Should Your Church Have A Planned Giving Ministry?
Many churches feel the pressure of funding ministry today. There are current needs, current staff, current outreach opportunities, and current challenges that require attention. Because of that, planned giving and estate planning can feel like something to address later.
But a healthy church does not only think about today. It also helps people prepare wisely for the future.
A planned giving ministry is not primarily about asking church members to leave money to the church. At its best, it is a ministry of service, education, discipleship, and long-term stewardship. It helps people make thoughtful decisions about the resources God has entrusted to them, care well for the people they love, and consider the impact they want their legacy to have.
Estate Planning Ministry Is Not Fundraising
Fundraising has an important place in the life of a church. It can help meet immediate needs, support a capital project, or fund a specific ministry opportunity. Estate planning is different.
A planned giving ministry helps people make decisions that may affect their families, medical care, property, charitable priorities, and the distribution of their estate after death. Those are deeply personal decisions. They deserve care, wisdom, and time.
Think of it like investing for retirement. A wise person may not be able to see every future need, but they understand the value of preparing before a crisis arrives.
In the same way, churches can serve their people by helping them think beyond the present moment. They can create space for members to make a plan, communicate their wishes, and consider how the resources they leave behind can bless their family, church, and community.
It Starts With Serving People, Not Receiving From Them
A church should never approach estate planning as a tactic for extracting a future gift. The first question is not, “What could our church receive?” The first question is, “How can we serve the people God has placed in our care?”
Many adults have not created a will, trust, health care directive, financial power of attorney, or guardianship plan for minor children. A 2025 survey found that only 24% of respondents reported having a will. That leaves many families vulnerable to confusion and difficult decisions during an already painful season.
When someone dies without a plan, loved ones may face unanswered questions, conflict, unnecessary expense, and a legal process that varies significantly by state. The church cannot provide legal advice, but it can help people understand why estate planning matters and connect them with qualified professionals.
That is an act of pastoral care.
A church that offers estate-planning education is saying to its people: Your family matters. Your wishes matter. Your legacy matters. We want to help you make wise and faithful decisions.
Planned Giving Is Part of Biblical Stewardship
Estate planning is practical, but it is also spiritual.
Scripture reminds us that what we have ultimately belongs to God.
“For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”
1 Timothy 6:7
This is not a reason for fear or guilt. It is an invitation to faithful stewardship.
We make giving decisions throughout our lives: when we give to our local church, meet a neighbor’s need, support a ministry, or invest in work that advances the gospel. Planned giving simply asks us to consider whether those same values should shape the final distribution of what God has entrusted to us.
For some people, that may mean including the church or another ministry in their estate plan. For others, it may mean creating a family legacy, caring for children and grandchildren, or supporting causes that reflect their deepest convictions.
The point is not that every person should make the same decision. The point is that every believer deserves the opportunity to prayerfully consider what faithful stewardship looks like for the resources they will one day leave behind.
A Planned Giving Ministry Helps Churches Think Long-Term
Church leaders are called to care for the ministry opportunities in front of them. They are also called to prepare wisely for the generations who will follow.
Planned gifts can support the long-term mission of a church in ways that regular giving alone may not. They can help fund future ministry, scholarships, outreach, facilities, benevolence, and other priorities that extend beyond the present season.
But this is not simply about building a larger church budget.
It is about building a church culture that recognizes generosity as a lifelong expression of faith. When people understand that stewardship includes their estate, they can make decisions that reflect their values, bless their families, and continue supporting God’s work after they are gone.
How to Begin Without Making It Complicated
You do not need to launch a large planned giving program overnight.
Start by offering a helpful educational opportunity. That might include:
A wills and trusts seminar led by qualified professionals
A resource page explaining the basics of estate planning
Referrals to trusted estate-planning attorneys or financial professionals
Occasional teaching on legacy, generosity, and biblical stewardship
A clear way for members to ask questions about including the church in their plans
Be clear about your role. The church can educate, encourage, and connect people with qualified help. It should not pressure people or attempt to provide legal, tax, or financial advice.
As your ministry grows, listen to the questions people are asking. You may discover that families need help thinking about guardianship, charitable giving, end-of-life wishes, retirement, or passing values along with valuables to the next generation.
A Ministry of Care and Legacy
A planned giving ministry is not for a select group of wealthy donors. Estate planning is relevant to adults in every financial season because nearly everyone has decisions to make, people to care for, and a legacy to consider.
When done with wisdom and integrity, this ministry helps churches serve people well. It gives families practical support, invites believers to steward their resources faithfully, and strengthens the church’s ability to carry its mission into the future.
That is more than fundraising.
It is discipleship. It is pastoral care. And it is one meaningful way a church can help people use every part of life, including what they leave behind, for the glory of God.
Christian Stewardship Network is proud to partner with Financial Planning Ministry, an organization that helps churches offer estate-planning education to the people they serve.
FPM equips churches to help members think wisely about wills, trusts, family care, generosity, and legacy, with a focus on biblical stewardship rather than fundraising. If your church is looking for a trusted next step in serving families through estate planning, learn more at fpm.org.
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