Foundation Creates Flood Relief Fund

Please give to Colorado Flood Disaster Relief

The Rocky Mountain United Methodist Foundation will ensure that 100% of your donations go to help the victims of the September 2013 Colorado floods.

The Rocky Mountain United Methodist Foundation is accepting donations for the Colorado Flood Disaster Relief Fund to directly benefit those affected by the floods this September 2013.

Donations are being accepted online and by mail.

Donation Link:  www.rmumf.org

You may also send checks to:

Rocky Mountain United Methodist Foundation, Inc.

7350 E. Progress Pl., Suite 205

Greenwood Village, CO 80111

If you have questions, you may call the Foundation office at 303-778-6370.

In the past 48 hours, Colorado communities have experienced flooding that has resulted in thousands of evacuations, power outages and infrastructure damage, including roads and drainage systems. Many mountain towns have been evacuated or are isolated, inaccessible by road, and without power. Mudslides of up to 400 feet in Boulder County have made roads impassable and a broken dam in Larimer County has washed away some homes. It is reported that three people have lost their lives, and at least one person is missing.

“Our prayers continue to be with families and communities affected by the floods. Please join in the efforts to help those affected by donating to the fund. We will ensure that all funds raised will stay in Colorado and will be used in the communities for which they are designated,” said Kristi Kinnison, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain United Methodist Foundation.

The Foundation is asking the public to support all rescue, recovery and relief efforts with financial donations.  Funds will be distributed without administrative fees and will serve immediate, intermediate and long-term care needs.

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The Rocky Mountain United Methodist Foundation, Inc. is an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Foundation is organized to support United Methodist churches and related ministries with financial services.

How to Give More WITHOUT Giving More

Many pastors don’t like to ask their congregations to give more money and if warned ahead of time, some members will use that excuse to take the Sunday off. Why not? Many of us have already given so much. Although we may or may not want to increase our giving, we just don’t know how to get more from the proverbial turnip.

Congress and the IRS have made it possible for us to increase giving without opening up our wallets more. Two programs exist right now that allow us to avoid paying income tax on certain types of income that can directly benefit charitable giving:  1. The IRA Charitable Rollover, and 2. Donation of appreciated stocks or securities.

1.  The IRA Charitable Rollover is a law that will expire at the end of 2013. If you are 70 ½ years old (or older), and you have an IRA – you call “rollover” up to $100,000 directly to charity without claiming it as income. That saves you taxes, especially if you don’t itemize any more. AND whatever you decide to “rollover” will count towards the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). Click here to learn more. 

Here is an example:    Without IRA Rollover                    Using the IRA Rollover

     Withdraw:                           $10,000                                                       $10,000

     Tax*:                                        $2,500                                                        $         0

     Your Church Receives:      $7,500                                                       $10,000

This program expires December 31^st, 2013 (unless Congress acts again).

2.  Donations of appreciated securities have long been available for increasing generosity and simultaneously saving on the tax bill. The Foundation has a brokerage account in place to serve you and your favorite United Methodist Charity or Church. Last year, we processed more than $35,000 of these gifts! Click here to learn more. 

Here is an example:   Sell security first                         Direct donation

                                            then donate cash                              of security

    Original Cost:                  $1,000                                                       $1,000

    Today it is worth:        $20,000                                                     $20,000

    Taxable Income           $19,000                                                               $0

    Tax*:                                  $4,750                                                               $0(You may even save more!)

    Your Church Receives:   $15,250                                                $20,000

This program has no expiration date.

*The tax savings was based on a 25% income tax rate. This is not intended to be tax or financial planning advice. For details about how these tools can help you, please consult your own CPA, Tax Professional or Financial Planner.

I wanted to share this exciting news with you so that you can take advantage of these opportunities to help grow God’s kingdom in your own church and communities of faith.

                                  In God’s Service,  Kristi Kinnison

WEBINAR REGISTRATION - July 24th, 11:30 a.m.

Investment YTD Review and Endowment Trends

Join us for a Webinar on July 24 Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/987897326 Join the Foundation's Investment Committee and Investment Manager (Wespath) for a YTD Investment Performance Review. We will also discuss national trends in endowment investing and endowment spending policies. Title: Investment YTD Review and Endowment Trends Date: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 Time: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM MDT After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. System Requirements PC-based attendees Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server Mac®-based attendees Required: Mac OS® X 10.6 or newer Mobile attendees Required: iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phone or Android tablet

Is a Substantial Gift to Your Church Just Waiting to Happen?

Members of your congregation may have the power to make a substantial gift in 2013 to your church. This gift could be for general operations or could add to or begin your Endowment Fund.

All that is needed is for someone to share the good news with them!

Congress in the opening days of 2013 made it possible for a person who is over age 70 ½ to rollover up to $100,000 from an IRA to your church without increasing their taxable income or paying any additional tax.

