Ways to Give
Existing Funds
A gift of any amount can be made to an already existing fund at the East Texas Catholic Foundation. If you would like to make a gift to an already existing endowment at the Foundation, we would love to talk with you.
Gifts to existing endowments can be made through:
- one-time gifts
- planned gifts
- stock
- property
Many of the parishes within the Diocese have established funds already. Please contact us and we would love to talk about how you can give to something that aligns with your charitable giving goals.
Bequests/ Legacy Society
The Legacy Society acknowledges families and individuals who designate a legacy gift to their parish or the East Texas Catholic Foundation. The Legacy Society promotes planned giving in the hopes that gifts secured today will preserve our Catholic heritage and ensure everlasting giving for the future.
If you have left your parish or a fund at the Foundation in your will, please let us know so we can honor and steward you in our legacy society. To become a member of the Legacy Society, simply let the East Texas Catholic Foundation know in writing that you have named a parish, school, agency or the Foundation in your estate plan or through a bequest, trust, life insurance or retirement plan beneficiary designation. You are also invited to become a Legacy Society member if you have established an endowment fund in full at the Catholic Foundation.
If you would like to leave a legacy gift, we can give you resources to leave a lasting legacy.
Establish an Endowment
How does an endowment work?
Stock/Property
Gifts of many kinds are able to be given to the Foundation. We can also accept stock or property as gifts. Donating long term assets — especially highly appreciated securities — instead of cash can be a very effective and tax-efficient way to support a charity.
Generally, if your assets have appreciated in value, it’s best not to sell securities to generate the cash you need for a donation. Contributing the securities directly to the charity increases the amount of your gift as well as your potential deduction.
Donor Advised Funds
A Donor Advised Fund is a tax-advantaged, convenient vehicle for donating to all the organizations you already love. The donor receives the full tax deduction in the year that the contribution is made to their DAF, but the donor then can take their time in deciding when and to whom they would like to grant this money.
As an active grant maker to the local Catholic Community, we are well equipped to advise you about effective programs and organizations that would benefit from your support.
Donor Advised Funds with the Foundation can grant to any qualified 501(c)3 as long as the charitable organization engages only in work that aligns with Catholic social teachings. All of the Foundation’s funds are managed under USCCB guidelines for socially responsible investing.
