According to the AAFRC Trust for Philanthropy, Giving USA 2006, Americans reached a new high making charitable gifts in last year, partly in response to natural disasters.
Total charitable giving reached $260.28 billion, which reportedly is a 6.1 % increase over 2004, according to research written by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.
Religious organizations ranked first, as shown in the graph below.
The Serb National Federation, historic supporter and contributor to the Serbian Orthodox Church, proposes a way for Serbs across the country to guarantee the financial future of the church and support the SNF at the same time: charitable giving through life insurance.
This form of stewardship is a multi-beneficial way to ensure our growth and strength throughout the coming century and beyond. It will guarantee a steady flow of revenue to your church over the years, and will likely offer tax benefits to you right now. The system is simple:
1. Apply for a life insurance policy with the Serb National Federation.
2. Name a Serbian Orthodox Church as owner and beneficiary.
3. Check with your tax advisor on deducting the insurance premiums.
As we welcome new members into the SNF every day, we also welcome the additional insurance purchased by our existing members as another way to expand our organization. Both new and existing members can be a part of the future of Serbdom in North America.
As an example, a 45-year-old non-smoking male can offer his church a gift of $3000 by naming the church as owner and beneficiary of a policy that will cost him only $83.10 a year ($73.77 for a female). It is a small cost for such a gift.
If we multiply the average number of funerals annually in a church parish by just $3000, most parishes would realize a steady income of substantial funds every year, gifts from members who support their church community even after they are gone. As an added benefit, premiums paid are, in almost all cases, tax deductible contributions. Imagine if that average number per policy were $10,000 (only $217 per year for the 45-year old male and $185.90 for the female).
Another idea for charitable giving through the SNF is to name as beneficiary a Serbian organization. For example, choirs can encourage their members to buy a policy naming their choir or the Serbian Singing Federation as beneficiary. Lodges and choirs can join together to sponsor a “Sign Up” party where choir members can sign up as SNF members and name the choir or SSF as beneficiary.
The SNF scholarship program, a decades-long tradition, is supported by portions of the proceeds from SNF events and by generous donations. The scholarship program is another great idea for charitable giving.
Not everyone is in a position to fork over $3000 to their favorite church or choir or other organization. But, almost all of us can afford what amounts to less than $5 a week. Without feeling a pinch in our budgets, we can apply for a SNF policy that benefits a charitable organization of our choice. In so doing, we give to at least two causes – the Serb National Federation gains, the charitable beneficiary gains, and the individual gets both a tax benefit and the satisfaction of knowing someone will receive a generous gift in the future.
Consider charitable giving. Support the Serbian Orthodox church in their mission of stewardship. Guarantee song through the Serbian Singing Federation. Help the Serb National Federation and the American Srbobran reach out to Serbs for at least the next 100 years. Buy a policy today.