Make a Gift
In 1836, the first Sisters of St. Joseph arrived in the United States from France. Their work in Christian education soon expanded to include care of the sick, the homeless and orphans.
Using the example of Jesus’ compassion as their model for service, the sisters continue to expand their ministries as bearers of unity, reconciliation and God’s love through their many ways of service to the Church and society, as well as by the example of their own lives of prayer and work. They continue to rely on the support of people whose lives have been blessed by their loving ministry. |
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Sister Berenice Burkle (center), of the Wheeling founding congregation with generous donors Jackie McKenzie and Dr. Jerry Wedemeyer. |
You can partner in our mission by giving of your time, your talent, or with a
monetary gift that helps breath life into all our work!
Ways to Give
To sustain the ministries of the Congregation of St. Joseph, to care for our retired sisters and to maintain our facilities, gifts in various ways can be made to a specific fund or to the general fund.
Gifts of treasure
Gifts of time and talent
Gifts of time
We rely on volunteers to help us carry out our mission of caring for the “dear neighbor.” Volunteer opportunities vary, depending on the location where you live. To learn about volunteer opportunities near you, please visit Our Founding Communities.
Gift of self
Visit our "How to Join Us" page if you are interested in religious life as a sister or as an associate.
Gift of prayer
As always, we invite you to share in our mission, “That all may be one,” through joining us in support of our sisters and the ongoing ministry and works of the congregation. It may be a gift of prayer in a kind thought or note sent our way. It may be a kind word to one of our sisters, the next time you see her in action or a deeper appreciation for the gift they have been in your life.
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Gifts of cash
A gift of cash is the simplest way to give. Cash gifts to the Congregation of St. Joseph are tax deductible in the year in which the gift was made, as permitted by law. Limitations may apply for higher incomes.
By mail: Send a check or money order to the Mission Advancement Office at one of our Founding Communities:
Cleveland; LaGrange Park; Medaille; Nazareth; Tipton; Wheeling; Wichita.
A gift given in honor of or in memory of a family member or friend is a special way to show your support for the mission and values of the Congregation of St. Joseph.
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Gifts of stock or mutual funds
Persons who hold highly appreciated stocks or mutual fund shares may gift such shares directly to the Sisters. Property whose value has highly appreciated makes an excellent gift for charitable purposes. The donor receives an income tax deduction for the value of the stock or mutual fund on the date the charity receives the gift. At the same time, capital gains taxes on the appreciation are usually avoided.
To donate stock or mutual fund shares: Call the Congregation of St. Joseph Mission Advancement Office at one of our Founding Communities (Cleveland; LaGrange Park; Medaille; Nazareth; Tipton; Wheeling; Wichita) to notify us of your gift, kind of stock, the number of shares and whether you would like to designate your donation for a particular ministry. You will be given the name and phone number of the broker working with the sisters. Notify the congregation when you have made the transfer.
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Gifts-in-kind
Tangible personal property can be donated as a gift-in-kind. In recent years we have received gifts of automobiles, wheelchairs, walkers and art pieces. Gift acceptance of personal property for related use by the congregation, or directly marketable by the congregation, is valued and deductible in accordance with IRS tax law.
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Planned Giving
Wills/Bequests
Naming the Congregation of St. Joseph in your will is the simplest and most common deferred gift. A will is a legal instrument which directs how the financial proceeds of your life will be distributed among those you care most about. Your will, if you have one, can assure continuation of your life's work and goals through resources that you earned and saved. Your will names the recipients of your estate. Bequests can be assigned without qualification or can be restricted to:
- a fixed dollar amount
- a fixed percentage of your estate
- a specific property such as real estate, stocks, bonds, automobile
- the residue or remainder of your estate after debts, taxes, expenses and specific bequests have been paid.
Often a bequest can be arranged simply with the addition of a codicil to amend your existing will. For more information on making a bequest, please contact Gary Mulhern, Gift Planning Specialist for the Congregation of St. Joseph at 304-232-8160, ext. 148 or at gmulhern@csjoseph.org.
Your will should be reviewed and revised periodically with your legal, financial and tax advisors to meet your current wishes and to keep pace with changing estate and tax laws.
For those who choose to not prepare a will, each state has generic formulas to identify who are heirs and to specify how the estate will be distributed among them.
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Charitable trust
Revocable or living trusts often play an important role in larger estate plans. Donors, with the help of their financial advisor, may choose a charitable trust as a way of making gifts to the Congregation of St. Joseph while providing for potentially significant tax savings.
A Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) or a Charitable Remainder Unitrust (CRUT) provides lifetime benefits to you and your family with the remainder to the Congregation of St. Joseph. You or your estate receives a deduction for the value of the remainder interest. Trusts allow increased life income to you while making a tax-advantaged gift to the congregation.
A Charitable Lead Trust provides a way for you to leave an inheritance to your children but also make a significant charitable gift through your estate. A Charitable Lead Trust can lesson the estate tax burden for your children.
Disclaimer: This information is not intended as specific legal advice or tax counseling. Please consult your attorney on legal implications and your accountant on tax implications. State laws governing these matters vary and are subject to change.
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Life Insurance policies
Paid-up life insurance can be an ideal gift for some donors. A review of your life insurance coverage might indicate that some policies may no longer be necessary. You may make a deferred gift by naming the Congregation of St. Joseph as a beneficiary. Alternately, you can make an immediate gift, and the cash value of the policy becomes available to the sisters.
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Gifts of property/real estate
A gift of property, free of mortgage, alleviates capital gains tax and gives the donor an income tax deduction on the fair market value of the gift. Donors may be allowed to remove the asset from their taxable estate and give the property to charity while still living on the property.
With an estate agreement, a donor transfers the title to a residence or farm to the Congregation of St. Joseph while retaining the right to live there and use the property for life. The donor may be entitled to a current tax deduction equal to the value of the remainder interest.
As with any estate planning decision, consult your legal, financial and tax advisors for advice and information on applicable state and federal laws.
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Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
Many people in their retirement years find a large portion of their wealth in tax-sheltered retirement accounts such as IRAs, 403Bs, 401Ks, Keogh Plans and the like. When these investments are passed to heirs, both income and estate taxes apply. For larger estates, combined income and estate taxes can exceed 70%, leaving less than 30% for heirs.
Tax-sheltered retirement accounts make excellent deferred gifts. By naming the Congregation of St. Joseph as designated beneficiary, the owner continues to receive anticipated returns from the account during his or her lifetime. At death, the entire account value passes tax-free to the congregation. If desired, planned gifts of life insurance or other tax-advantaged assets can be used to replace funds the heirs would otherwise receive.
As with any estate planning decision, consult your legal, financial and tax advisors for advice and information on applicable state and federal laws.
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