Make an impact while planning for your future
We also offer the ability to create a free Revocable Living Trust
Everybody needs a will
Whether you’re 18 or 108, everyone should have a will in place. People use wills to choose who gets their property, name guardians for minor children, provide a plan for pets, and more.
Through a will, many people also choose to leave a part of their estate to their favorite ministry and make an impact on the causes they love, for years to come.
Why give in your will?
Common gifted assets in wills and trusts
- Financial accounts
- Real estate
- Vehicles
- Brokerage accounts
- Crypto and NFTs
- Personal property
Make your will online – for free!
Lutheran Giving has partnered with FreeWill to offer an online estate planning tool that makes it easy and cost-free to make your plan. In as little as 20 minutes, you can help sustain your favorite ministries for future generations.
We also offer the ability to create a free Revocable Living Trust
Popular resources
Sample bequest language for your will or trust
This language may help you and your attorney as you consider a gift that will meet your financial and personal goals.
Sample codicil
When it’s time to update your will, you can use a codicil—an addition or supplement that explains or modifies your existing will.
Planned Giving helps fuel the mission of ELCA ministries in Nebraska and beyond
A gift in your will creates a foundation for the future. Our partner’s work today is important, but it is equally, if not more important, to ensure they can continue well into the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Gifts of any size are deeply appreciated. Many people choose to leave a percentage of their estate, which scales up or down with your estate size.
Yes! Knowing in advance about your intentions is quite helpful to our partner ministries, but you are always welcome to not share the details of your gift.
One of the benefits of working with Lutheran Giving is you can make your gift known to us, but anonymous to our partner ministries or your congregation. We offer various levels of anonymity based on what you are comfortable sharing.
As long as you have a heart for one of our ministry partners or your congregation, using Lutheran Giving to create your gift plan is at no cost to you. Additionally, we’ve partnered with FreeWill to provide these complimentary resources. You can use these tools to complete your plans, or you may choose to use the same tools to get your affairs in order before visiting an attorney (who is likely to have a fee associated with finalizing your plans).
Yes. You are always free to revise or update your estate plans.
You may need to establish a Special Needs Trust with an attorney to protect your loved one. FreeWill is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. The materials and services are not substitutes for the advice of an attorney.
Yes! FreeWill will never share your personal information without your permission.
We’re here to help you meet your goals!
Our team would be happy to speak with you in confidence about your giving goals, with no obligation.
Name: Sarah Callahan
Title :Executive Director
Phone: 402-342-5728
Email: info@lutherangiving.org
As Executive Director, Sarah provides charitable gift planning services to anyone wishing to support Nebraska Synod congregations and its agencies and institutions as well as any Synodical or Churchwide ministry. Sarah provides legacy presentations across Nebraska and consultation services to congregations wishing to form or build up an endowment fund. She also serves as the local representative of the ELCA Foundation’s Ministry Growth Fund.
Before joining Lutheran Giving in 2018, Sarah built a financial advising practice where she worked with families in Nebraska and Iowa with generational transition and estate planning. In her early career, she worked in fundraising and development. She holds a bachelor of arts in music and a master’s in business administration from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana. Sarah earned the Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®) and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) professional designations from The American College of Financial Services.
Already included your favorite ministry in your estate plan? Let us know
More ways to make an impact
Beneficiary designations
Gifting assets not covered by your will — like 401(k) or IRA accounts — may help your heirs avoid unwanted taxes, even if you’re below the estate tax threshold.
Popular tax-smart gifts
Many people are increasingly choosing to give non-cash assets, so they can have a bigger impact at less cost to them.
Gifts that pay you back
Give assets while providing yourself or others with income for a period of time or distributions at a later date.