LSI has responded to the love of Jesus Christ through compassionate service for more than 160 years.
This has created a legacy of lifting up and empowering thousands of our Iowa neighbors, thanks to the generosity of donors like you.
As an expression of your belief in our mission and ministry, we ask you to consider how you can make a lasting impact and leave a legacy. By including a gift to LSI in your will, living trust, or other estate plans, you ensure that we can continue our mission and ministry for years to come.
There are many ways to make gifts to LSI through a will, living trust, and other estate planning vehicles, and we would welcome additional discussion about this with you. One of the easiest ways to make a gift is through a bequest (gift) in your will.
Legal Name: Lutheran Services in Iowa Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Address: 106 16th Street SW P.O. Box 848, Waverly, IA 50677
Federal Tax ID #: 42-1254906
Ways to Give
A gift to our LSI Foundation through your will or revocable trust is one of the easiest ways you can give to LSI. This gift is simple to arrange and will not alter your current lifestyle. Bequests have the possibility of providing additional savings on income taxes, capital gains taxes, and estate taxes.
Below is an example of the bequest language you can use:
“I, [name], of [city, state, ZIP], give, devise, and bequeath to Lutheran Services in Iowa [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose.”
If you are age 70 1/2 or older, you can give up to $105,000 tax-free directly from your IRA to charities such as LSI.
An additional benefit of a Qualified Charitable Distribution is that it can satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution from a retirement account which generally needs to start being distributed from your account(s) starting at age 73. See here for more information on RMDs and the penalties you may face for failure to take your required distribution.
(Note: Mailed checks must come directly from your IRA broker/custodian)
You can also make a direct transfer of stock to LSI.
Have your broker make your transfer of stock to:
Merrill Lynch DTC #5198, for further credit to LSI account #660-04023.
Merrill Lynch Contact Information:
David Blake (515) 245-8050 or (800) 937-0608
Merrill Lynch, 7545 Ashworth Rd, Ste 100, West Des Moines, IA 5026
Gifts of securities, such as stocks and mutual funds you have owned for at least one year, entitle you to an income tax charitable deduction equal to the full market value. Along with your deduction, you also avoid capital gains tax on the securities you contribute.
Life insurance can be turned into a gift by naming the LSI Foundation as the beneficiary of your policy. A gift of life insurance may provide valuable income and estate tax savings.
Donor-advised funds are eligible for an immediate charitable tax deduction for the full fund amount while allowing you to distribute the funds at a later time to charities of your choosing. Gifts of cash, securities, real estate, shares of a closely-held business, or other appreciated assets opens a DAF. To open a DAF, you will need to coordinate with a vehicle such as your local community foundation. You advise how you would like the money to be donated.
Contact your financial advisor with inquiries about your specific financial situation.
Planned gifts to LSI, such as bequests, are permanently endowed in the LSI Charitable Foundation, unless otherwise designated by the donor. These gifts provide perpetual and increasing support for the ministry of LSI far into the future.
LSI also partners with qualified community foundations across Iowa to provide donors with the option of making endowment gifts that qualify for Endow Iowa tax credits. To learn more about Endow Iowa, please visit the Iowa Community Foundations website or contact philanthropy as listed below.
To learn more about including a gift to LSI in your will or other estate plan, contact: