Ways to Give
A guide to the giving methods supported by Lanier United Methodist Church
Generosity Is the Heartbeat of Our Ministry
Every gift to Lanier UMC — whether placed in the offering plate, sent by automatic bank transfer, or planned as part of an estate — helps us worship together, care for our neighbors, and grow in faith as a community. We are grateful for your generosity, in whatever form it takes.
We know giving is personal, and everyone's situation is different. That's why Lanier UMC supports a variety of giving methods — some simple, some tax-smart, some planned for the future. Explore the options below to find the one that fits your life, then use the linked forms to get started.
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)Not sure where to start?
Download our one-page Giving Decision Tree — a few quick questions point you to the giving method that fits your situation.
Choose a Giving Method
Lanier UMC joyfully accepts checks & cash donations as a preferred giving method during the worship offering or checks mailed to the church at the address shown below. Alternatively, we invite you to consider one of the many other supported giving methods described below.
Tap any method below to learn how it works, who it's best for, and how to get started — including a link to the giving form for each option.
Direct Giving
Mail a check, drop your offering in person, or give a one-time gift online — simple, no forms required.
Automated Giving
Give consistently with bank bill pay or online ACH / credit card giving through our secure Vanco portal.
Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)
Age 70½ or older? Give tax-free directly from your IRA and it may count toward your RMD.
Legacy Giving
Include Lanier UMC in your will, trust, or estate plan and leave a lasting legacy of faith.
Direct Stock Donation
Transfer appreciated securities directly to the church and potentially avoid capital gains tax.
Gifts In Kind (GIK)
Donate goods, equipment, or property to support the church's ministry in place of a cash gift.
Above-the-Line Giving
A charitable deduction for givers who use the standard deduction rather than itemizing.
Special Event Giving
Celebrate a birthday or Christmas, honor someone, or remember a loved one with a gift made in their name.
Not sure which option fits your life stage?
Our Tax-Smart Giving guide walks through smart options by age — from your first QCD to new above-the-line rules.
Your generosity is what keeps this sanctuary open, week after week, for our church family.
Direct Giving
The simplest ways to give — mail a check, drop it in the offering, or give online — no forms required.
Mail-In
Mail your offering directly to our church office at the address below.
Drop Off In-Person
Visit our church office, or use the offering basket at our service times.
Online Giving with Vanco
Give a one-time gift online through our secure Vanco payment system — no account or recurring commitment required.
Contact Us
Give Online
Use the direct link below.
Please note: online giving does incur processing fees. The payment system lets you choose to cover most of the fee, and we gratefully ask that you consider doing so — it ensures more of your gift supports ministry rather than transaction costs. If you'd rather avoid these fees, mailing a check or dropping it off in person (see above) comes at no cost to the church.
Automated Giving Options
Three convenient ways to give — set it up once and give with consistency, without having to remember each week.
Option 1 — Automated Bank Bill Pay
Your bank sends a check directly to the church on a schedule you choose. This is handled entirely through your own bank's Bill Pay service, so there are no third-party service fees.
What You Do
- Log into your online banking site.
- Find your accounts overview page and look for a Pay (Bill Pay) or Transfer tab. Select Bill Pay or Pay Bills.
- If Lanier UMC is a new payee, add them using your bank's instructions.
- Enter your payment amount and delivery date. Look for an "AutoPay" option for recurring gifts.
- Your bank will confirm once the payment is scheduled.
Payee Information for Your Bank
Option 2 — Online Electronic Giving (Vanco)
Give electronically through our secure giving portal, powered by Vanco. Make a one-time gift or set up recurring giving using a credit card, debit card, or bank account (ACH).
Why It's a Great Option
- Convenient — give any time, from anywhere, on any device
- Flexible — one-time or recurring, and designate to a specific fund
- Secure — bank-level security through a trusted church payment platform
What You Do
- Visit our secure giving page or find the Giving link at www.lanierumc.org.
- Select the fund you wish to support (General Budget, Building, Missions, etc.).
- Enter your gift amount and choose one-time or recurring.
- Enter payment information and confirm — you'll receive an email confirmation.
Please note: online giving does incur processing fees. The payment system lets you choose to cover most of the fee, and we gratefully ask that you consider doing so — it ensures more of your gift supports ministry rather than transaction costs. ACH bank transfers have a lower fee than credit cards. For recurring weekly or monthly gifts, Automated Bank Bill Pay (Option 1) or a personal check avoids these fees entirely.
Option 3 — Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)
Age 70½ or older with a qualified IRA? A QCD sends funds directly from your IRA to the church, tax-free, and can count toward your Required Minimum Distribution.
Automated Giving Options & Forms
Full details plus the Bank Bill Pay notification form (PDF)
Automated Giving Option Details
Additional step-by-step details on setting up bank bill pay (PDF)
Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)
Are you 70½ or older with a qualified IRA? Give tax-free, straight from your IRA to the church.
What Is a QCD?
