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Grace Community Church

Give More. Pay Less in Taxes.
Honor Your Calling.

Discover how members of Grace Community Church can give more to the ministries they love — while reducing their tax burden. Our Strategic Giving Program, powered by Strategic Giving Initiative™, makes generosity work smarter.

Explore Giving Options ↓Calculate My Tithe Savings
0%
of church members get NO tax break for tithing
Up to 0%
of AGI deductible with the right structure
0%
estate tax deduction with a private foundation
$0
max IRA tax-free gift per year for those 70½+
"One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty."
— Proverbs 11:24

Most members tithe from what's left over.
There's a more faithful — and more strategic — way.

The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act doubled the standard deduction — and overnight, 88.6% of Americans lost their charitable tax benefit. Today, most church members tithe faithfully but receive zero tax recognition for it. Their giving comes last: after taxes, after expenses, after investments.

Strategic Giving Initiative™ helps churches teach their members to give first — using the same legal structures that billionaire philanthropists use. The result: members give more, the church receives more, and the tax burden shrinks for everyone.

Traditional Tithing

  • Give from what's left after taxes
  • Standard deduction — no extra benefit
  • Sporadic giving tied to income fluctuations
  • No structure, no advisor, no strategy
  • Estate passes to probate; church gets nothing

Strategic Giving Initiative™

  • Give first — before taxes are calculated
  • Itemize or use a foundation to maximize deductions
  • Consistent, structured giving regardless of income swings
  • Advisor-coordinated plan with CPA and estate attorney
  • Bequest and foundation ensure the church benefits forever

Which Member Are You?

Every giving strategy is different. See which profile fits your situation.

🏢

The Business Owner

$250K–$1M/yr

Situation: Variable income from an S-Corp or LLC. Wants to tithe a full 10% but income swings make consistency hard.

Strategy: Fund a DAF or Private Foundation in a high-income year. Receive the full deduction now. Grant to the church over 3–5 years.

Potential Savings
Up to $75,000 in tax savings on a $250K contribution
👴

The Retiree

$80K–$200K/yr

Situation: Faithful tither for 40 years. Now taking RMDs from an IRA and paying taxes on money they don't need.

Strategy: Use a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) to give directly from the IRA — tax-free — up to $105,000/year.

Potential Savings
Eliminate taxes on up to $105,000 of IRA income annually
🏠

The Property Owner

$150K–$500K/yr

Situation: Owns appreciated real estate or a rental property. Wants to give a major gift but doesn't want to trigger capital gains.

Strategy: Donate the property to a CRT or directly to the church. Avoid capital gains entirely and receive a charitable deduction.

Potential Savings
Avoid $30K–$150K in capital gains tax on a $500K property
📈

The Investor

$200K–$2M/yr

Situation: Holds appreciated stock in a brokerage account. Sells shares to fund the tithe — paying capital gains each time.

Strategy: Donate appreciated shares directly instead of cash. The church receives the same value; you avoid the capital gains.

Potential Savings
Save 15–23.8% capital gains tax on every share donated

8 Ways to Give Strategically

Click any giving vehicle to see the tax benefit, who it's best for, and the minimum to get started. Private Foundation is our #1 specialty.

Establish a family or ministry-aligned private foundation to hold, invest, and grant assets in perpetuity. You control the mission, the investments, and the grantmaking — including grants back to your church. Deduct contributions up to 30% of AGI, carry forward unused deductions for 5 years, invest tax-advantaged at a 1.39% excise rate, and distribute at least 5% annually. This is the same structure used by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, the Maclellan Foundation, and virtually every major faith-based philanthropic family. SGI™ makes this accessible for congregants and ministry leaders at every level.

💰
Tax Benefit
30% AGI deduction (cash); 20% AGI (appreciated assets); 5-year carryover; 1.39% excise on investment gains; 100% estate tax deduction
👤
Best For
Business owners, ministry leaders, and families who want a permanent faith-aligned giving legacy
📊
Minimum
$250,000 recommended

Calculate Your Tithe Tax Savings

See exactly how much your tithe to Grace Community Church could save you in federal taxes this year.

$120,000
Std. deduction: $30,000
$12,000 (10.0% of income)
AGI limit: 30% of income
Tax Without Giving
$10,323
Standard deduction only
Tax With Gift
$10,323
Standard deduction
Tax Savings
$0
Federal income tax reduction
Net Cost of Tithe
$12,000
100.0% effective giving rate
⚠️ Your tithe ($12,000) is below your standard deduction ($30,000). Consider bunching multiple years of tithes into a DAF or Private Foundation to exceed the threshold and unlock a full deduction.

The Grace Legacy Society

Recognize and honor the members who are building a lasting legacy for the church and the community.

Faithful Giver

$1,000 – $9,999/yr
  • Recognition in annual giving report
  • Invitation to ministry preview events
  • Quarterly impact newsletter

Covenant Partner

$10,000 – $49,999/yr
  • Named in permanent legacy wall
  • Private pastoral meetings
  • VIP ministry events
  • Complimentary family membership

Kingdom Builder

$50,000 – $249,999/yr
  • Named ministry room or program
  • Annual dinner with senior pastor
  • Exclusive mission trip access
  • Legacy planning consultation

Foundation Circle

$250,000+
  • Endowed fund in your family name
  • Permanent recognition plaque
  • Seat on Legacy Advisory Council
  • Complimentary estate planning session
  • Annual family dedication service
🎁 Free Gift from Strategic Giving Initiative™

Complimentary Course for Grace Members

Every member of Grace Community Church receives free access to our 6-module Strategic Giving course — a $997 value, offered at no cost.

01

Biblical Foundations of Strategic Giving

Proverbs 11:24, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, and the theology of first-position giving.

02

Tithing vs. Strategic Giving

How to honor your tithe commitment while maximizing tax efficiency and long-term impact.

03

Appreciated Assets: The Hidden Opportunity

How to give stock, real estate, and business interests without triggering capital gains.

04

Retirement Accounts & Charitable Giving

QCDs, beneficiary designations, and why your IRA may be your best giving tool.

05

Building a Faith-Based Legacy Plan

Wills, trusts, private foundations, and how to structure a gift that outlasts you.

06

Looping In Your Advisor

How to bring your CPA, attorney, and financial advisor into your giving strategy.

We Coordinate With Your Advisors

SGI™ doesn't replace your CPA, attorney, or financial advisor. We coordinate with them — providing the strategic framework so your team can execute with confidence.

⚖️

Estate Attorney

Bequest language, trust drafting, foundation formation documents

📊

CPA / Tax Advisor

Deduction optimization, AGI planning, carryforward strategy

💼

Financial Advisor

Asset allocation within the foundation, investment policy statement

🏛️

Foundation Manager

IRS compliance, 5% distribution planning, grant documentation

Ready to Build This for Grace Community Church?

This is a sample of what Strategic Giving Initiative™ builds for churches across the country. We handle everything — the giving page, the calculators, the course, the advisor coordination, and the foundation setup. Your pastoral team focuses on ministry. We handle the strategy.

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