Hope Foundation
The Hope Foundation offers interested donors the opportunity to use planned or deferred gifts (such as wills, trusts, gift annuities and life insurance) to support Hope’s ministries and missions. In addition, you can give to the Foundation during your lifetime to build a lasting gift. Whether through planned, deferred or current gifts, the Foundation offers another way to further your lifetime commitment and stewardship. The Foundation exists simply to provide for the future in specific and significant ways.
Ways to give during your lifetime or as part of your estate include:
- Memorial Gifts
- Charitable Bequests
- Gifts in Lieu of Flowers
- Cash
- Stock
- Charitable Remainder Trust
- Charitable Gift Annuities
- Retirement Plan Assets (IRA)
- Life Insurance
By giving to the Foundation, you’ll help connect the un-churched to Christ for generations to come. Just think, someone not yet born could have their eternal story changed by your thoughtful donation!
How to Make a Gift
If you are interested in making a gift to the Hope Foundation, contact the church by phone at 515-222-1520 or with an email to [email protected]. A member of the Foundation Board will meet with you to discuss your specific interest. The Foundation has set up several different types of funds (including both endowed and non-endowed) to help match your gift with the ministries and missions of your interest.
How Gifts Are Managed
Hope established the Foundation Board to oversee all Foundation activities. The Board operates as a committee under the Church Council of Lutheran Church of Hope and is not a separate legal entity. The Foundation Board is responsible for all communications, and will meet with donors, select investment options and ensure that donor intent is met. All funds are managed by the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines.
The Community Foundation provides the Hope Foundation with professional money managers, multiple fund options, and strong reporting and accountability. In addition, by partnering with the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, gifts made during your lifetime may qualify for a significant tax credit through Endow Iowa.
For more information about the Foundation funds available, Endow Iowa tax credits or other related financial information, please contact Hope at 515-222-1520 or [email protected]. A member of the Board will be happy to meet with you and answer your questions.
Purpose
The Hope Foundation has been established with the sole purpose of sustaining and expanding the missions and ministries of Hope. Whether your passion is planting churches in Iowa, Africa and across the globe; partnering with local, national and global mission partners; or reaching out to the world through online worship, education and development, the Hope Foundation is here to help make sure your gift makes heaven more crowded for many years to come. By connecting your spiritual passion with a legacy gift, you will be sowing seeds that multiply, producing a bountiful harvest that will return blessings to God.
Estate Planning Seminar
Join us for a free seminar in partnership with Financial Planning Ministry that will help you leave a legacy for your family! Participants will learn more about wills, living trusts and how to protect assets, all from a biblical perspective. Participants will also have an opportunity to schedule a follow-up appointment to create a living trust for no charge. Check out the calendar to see upcoming seminars.
Hope Foundation FAQs
The Hope Foundation, through its funds, secures the future of Lutheran Church of Hope. The mission is the same, to “reach out to the world around us and share the everlasting love of Jesus Christ.” What differs is the time frame. Annual giving supports the operational expenses of the church and funds the annual budget. Building funds support land and construction at current campuses. The Hope Foundation offers a way for the church to support future needs of facilities, missions and ministries beyond those contained in the annual budget.
A member of the Foundation Board is happy to meet with you. Please contact the Hope West Des Moines office at 515-222-1520 or email [email protected] to schedule a meeting.
The Foundation has established several giving options. You can give a gift to benefit missions or the general fund of the campus(es) of your choice. In addition, you can choose whether to make a Legacy gift (one that will be ongoing) or a Hope gift (one that may be used by the church over a 10-year period). Our donor intent form provides more information about your options.
Yes. Each year, the fund disburses no more than 5 percent of the year-end balance to the missions and/or campuses of Lutheran Church of Hope according to your donor intent form. This ensures that your gift has an impact for generations to come.
The Hope Fund is designed to disburse all of a gift over a period of 10 years (or less). This gives both Lutheran Church of Hope and the donors the ability to fund major mission initiatives or campus projects using Foundation gifts. The Hope Fund, however, is not meant to take the place of regular giving to a campus building fund. If you intend to give during your lifetime to an existing building fund, please designate your gift directly to the appropriate building fund.
No. Once you have made a gift, the funds are managed by the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines. The Foundation Board chooses from available investment options, monitors fund performance and gives the Church Council periodic updates on funds available for disbursement.
We ask that all those who mentioned Lutheran Church of Hope in their estate plan fill out a donor intent form. Please contact us directly for further assistance.
Yes. You can make a gift to Endow Iowa and designate Lutheran Church of Hope as an advisor to your fund. A member of the Foundation Board or the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines can explain how this works.
No, there is no minimum giving amount to an established fund.
Yes, all are welcome to make a gift to have an eternal impact.
The donor intent form does not ask for a specific gift amount. The purpose of the form is to let the Foundation know of your gift intent and to provide direction on how the gift is to be used (e.g., specific campuses, missions).
Simply put, there is no “right” answer. We recommend you talk with your children and other heirs about your plans. Giving from your estate is your testament to those people and organizations you hold dear. Faithful, cheerful giving to God establishes an example for your children and heirs.
Absolutely. There are many ways to fulfill your charitable goals while still providing for your family and other loved ones. Many vehicles for planned giving, such as life insurance, allow you to leave a variety of gifts to both a charity and family members, all the while providing tax benefits to you.
There certainly are many worthy places for your gift to make a difference. A gift to the Hope Foundation supports our mission to “reach out to the world around us and share the everlasting love of Jesus Christ.” Your gift will matter for eternity.
Fill out a donor intent form indicating you are giving a gift in memory of an individual and direct the gift to the appropriate fund and purpose.