A QCD allows you to transfer money directly from your IRA to Lanier UMC. Because the funds go straight to our ministry, they are not counted as taxable income for you. Each financial firm may handle the process a little differently and can direct you to their preferred method.
Why It's a Great Option
- Tax savings — lowers your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), which can help keep you in a lower tax bracket
- Satisfies RMDs — counts toward your Required Minimum Distribution if you're required to take one
- No itemizing required — you benefit even if you take the standard deduction
- No fees — most banks and brokerages do not charge for QCD transfers
Eligibility
IRA owners age 70½ or older are eligible (please confirm with your custodian and tax advisor). QCD eligibility begins earlier than RMD age — encouraging early, tax-free giving that reduces future RMDs.
At age 72½, if you hold a qualified IRA, you must begin taking an RMD, which is normally treated as taxable income. A QCD lets that giving count toward your RMD without counting it as income.
What You Do
- Contact your IRA custodian for their QCD form or online process
- Direct the custodian to send the QCD payable to the church's legal name, using the EIN and address below
- Designate the fund if your custodian allows it, and keep your custodian and tax statements
- Optionally, send the church a notification form so we can identify your gift when it arrives
What the Church Does
- Provides our legal name, EIN, and mailing address for custodian instructions
- Acknowledges QCD gifts in writing for your records, per IRS rules
- Records gifts consistently with UMC and local bookkeeping policy
Information for Your IRA Custodian
QCD Giving Form
Custodian information plus the church-notification form (PDF)
Legacy Giving
Invest in the future of Lanier UMC and continue the work you cared about, beyond your own lifetime.
Legacy giving helps sustain our church's mission and community outreach for generations to come. A legacy gift is a committed gift a giver plans to leave to Lanier UMC as part of their estate — and it can take many forms, from stocks and cash to real estate and more. Any giver can make a legacy gift to ensure a cause they care about is supported after they are gone.
Benefits to the Church
- A stable, long-term source of revenue
- Sustains programs and projects for the future
- Provides flexible giving options
- Increases giver loyalty and strengthens community ties
Benefits to the Giver
- Creates a lasting legacy that continues after you're gone
- Potential tax benefits in some situations
- Allows you to contribute more than you could during your lifetime
Five Ways to Leave a Legacy Gift
Each method below has its own form inside the Legacy Giving guide. Tap a method to learn more.
1. Bequest (Will or Trust)
A designated sum, percentage, or residue of an estate left to the church through a will or revocable trust. Bequests can be unrestricted (for general church purposes) or restricted to a specific ministry or project — the most common form of legacy giving.
What You Do
- Consult your attorney to add or update a bequest provision
- Use the church's full legal name and EIN in the bequest language
- Let the church know your intentions (optional, but appreciated)
What the Church Does
- Provides legal name, address, and EIN
- Offers sample bequest language for your attorney to review
- Keeps a confidential record of stated intentions
2. Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT)
You donate assets to a trust that pays income to you (or other named beneficiaries) for a term or for life. At the trust's end, the remaining assets pass to Lanier UMC.
What You Do
- Work with an attorney and financial advisor to establish the CRT
- Name Lanier UMC as the charitable remainder beneficiary
- Transfer assets into the trust
What the Church Does
- Provides legal name and EIN for trust documents
- Maintains a confidential record of your intention
- Stewards the relationship over the life of the trust
3. Life Insurance Gift
Name the church as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy. Proceeds are paid directly to the church, outside of probate.
What You Do
- Request a change-of-beneficiary form from your insurance company or agent
- Name Lanier UMC as a primary or contingent beneficiary
What the Church Does
- Provides legal name and EIN for beneficiary forms
- Keeps a confidential record of stated intentions
4. Endowment / Term Endowment
Funds invested so the church may use the interest earned while preserving the principal. A term endowment releases funds at a specified date or event (such as the giver's passing).
What You Do
- Discuss options with the church office or Stewardship Committee
- Work with your attorney and financial advisor to structure the gift
- Specify the purpose and any conditions
What the Church Does
- Shares endowment policies and acceptable uses of funds
- Documents the agreement and reports annually on performance
5. Retirement / Financial Account Beneficiary
Name the church as a beneficiary on a retirement account (IRA, 401(k), 403(b), etc.) or other financial account. This can be especially tax-efficient, since charities don't pay income tax on inherited retirement funds the way individual heirs do.
What You Do
- Request a beneficiary designation form from your plan administrator
- Name Lanier UMC as a primary or contingent beneficiary
- Specify the percentage of the account
What the Church Does
- Provides legal name and EIN for beneficiary forms
- Keeps a confidential record and stewards the relationship
Next Steps for Givers
- Review the giving methods above and select what fits your situation
- Consult your attorney, financial planner, or tax advisor for personal guidance
- Complete the interest or intent form for your chosen method and return it to the church office
- Contact the church office or pastor with any questions
Church Contact & Tax ID Information
Legacy Giving Guide & Forms
All five legacy giving methods with interest cards and sample bequest language (PDF)
Direct Stock Donation
Transfer appreciated securities directly to the church, before you sell — a tax-smart way to give.
