Planned Giving

A Prayer for Self-Dedication

“Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated to you; and then use us, we pray, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people…”  

— The Book of Common Prayer, p. 832 

What is Planned Giving?

When we look around St. Martin’s-in-the-Field—at our vibrant worship, our sacred spaces, and our deep outreach in the community—we are seeing the fruit of those who came before us. Planned giving is an intentional way to extend your love and stewardship into the future. 

Unlike annual stewardship pledges, which fund our day-to-day operating budget, planned gifts create a lasting foundation that supports our parish’s mission for generations to come. You do not need to be wealthy to make a planned gift. Gifts of all sizes make a profound difference, and many options allow you to support the church without affecting your current income or lifestyle. 

Following our recent milestone of growing our amended and re-instated Endowment nearly tenfold through our “Generation to Generation” campaign, planned gifts today play a vital role in protecting and sustaining the active ministries of our spiritual home. 

Leaving a Legacy – Turning Your Love Into an Enduring Blessing 

Simple Ways to Leave a Legacy 

Structuring a legacy commitment is often much easier than you might think. Here are the most common and accessible ways to include St. Martin’s in your plans: 

Endow Your Annual Pledge

You may choose to leave a bequest that permanently funds your annual pledge to St. Martin’s. The amount you designate is invested, and each year a 4% distribution is made to ensure that your faithful giving continues in perpetuity: 

  • If your annual pledge is $2,000, an endowed gift would be $50,000. 
  • If your annual pledge is $5,000, an endowed gift would be $125,000. 
  • If your annual pledge is $10,000, an endowed gift would be $250,000. 

A Bequest in Your Will or Trust

You can designate a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or the residue of your estate to St. Martin’s.

  • Why it helps: Having a will ensures your wishes are honored, protects your family, and allows you to share your resources with the church home you love.

Retirement Plan & IRA Beneficiary Designations

Naming St. Martin’s as a beneficiary on your IRA, 401(k), or other retirement account is remarkably simple—it just requires filling out a new beneficiary form.

  • Why it helps: Retirement accounts left to individuals can be heavily taxed. Because churches do not pay income tax on these distributions, leaving an IRA to St. Martin’s allows 100% of the asset to fund ministry tax-free.
  • IRA Rollover (Ages 70½+): If you are 70½ or older, you can make tax-free distributions directly from your traditional IRA to support the church, which can also count toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD).

Life Insurance Policies

You can name St. Martin’s as a primary or contingent beneficiary of a life insurance policy, or transfer ownership of a paid-up policy.

  • Why it helps: It is a straightforward way to make a significant, transformative gift to the church with minimal out-of-pocket cost during your lifetime.

Special Assets (Real Estate & Securities)

Gifts of appreciated stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate can be powerful resources for ministry.

  • Why it helps: Transferring appreciated assets directly to the church often allows you to completely avoid capital gains taxes while receiving a valuable charitable income tax deduction.

Thank you for your generosity and care—now and always! 

Planned giving is a profound act of care. We want to thank you for continuing to care for this community and answer any questions you may have. We hope to make this process accessible for everyone.

Honoring Your Generosity: The Giving Circle

At St. Martin’s, we want to be able to say “Thank you!” while you are still with us. When you inform us that you have included St. Martin’s in your estate plans, you will be welcomed into our Giving Circle.

Membership carries no financial dues or binding obligations. Instead, it simply gives us the privilege of expressing our deep gratitude, celebrating your generosity, and gathering together to honor those who are investing in the future of our spiritual home.

(If you prefer privacy, your gift can always remain completely anonymous.)

Next Steps

We encourage you to speak with your family, and to consult with a qualified attorney, accountant, or financial advisor when planning your estate. To help make this process accessible for everyone, the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland has partnered with FreeWill, a secure online platform that allows you to draft or update a legally valid will in just minutes, completely for free. You will also have the option to include a legacy gift to support St. Martin’s.

If you have already included St. Martin’s in your plans—or if you would like to have a confidential conversation about how your legacy can shape the future of our parish—please reach out to us:

St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal Church
375 Benfield Road, Severna Park, MD 21146
Phone: (410) 647-6248
Email: parishadmin@stmartinsinthefield.org

Note: This is intended to provide general information and should not be taken as formal legal or financial advice.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” — Luke 12:34