The Beecher Society

What is the Beecher Society?

Members and friends who have notified Second Presbyterian that the Church is included in their estate plans are honored as members of the Beecher Society, named after our first pastor, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. Estate gifts include bequests in wills, gifts of paid-up life insurance policies, designating Second Presbyterian as the beneficiary of a retirement fund/IRA or charitable trust, a charitable gift annuity, a gift of property and other estate planning vehicles.

Why should I consider leaving a gift to Second Presbyterian Church in my will or other estate plans?

Second Presbyterian benefits each day from the generosity of members before us who helped build the Endowment Fund which is an important financial resource for many programs that help our members and the community in meaningful ways. Remembering Second in your estate plans is a wonderful way to ensure the future of the Church with the comfort of knowing that your gift will be well managed and grow in the future. In addition, there are tax benefits to your estate which can be significant with certain estate planning vehicles.

What do I need to provide to Second to let them know I have included a gift to the Church in my estate plans?

If you are comfortable sharing, for our planning purposes, we would appreciate a copy of the page in your will that refers to your gift, or a copy of any documentation about your planned gift.

What happens to my gift when it arrives at Second Presbyterian?

All estate gifts are gratefully received by the Second Presbyterian Endowment Fund. If you have not designated your gift to a specific cause or fund within the Endowment, your gift will be placed in the Building Fund to help with Church repairs and capital projects. If you wish to designate your gift, the Endowment has the Impact Fund which is available for use for Second’s most urgent priorities, as well as funds designated for mission, education, music and fine arts, youth and more. For larger gifts, a named fund can be created to benefit a program or ministry of the Church.

If I’m leaving a Bequest to Second Presbyterian Church, what should my will say?

You will want to name the legal name of the Church or the Endowment in your will and include the address so that there is no confusion at the time your estate is settled. You may leave a percentage of your estate, the remainder of your estate after other gifts have been fulfilled, a specific dollar amount gift, a gift to a specific cause, etc. The Office of Stewardship and Endowment can assist you with specific language, a tax ID number and other information for your attorney or financial adviser.

How do I designate Second to benefit from an IRA or retirement fund? Contact the company or your financial adviser for information. There should be an easy way to designate Second as your beneficiary online or through a paper designation.

What are benefits of being a Beecher Society member?

Beecher Society members are invited to special activities and events at Second Presbyterian, have their names included in printed lists of Beecher Society members (unless requested to be anonymous), and inspire other members to think about remembering the Church in their estate plans.

What if I wish to be an anonymous member of the Beecher Society?

No problem! We will make a note in your file that you wish to remain anonymous in any listings of Society members.

Questions and More Information?

Please contact Nancy Frick, NFrick@secondchurch.org or 317-253-6461, ext. 359 with any questions or for more information on the many ways you can benefit the future of Second Presbyterian Church through an estate gift.