These tax-free gifts could be $1,000, $10,000 or any amount up to $100,000, and can satisfy the required minimum distribution (RMD). This kind of gift is called a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) and is possible now through December 31, 2013.

The IRA rollover gift is a simple and easy way for your members to give to your church or favorite United Methodist ministry while not increasing their taxable income.

To participate in the IRA charitable rollover, your church member can contact his/her IRA custodian and request an amount be transferred to your church or to the Rocky Mountain United Methodist Foundation for the benefit of your church.

If you have any questions about this great opportunity, please contact the United Methodist Foundation, 303-778-6370. The Foundation has emailed and will soon email to each church a packet of materials that are designed to help communicate this information to church members.  

Webinar - January 24th - Register NOW!

	Investment Performance: 2012 Summary and Recap

	Join us for a Webinar on January 24 Foundation Directors and its investment managers will review the 2012 investment portfolio available to churches and individuals. Participants will be able to ask questions and receive feedback as part of the one hour, informational experience. Title: Investment Performance: 2012 Summary and Recap Date: Thursday, January 24, 2013 Time: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM MST After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. System Requirements PC-based attendees Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server Mac®-based attendees Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer Mobile attendees Required: iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phone or Android tablet Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/760152542

Stock Donations - Better than Cash!

It is better to give than receive. – Acts 20:35

It is better to give appreciated stocks than cash.  – IRS

Your church may not have a brokerage account to sell stock donations, but your church has a United Methodist Foundation and we have a brokerage account!

The Foundation will sell appreciated stocks for your members and write a check for the full amount to your church. This is a free service of the Foundation.

Your church will benefit from these significant and generous gifts.

Your members who donate will benefit because:

• they can transfer the stock directly to the Foundation (an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit).
• they don’t have to sell the stock and claim any income from capital gains.
• they can tell the Foundation who to write the check to (your church and/or another United Methodist ministry or agency).
• they get the full charitable deduction for the amount of the sale of the stock. (Check with a tax advisor or CPA – actual deduction may vary based on individual circumstances.)

Step 1:  Tell us be on the lookout for your donation:   303-778-6370 or info@rm-umf.org.

Step 2:  Send the stock to the Foundation’s Broker

Step 3:  Send us a letter of intent so we know which United Methodist church or agency will receive a check AND so that we can provide the proper IRS acknowledgement for your gift.

Contact the Foundation for stock transfer instructions and forms.

303-778-6370   OR    info@rm-umf.org     OR    www.RM-UMF.org/forms.html

Season of Giving

Article for your reproduction:   The Rocky Mountain United Methodist Foundation gives full permission to reproduce this article in any United Methodist Church publication, newsletters or websites in the Rocky Mountain United Methodist Conference. For an electronic version of this article, please email the Foundation at Director@RM-UMF.org. 

October 31, 2012
By Kristi Kinnison, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain United Methodist Foundation, Inc.

I have seen the red and green signs of Christmas, right next to the black and orange signs of Halloween. Let the holiday shopping season begin!

My very best friend, Jesus, needs a birthday present, too. He even has a gift registry for me to consult, in case I don’t quite know what to get. It is called the Bible, and with the help of my pastor and church, I can find gift ideas in there. Did you know words about giving appear more than 2,000 times in the Bible? Here is my favorite one, especially in remembering the reason for the season:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Gifts given to God through our church and to our loved ones are a way of letting His light shine through us. Gifts are symbolic of our commitment to Him, a way to follow the commandments and a way to say thank you to God for the abundance we enjoy. Gifts to our church will help continue to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Here are some ideas for you to give this year:

1.       Make a commitment to give to your church and/or favorite charity in 2013; weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually. (It is never too late to make a pledge.) Pay it forward – you can prepay all or part of your pledge by December 31, 2012 to receive tax benefits in 2012.*

2.       Give property (real estate, bonds, stocks or mutual funds.) By donating these directly to your church or charity, you will avoid capital gains taxes AND you can deduct the full market value on your income taxes. The Foundation can help you process these donations through its brokerage account.*

3.       Make a gift in honor or in memory of someone special who touched your life this year.

4.       Consider a gift to your church’s endowment fund either today or in your will. This type of gift keeps on giving because it helps build a financial foundation for your church. The church will be able to use the interest income from your gift for many years to come.

5.       Making a commitment to your favorite charity doesn’t necessarily mean giving money – you can also pledge to give some extra time to help out wherever your skills and passions may best be used.

Everything comes from God – our time, our talents, our money, our resources; we are simply stewards of the gifts that God provides. “I will bless you so that you may be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:2) Take some time this season of Advent to reflect on what that means in your life.

*consult your tax advisor for details about tax deductible gifts.

ABOUT THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN UNITED METHODIST FOUNDATION, INC.:

The Rocky Mountain United Methodist Foundation provides financial services to churches, institutions, and agencies, as well as provides tools and resources to individuals seeking to be faithful stewards. Contact the Foundation at 303-778-6370, info@rm-umf.org or www.RM-UMF.org.