Giving can be one of life’s great satisfactions, especially when you know that your gifts help to improve the lives of others. Your generosity can help ensure that the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington-Normal continues to thrive to support our values for many years to come. A legacy gift to the Trust is a gift that supports:

• The continued financial health of our church.
• A welcoming community that respects the inherent worth and dignity of every person,
• The building up of a diverse, multicultural beloved community.
• Can be structured to support specific projects that benefit the church.  Examples are:   Social Justice, Memorial Garden, or the Endowment Fund.

When you write your first will, update an existing will, or designate beneficiaries on your retirement account, life insurance policy, savings account, donor advised fund, or commercial annuity, we hope you will include a gift to support your values through your church.

The Trust

The Trust of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington-Normal is a major financial resource for our congregation. The Trust receives, manages, and distributes financial assets contributed by members and friends of the congregation.   By carefully investing those assets in a portfolio of bonds, stocks, and cash reserves, the Trust serves as an ongoing financial reservoir, cushion, and nest-egg which preserves and enhances the congregations’ capacity to fulfill its vision and mission.

What Does The Trust Do

On December 31, 2024 the total value of the Trust’s portfolio (bonds, stocks, cash) was $988,000.  Typically, more than 80% of the Trust’s total assets are held in the Trust’s Endowment Fund.   Five smaller funds, or sub-accounts are set aside for specific, generally more near-term, purposes:  Capital improvements, Social Justice, Memorial Garden, Playground, and the Bohrer Intern.   The Endowment Fund serves as a permanent reservoir intended to ensure the long-term financial health of the congregation.  

Donating to the Endowment Fund is one of the most important actions you can take to sustain the financial health and security of the church.   Your gift of the Endowment Fund becomes part of a carefully safeguarded “reserve for the future” that is expected to grow over the years with the price appreciation that accrues to the invested funds.  In addition, interest and dividends from the Trust balance are paid to the church to support their annual operating budget.

Ways To Contribute

Gifts of Cash:   Your gift of cash is totally tax deductible and gives the UUBN Trust immediate benefits through timely investing.

Securities: Donations of stocks, bonds mutual funds, or ETFs may be made through the transfer of ownership to the Trust of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington-Normal.  The amount of the donation would be the market value of the securities on the date of ownership transfer.   You could possibly enjoy significant tax advantages through the donation of appreciated securities.

End of Life Gifts:   You may designate the Trust as a beneficiary under your will or trust to receive money, securities, or property.   This can be done with a simple amendment to an existing will or trust document.

Life insurance, IRAs, Annuities, and Trusts:   Naming the Trust as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, an IRA or a trust may offer several options that have different tax benefits.  Also, income options (annuities that would benefit the Trust after your death can be arranged through the national Unitarian Universalist Association.  

Click Here for the UUBN Legacy Giving Brochure

Click Here for the UUBN Legacy Giving Form

To request a consultation with a UUBN Trustee, email office@uubn.org