Giving Opportunities

Annual Pledge

The annual budget of the UUCC relies principally on pledges of support from members. Each year members are asked to consider their relationship with the church and to make an annual pledge of support accordingly. The church year is a fiscal year, beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30. Pledges made are for that period of time.

Pledges may be made on a paper form available from the office or by clicking on the link available on the secure church website. Payment may be made in a variety of ways including electronic bank drafts. Please phone the office if you would like instructions on setting up this arrangement.

Gift of Stock

It’s easy to contribute appreciated securities to the UUCC. We appreciate your generosity and commitment to Unitarian Universalism and look forward to working with you to complete your gift plans.

Publicly Traded Stock

Publicly traded stock (stock traded on the any of the major exchanges, such as the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, etc.) can generally be transferred electronically within a few days. Here’s how to arrange an electronic transfer of securities through a depository trust company (DTC).

Ask your transfer agent or brokerage firm if they want written instructions from you authorizing a transfer of securities. Some have a form you will need to complete and return to them; some will be happy to get a letter from you; some will be content to get verbal instructions. Your signature on written instructions should be "gold medallion" certified. Please remember that you will need to authorize and initiate the transfer yourself. Instruct your transfer agent or investment company to deliver the gifted stock to:

Scottrade, Inc.

Into Account #: 80491161
DTC#.: 0705
Name of the Account: Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte
Tax ID No.: 56-6056289

Timing
As soon as your securities reach the UUCC’s account at Scottrade, they will be sold. Please note that, as December sees very heavy traffic, we strongly advise you to begin a transfer early in the month in order to complete it before the year ends.

Confirmation of completed transfer
A gift transferred through a DTC is recognized on the date the gifted securities "hit" the UUCC’s account at Scottrade. You will receive written acknowledgment of your contribution well in time for your annual tax filing.

Mutual Funds and Privately Held Stock
Mutual funds and privately held stock often require a more complex process which can take longer—sometimes up to eight weeks. The UUCC will be glad to handle as much of the processing as possible, and to coach you through the process. However, if the timing of your gift is critical (for tax purposes, for example) please talk to us. Regardless of timing, if you plan to make a gift of mutual funds or privately held stock, please contact us at 704.366.8623 or at uucc@uuccharlotte.org before initiating the transfer.

Gift by Will

Making a gift by will is easy. Consult with your attorney about naming the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte to receive a gift from you through your Last Will and Testament. Click here to find basic information about different kinds of estate gifts, including sample language you may use in your legal documents. Most of this information may be used to make a gift through a family trust, a life insurance policy, or an individual retirement account.

Consider yourself invited to join the UUCC Memorial Endowment Trust’s Chalice Society by letting us know that you have included a gift to the Trust in your estate plans. Your example may encourage others to join suit and provide for the future of our liberal religion.

Testamentary Charitable Remainder Trust

A trust document is created during your lifetime, with a "pour-over" will to designate which assets are to be placed in a trust with the income paid to one or more beneficiaries for their lifetimes. Upon the death of the last income recipient, or after a term of a specified number of years, the trust terminates and assets are transferred to the UUA, completing your gift.

Retirements Plans

Many individuals today have large qualified retirement plans such as an IRA, 401(k), or Keogh plan. These assets have been growing tax-free for years. Once the owner begins to receive payments from the qualified plans, the distributions are taxed. At death, the assets remaining in these plans are also included in the owner’s taxable estate. A retirement plan may be an excellent source of funds for making a gift to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte.

If you name someone other than your spouse as the beneficiary of your retirement plan at your death, the assets may be subject to both income and estate taxes. Your heirs may be left with less than 25 cents on the dollar from your plan. If these plans are left to charity, however, the full amount will generally be received and used according to your wishes. The full amount is still included in your taxable estate but is fully deductible as a charitable gift. Other assets can then be left to family members that would not generate income taxes.

Life Insurance

Some folks no longer need their life insurance that was purchased years ago to provide for children or other family members. If you are in this situation, you may want to name the Unitarian Universalist Association as a beneficiary or contingent beneficiary. Any benefit the UUA receives from your insurance will be excluded from your taxable estate.

If you name the UUCC as irrevocable beneficiary and owner of your life insurance policy, you are eligible for an immediate income tax charitable deduction equivalent to the policy’s cash surrender value or replacement value. If additional premium payments are due, you can deduct those payments as charitable contributions.

Real Estate

The growth of real estate values over the years has greatly enhanced interest in making real estate gifts to charity. A gift of real estate may consist of all or a partial interest in many types of property, such as a residence, vacation home, farm, ranch, condominium, cooperative apartment, or commercial property.

Real estate gifts may be made outright to the UUCC or to a Charitable Remainder Trust, which would then provide income for you and/or loved ones. You can even contribute your personal residence but continue to live there for the rest of your life. This type of gift of a future interest in your home lets you continue to enjoy your home, without diminishing your standard of living, while obtaining a substantial income tax charitable deduction.

Planned Giving: Life Income Gifts

You can make a gift to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte (UUCC) that will pay you income for life, after which the remaining gift principal will be turned over to the UUCC. A life income gift may be appropriate if you want to make a gift but need to retain income for yourself and/or loved ones. Giving highly appreciated securities may be especially attractive. A life income gift can reduce your capital gains taxes and increase your income. Here are some options to consider...

Charitable Gift Annuities
A charitable gift annuity is an arrangement whereby you contribute cash or marketable securities in exchange for the Association’s promise to pay one or two people a guaranteed income for life at a rate based on the age(s) of the annuitant(s). If you are planning for retirement or want to increase income, reduce capital gains taxes, secure a fixed income, and make a significant gift to the future of our congregation, then this option may be right for you.

You may also delay receiving income for some period of time, thereby increasing the payments you receive. This can be a powerful tool for retirement planning, if you want to lock in a higher income for future years, when you need it most. "The longer you wait, the higher the rate!"


Charitable Gift Annuity donors are eligible for an income tax deduction in the year the gift is made. They also receive favorable tax treatment on the annual income. A gift of $5,000 or more will establish a charitable gift annuity for you and your loved ones to enjoy.

Charitable Remainder Trust
A charitable remainder trust (CRT) allows you to retain income for an unlimited number of individuals, provide specialized management of your gift, and it may increase your capacity to make gifts to your favorite charities.

A charitable remainder trust is a separately invested irrevocable trust you create by designating a person or persons to receive income payments of at least 5% annually. Trusts can accept a wide range of assets, including cash, securities, closely held stock, or real property. At the conclusion of the income payments, the trust principal is distributed to the named charities.

A charitable remainder trust involves administrative and start-up fees. Because of the increased flexibility of this gift option, it can also be somewhat complicated. Therefore, trusts must have a minimum value of $100,000.

For more information on any of these giving opportunities, please contact the church office at 704.366.8623 or by e-mail:uucc@uuccharlotte.org

Charitable Tax Status
The UUCC is an IRS-qualified 501(c)(3) and 170(c) charitable religious organization. The UUCC tax-exempt federal identification number is 56-6056289. For estate tax purposes, bequests, legacies, devises, or transfers to the UUCC or the Trust are deductible as they are in accord with the provision of the Internal Revenue Code Section 2055(a) and related regulations.