“Gift Annuities Are Like Potato Chips . . .”

Usually when WELS Christian giving counselors work with donors, a lot of their time is spent letting people know how their money can work for themselves—and for the Lord.

This time, however, counselor Gerry Heckmann was working with a pro. “In Daniel’s* work-a-day world, he had been working for secular non-profit agencies, helping donors set up charitable gift annuities,” says Heckmann.

When it came time for Daniel and his wife Sarah to retire, they knew they wanted their money to help WELS ministry and started a charitable gift annuity. As he set up the paperwork, Daniel was already thinking ahead to the possibility of doing another and said, “Charitable gift annuities are like potato chips, you can’t have just one.”

Here’s how it works. Daniel and Sarah made an irrevocable cash gift to the WELS Foundation. In exchange, they receive quarterly fixed payments for the rest of their lives. When the annuity ends, the remainder of the gift will move to their designated ministry. Adding gift annuities at improved rates in subsequent years serves to increase yearly payments as well as the funding for ministry.

Even as this couple provides for themselves in retirement, Daniel and Sarah experience the joy that comes from financially supporting the spread of the gospel. That’s even better than potato chips!

For more information on planned giving instruments such as the charitable gift annuity, visit www.welsfoundation.net or contact your local WELS Christian giving counselor by calling 800-827-5482.

* Names have been changed to protect donor confidentiality.

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