center app under Giving. Karen at the church office, 620-241-3626, will walk you through it by phone.

Donor-Advised Funds

A donor-advised fund works like a charitable savings account. You contribute cash or assets and take the deduction that year. Grants to churches and charities go out later, on your recommendation. Some households fund several years of giving at once in a higher-income year, then let the grants go out on a normal schedule. If you already hold a fund at Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, or a community foundation, name McPherson First United Methodist Church as the recipient and set the grant to repeat.

Gifts of Appreciated Stock

Selling stock that has grown in value triggers capital gains tax on the growth. Giving the shares themselves avoids that tax, and the church receives the full value. Kansas Methodist Foundation handles the transfer and can be reached at 620-664-9623. Let the church office know a gift is coming so we can credit it to your record.

Something New: Faithful Partners

Starting in January, the church will thank households that gave to the Ministry fund in ten or more months during the year. Amount does not matter, and method does not matter: online, check, and cash count the same. Nobody signs up, and nobody gets left out. The first recognition comes in January 2027, for giving during 2026. Each household receives a private letter, and worship carries a brief word of thanks. This is gratitude, not an ask.

The church office at 620-241-3626 can answer questions about any of these. Kansas Methodist Foundation helps with gifts of stock, grain, and other assets. Talk with your own tax professional or financial advisor about your situation, since this article is general information rather than tax advice. Whatever method fits your household, steady giving lets this church plan ahead and say yes when a need is real.