We partner with parishes to create sustainable giving programs.

ECF helps our churches to establish legacy and planned giving programs that encourage lasting financial commitments. Legacy giving encompasses both lifetime and future contributions and often providing tax benefits for the donor. Ensure your parish’s mission continues for generations to come, even in future times of economic or other difficulties. Legacy gifts are accessible to everyone, regardless of financial ability to make large contributions annually, and are often the largest contribution that a donor will ever make.

  • Donor Engagement & Education: Many parishioners want to leave a legacy but aren’t sure how to get started. We provide resources, workshops, and one-on-one conversations to help prospective donors understand their options and take the next step.
  • Sustainable Gift Management: ECF handles the administration of legacy gifts, so your church’s clergy, vestry, and staff can continue the great work they do for your parish without getting sidetracked by paperwork. We manage the details, ensuring each donor\’s wishes are documented.
  • Financial & Legal Expertise: Our Board of Directors includes Episcopalians who are planned giving and financial planning experts; they generously donate their time and knowledge to answer legacy giving questions from our churches and their parishioners, ensuring that gifts are structured wisely maximize impact while offering potential tax benefits.
ECF partners with each parish in the Diocese of Atlanta to secure and administer legacy gifts in the following ways:

  • Identifying and assessing prospective donors
  • Creating an individualized strategy for each prospect
  • Cultivating donors through education and relationship building
  • Developing proposals
  • Making asks
  • Negotiating and closing gifts
  • Creating a specific stewardship plan to continue building relationships until gifts mature

Schedule a Parish Visit

We’ll preach at your services about ECF’s call to serve people experiencing poverty and oppression in our Diocese, and during adult formation, we’ll share the why and how of legacy giving for your parish.

What is legacy giving? Why should it be a priority for your parish? And how can legacy gifts benefit both your parish and the poor and oppressed for years to come? These are just some of the questions answered in our presentation.

Schedule a Parish Visit

Watch Livestreams from Previous Parish Visits

Watch previous presentations to get a sense of the types of questions answered during a parish visit, such as: What is legacy giving? Why should it be a priority for your parish? And how can legacy gifts benefit both your parish and the poor and oppressed for years to come?

Workshops & Presentations

ECF’s Executive Director is available to visit your parish for a variety of workshops and presentations:

  • ECF Sunday — We’ll preach at your services about the church’s call to serve people experiencing poverty and oppression, and during adult formation we’ll share the why and how of legacy giving for your parish.
  • End-of-Life Planning Workshops — As a part of an overall legacy giving strategy, many parishes choose to host an end-of-life planning workshop on a weekday or Saturday. ECF is available to speak about legacy giving at these workshops, and can work with you to determine who else might be a part of the program. Common topics include funeral planning, hospice care and advanced directives, legal matters, grief and pastoral care, etc.
  • Grant Writing and Church/Foundation Relationships — For churches seeking outreach funding from various grant sources, the process of grant writing and developing relationships with funders can be daunting. ECF can provide practical insights on grant writing and building strong, effective relationships with ECF and other funders.
  • Vestry Meetings & Retreats — ECF can provide strategic planning and support for parish leadership, including many of the models and tools utilized by the Diocese of Atlanta’s Office of Congregational Vitality and the College for Congregational Development.

Presentations are tailored to your parish’s needs and designed to spark meaningful conversation and connection. Contact us to learn more or schedule an ECF Sunday.

Giving By The Numbers

Statistics from 2020 Giving USA report

>449B

Americans gave to charitable causes
in 2019

>$309B

came from individuals
(69% of all giving)

>43B

were charitable bequests / legacy giving (10% of all giving)

29%

of all donations are to religious organizations (the top category for giving)

Have questions about how ECF supports churches with fundraising?

Contact Us
Episcopal Community Foundation