About This Giving Method
A direct stock gift is a transfer of appreciated securities to the church's brokerage account before you sell the shares. When IRS rules are met, itemizers may qualify for a deduction based on fair market value, and capital gains on the appreciation may be avoided — your CPA can confirm the details for your situation. The church receives the shares and follows its policy for sale or holding.
What You Do
- Contact the church office before transferring, so the gift can be identified
- Do not sell the stock yourself — instruct your broker to transfer shares in kind using the church's instructions
- Complete the donor notice form and retain the church's written acknowledgment
What the Church Does
- Maintains a brokerage account (often via the foundation) with clear DTC / transfer instructions
- Provides timely written acknowledgments that meet IRS substantiation rules
- Processes gifts per its investment and liquidation policy
Getting Started
The Direct Stock Donation form includes the church's DTC / brokerage transfer instructions (provided by the church office) along with a Donor Notice of Securities Transfer for you to complete. Contact the church office to receive current DTC details before initiating a transfer.
Direct Stock Donation Form
Brokerage/DTC instructions and donor notice form (PDF)
Gifts In Kind (GIK)
Support the church's ministry with goods, equipment, or property instead of — or in addition to — a cash gift.
About This Giving Method
A Gift In Kind (GIK) is a non-monetary donation — items such as furniture, equipment, supplies, vehicles, or other property — given in support of the church's ministry. GIKs are a meaningful way to give when you have something of value the church can put to good use.
What You Do
- Contact the church office before donating, to confirm the gift is needed and can be accepted
- Provide a written description of the item(s)
- Determine your own good-faith estimate of value — the church cannot assign a dollar value to your gift for tax purposes
- For gifts of significant value, IRS rules may require a qualified independent appraisal; ask your tax advisor whether this applies to you
What the Church Does
- Evaluates whether the gift fits a ministry need
- Provides a written acknowledgment receipt describing the item(s)
- States that no goods or services were provided in exchange for the gift, per IRS rules
- Does not state a dollar value on the receipt
Sample Gifts-in-Kind Receipt
See the acknowledgment receipt you'll receive for your records (PDF)
Above-the-Line Charitable Giving
A giving benefit for those who use the standard deduction rather than itemizing.
Summary of This Giving Method
"Above the line" refers to a charitable deduction taken as an adjustment to gross income on Form 1040, without itemizing on Schedule A, when federal law allows it for a given tax year. Rules, dollar limits, and eligible gifts change with legislation — our Tax-Smart Giving by Life Stage guide notes that, under rules taking effect in 2026, non-itemizing givers may be able to deduct up to $1,000 (single) or $2,000 (married filing jointly). Please verify current limits with your tax advisor, since this benefit is separate from itemized giving on Schedule A and from an IRA qualified charitable distribution (QCD), which follows its own rules.
What You Do
- Ask your tax preparer whether you qualify for the year you're filing, and what records you'll need
- Follow IRS Publication 526 for that tax year; keep canceled checks, card/bank statements, or payroll records
- For any single contribution of $250 or more, obtain a written acknowledgment from the church that meets IRS rules
What the Church Does
- Issues timely written acknowledgments when required, with correct legal name and EIN
- States whether the donor received any goods or services in exchange for the gift
Above-the-Line Giving Form
Giver recordkeeping worksheet and church acknowledgment tracking (PDF)
Special Event Giving
Celebrate a birthday, mark Christmas, honor someone, or remember a loved one with a gift made in their name.
Special event giving lets you make a celebration or tribute donation to Lanier UMC for any of the following occasions:
- Birthday — celebrate someone's special day with a gift made in their honor.
- Christmas — give a Christmas gift to Lanier UMC in someone's honor.
- In Honor Of — a tribute gift recognizing someone you want to honor.
- In Memoriam — a tribute gift in memory of someone whose life you'd like to remember.
We offer special event giving to allow you to give celebration donations to the church for birthdays, Christmas, or other celebrations. We'll send the giver an acknowledgment email, and — if their email is provided — we'll send the recipient a beautiful eCard with their name, a message celebrating the event, and a note telling them of your gift to the church (the amount is confidential).
We also offer tribute gifts In Honor Of someone you want to recognize, or In Memoriam for someone whose life you'd like to remember through a gift to the church. We'll send the giver an acknowledgment email in appreciation if their email is provided, and will note that a gift in memory of the honoree has been received (the amount is confidential).
How to Give
- Use the Special Event Giving form to purchase a Birthday, Christmas, In Honor Of, or In Memoriam gift (each links to our secure giving page or QR code)
- Or give electronically for any occasion through our Vanco giving page
Special Event Giving Form
Birthday, Christmas, In Honor Of, and In Memoriam gift options with QR codes (PDF)
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