ANNUAL STEWARDSHIP 2023
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.
-“The Great Thanksgiving”. The Book of Common Prayer.
THIS YEAR’S CAMPAIGN
This year’s pledge campaign is all about how our financial stewardship is a part of our spiritual worship.
As followers of Jesus, we joyfully offer all of ourselves to God— our time, talent, and treasure. The giving of our financial resources to the mission of the Church is a part of our life of discipleship, as well as a part of how we show our thanks and praise to God. It is not only a spiritual practice, but it is also an important way that together we serve God and contribute to the work of his kingdom. Pledging allows us all (both individual members and the parish itself) to plan prayerfully for mission and ministry in the upcoming year.
This year’s campaign runs from Sunday October 23 through the end of November.
HOW MUCH ARE WE TRYING TO RAISE?
We are trying to raise $623k in pledges for 2023
Though the vast majority of our revenue comes from pledged giving, our operating budget is covered by a number of sources— non pledged contributions, loose-plate offerings, a cost-sharing agreement with our school, and fees charged for the use of our facilities by other groups.
This budget will help us meet the needs of our growing community while addressing increased costs due to inflation.
One-hundred percent of your financial gift goes straight to the mission and ministry of the church.
For more information on our Thanks & Praise 2023 Annual Stewardship Campaign or how to set up your pledge online, please click HERE.
HOW TO GIVE
THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO MAKE A PLEDGE:
1.) You can fill out a physical pledge card.
Physical pledge cards will be mailed to our current members along with pledge packets, but you can also find pledge cards in the church offices and in the entryway. Simply fill out the card and mail it back to us (or put it in the offering plate on Sunday) to submit your pledge.
2.) Pledge online directly through our parish management system, Realm, by clicking on the ST. RICHARD’S ONLINE GIVING button above. It’s safe, secure, and easy to use.
Once you click the link, you will input your pledge information and set up autopay. If you do not have a Realm account, you will be prompted to create one. There is no need to turn in a physical pledge card if you submit your pledge online.
For more information on our Thanks & Praise 2023 Annual Stewardship Campaign or how to set up your pledge online, please click HERE.
For more information on Realm, please click HERE.
HOW CAN I MAKE A LASTING INVESTMENT BEYOND MY ANNUAL PLEDGE?
Though covering our annual operating expenses is important, we also want to invest in the longterm future of our church.
As of this year, we now have a general endowment fund that will allow our members to make a lasting contribution to our mission and ministry, impacting lives for generations to come.
If you would like more information on the general endowment or would like to talk to us about making St. Richard’s the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, leaving a bequest in your will, or another way that God might be calling you to leave a legacy gift to the church, please contact John Dixon at (512) 745-4189 or jdixon1011@gmail.com.
Thank you for planting the seeds for future growth!
TAX-ADVANTAGED GIVING (GIVING FROM AN IRA)
There are a number of tax-advantaged ways of giving that you might be able to utilize, but the two most common are 1.) making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA, and 2.) donating appreciated assets such as real estate or stocks.
Making a Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA can lower the balance of your IRA, which has a built-in income tax bill. Giving your IRA funds to charitable organizations like St. Richard’s can help you avoid getting taxed on those funds, allowing you to keep cash (on which you have already paid taxes) in your checking account.
Donating appreciated assets such as real estate or stocks is another avenue for supporting St. Richard’s in a tax-advantaged way. If you have any stocks or other assets that you have 1.) held for a long time, and/or 2.) have appreciated in value, we can easily accept them as contributions. Donating your stock directly to St. Richard’s (as opposed to selling the stock beforehand) saves you from having to pay capital gains tax. We have a separate brokerage account for this very purpose.
If you are interested in supporting St. Richard’s in any of these ways, please contact John Dixon, member of the Finance Committee, at (512) 745-4189 or jdixon1011@gmail.com. He is happy to answer any questions you may have, discuss any additional tax-advantaged giving options, or assist with legacy gifts and estate planning.
