Pledges and Other Gifts
Episcopalians believe that responsible and disciplined financial stewardship — giving back to God a portion of what God has given you — is part of maintaining one’s spiritual health. Give with the knowledge that your gift is put to God’s use — internally, in running the parish and externally, in serving our neighbors.
Giving is easy! Mail your contribution to the church office (146 12th Street, Pacific Grove, CA 93950) or give online. If giving for a particular program, such as Christian Social Concerns or the Labyrinth Garden, please indicate that on the memo line of the check or indicate Other in the Online giving form.
Ways to give online
Select Give to St. Mary’s Church to give once or set up a recurring donation.
Download the Ministry One app on your smartphone for even greater ease in online giving.
Make a pledge
A pledge is a commitment to give an amount certain to support St. Mary’s’ mission and programs over the course of a year, helping the Vestry budget responsibly. We send out pledge cards in the mail in October, or you can make a pledge by simply clicking the Make a Pledge button and entering the amount you are pledging for the year.
Qualified Charitable Distributions
Parishioners who are 70.5 years of age or older may obtain a tax benefit making contributions to St. Mary’s from an IRA. Instead of taking a required minimum distribution (RMD), a payment to St. Mary’s may be made directly from the IRA, and for amounts up to $100,000, the distribution is tax-free but counts toward the Required Minimum Distribution. (There is no tax deduction for the contribution, but the amount is excluded from federal taxable income.) This contribution can be made at any time of the year. To make such a gift, please instruct the custodian of the IRA to make a direct transfer to St. Mary’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, Pacific Grove, CA. Please also send an email to our bookkeeper to ensure the contribution is processed appropriately. Consult your tax advisor for more information and advice about the benefits of this giving technique.
Planned Giving
The simplest way to make a planned gift is by naming St. Mary’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, Pacific Grove in your will or living trust. A bequest is a meaningful way to support St. Mary’s without affecting your cash flow during your lifetime. Your attorney can include it when you prepare or revise your will/living trust.We recommend unrestricted bequests which will be used at the discretion of Vestry. However, if you have a particular area you wish to support, we invite you to contact the rector to discuss it.
You may also wish to consult your tax advisor or estate planner about other methods of planned giving.