Gifts of Life Insurance

A gift of your life insurance policy is an excellent way to make a gift to Lutheran Church Extension Fund.

If you own a life insurance policy that has outlasted its original purpose, consider making a gift of your insurance policy to Lutheran Church Extension Fund. For example, you may have purchased a policy to provide for minor children and they are now financially independent adults.

Benefits of Gifts of Life Insurance

• You receive a charitable income tax deduction.
• If Lutheran Church Extension Fund retains the policy to maturity, you can receive additional tax deductions by making annual gifts so that we can pay the premium.
• If Lutheran Church Extension Fund cashes in the policy, you will be able to see firsthand how your gift supports our charitable work.
• If we retain the policy to maturity, or you name us as a beneficiary, once the policy matures, the proceeds of your policy will be paid to our organization so that we can use the proceeds to further our charitable work.

How to Make a Gift of Life Insurance

To make a gift of life insurance, please contact your life insurance provider, request a beneficiary designation form from the insurer and include Lutheran Church Extension Fund as the beneficiary of your policy.

Other Considerations

You can also designate Lutheran Church Extension Fund as a partial, full or contingent beneficiary of your life insurance policy. You will continue to own and can make use of the policy during your lifetime. Your estate may benefit from an estate tax charitable deduction.

Your deduction for the gift of life insurance will depend on whether the policy has increased in value above the premiums and whether the policy is paid up or there are remaining payments to be made.