You know that God calls us to give ... but how do you get there from here?

10-10-80 Giving

Giving can become a habit and even a form of worship. Having a plan is helpful. We encourage you to consider (or move toward) the 10-10-80 plan. It can be life-changing!

• Give 10% to God (or move toward tithing one step at a time—see chart to right)
• Save 10% for the future
• Live on 80% with a joyful and grateful heart

Southwood established an Endowment Fund in January 2004. The purpose of the fund is to enhance the mission of Southwood Lutheran Church apart from the general operation of the congregation. No portion of the income generated by the fund is used for the annual operating budget of the congregation.

Income from the Endowment Fund

Income from the fund is used in 4 areas:

• Outreach into the community and Nebraska Synod
• Missions of the ELCA in this continent and worldwide
• New ministry opportunities within Southwood Lutheran Church
• Causes and programs which, at the discretion of the trustees, are consistent with the fund purpose of enhancing the mission outreach of Southwood Lutheran Church.

Download an Endowment Fund Application Form below

Gifts to the Endowment Fund

Gifts to the Endowment fund may be made in the following manner:

• Cash, real property, securities, or collectibles
• Bequests in a will
• Purchase of an annuity
• Trust agreements
• Identifying the Endowment Fund as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy.

Gifts may be given in honor of or in memory of a specific person, with the approval of the Trustees.

Download an Endowment Fund Gift Form below

Questions?

Endowment Fund Trustees

• Larry Buchmann
• Jill Hurlbut
• Bruce Ericksen
• Cheryl Meyer
• Chuck Wall

• Q: How does my giving support the church?
  Your giving supports Southwood's ongoing ministry and mission in many ways:
  • Worship opportunities for over 1,000 people every week
  • Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and Youth Programs for hundreds of children and youth
  • Food for the hungry, medical care for the uninsured, and mentors for at-risk kids
  • Health care, shelter, educational and economic opportunity, and the love of Christ to people in Honduras and Tanzania
  • Operating costs for staff and building maintenance
• Q: What is online giving?
  Online giving is the ability to give a donation or schedule a series of donations using your checking account, debit card or credit card on our website.
• Q: Is online giving secure?
  All checking account, debit card or credit card information is entered on a secured site. You log into your account with your email address and password you setup. No one has access to your data unless authorized by you.
• Q: Are there any hidden charges or fees to give online?
  Nope. You select the dollar amount for your gift. That is the dollar amount that will be recognized as your donation.
• Q: Can I try out online giving just one time?
  Sure. Select “One Time” in the frequency drop‐down box.
• Q: Can I set up an automatic online giving schedule?
  Yes. You can choose weekly or monthly giving schedules. Adjustments can be made at anytime by you using your email address and password.
• Q: Once I set up a giving schedule, can I change or cancel it?
  Yes, you can make adjustments to your weekly or monthly giving schedules by logging into your account using the email address and password you set up when creating your account.
• Q: If we want to help people get out of debt, why does Southwood accept credit card donations?
  Credit cards can be an efficient tool for payments and purchases. Many people utilize them in place of checks or cash throughout the month, and then pay off the balance in full. For these people, we offer the option of using a credit card to give. We strongly discourage those who have ongoing credit card debt from exercising this option.
• Q: How should I tithe if my income varies from pay period to pay period?
  Some people choose to give exactly one‐tenth of their earnings for each individual pay‐period. Others estimate their total earnings for the year and give a portion of the total tithe each week or month throughout the year.
• Q: Should I tithe off my gross earnings or the net amount of my paycheck?
  Scripture doesn’t use the terms “net” or “gross”. What is clear in scripture is that God places a high value on the spirit in which we give—“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7 ).
• Q: How can I keep a record of the amount I have contributed?
  Southwood sends monthly statements of giving to all who contribute to the church by either email or US mail.
• Q: How do I designate amounts to go to different funds?
  If giving online, enter the appropriate amount(s) on the lines for different funds. If you are using an offering envelope, use the lines on the outside of your offering envelope in the same way. This will ensure that your offering is applied according to your wishes. If you would like offering envelopes, please contact the church office at 402.423.5511.
• Q: I give an offering every week. Why should I make an annual pledge?
  Making an annual pledge is a step of faith....deciding in advance to give faithfully. It helps you to be intentional about your giving as a way to grow in your faith. Annual pledges also provide the church with a tool for forecasting, planning, and budgeting resources.As a partner in our ministry, you make Southwood's ministry most effective when you take seriously God's call to give and make a commitment to answer the call.
• Q: Do I have to use offering envelopes?
  Southwood provides offering envelopes for those who would like to use them. Offering envelopes are mailed out on a quarterly basis. However, it is not necessary for you to use offering envelopes. For instance, if you give your offering electronically, you may not wish to receive envelopes. Also, if you use checks for your contributions, the check itself will provide the information needed to ensure that your offering is posted correctly to your contribution statement. However, if you give cash, and would like to have your contributions posted to your statement, you will need to use offering envelopes in order for us to properly record your giving.
• Q: Does Southwood accept gifts for specific items?
  Southwood does accept gifts for specific items, provided that the Church Council has approved those gifts. For example, we accept gifts for the Food Pantry, the Look Beyond Capital Campaign which is helping to pay for our building, Southwood’s Music Fund, and many others. If you have a question about gifting for a specific item, please contact Lori Changstrom (402-423-5511).
• Q: If I date a check 12/31/2011, but I don’t deliver it to the church until 1/1/2012, can I deduct it on my 2011 tax return?
  No. Charitable contributions must be claimed in the year in which they are delivered. One exception is a check that is mailed – it is deductible in the year the check is mailed and postmarked, even if it is received after the first of the year.

Still have questions? We want to help!

Contact Lori Changstrom

Southwood periodically offers Freed-Up Financial Living, a workshop on Biblically based financial management, to help you grow as a:

• Diligent Earner
• Generous Giver
• Wise Saver
• Cautious Debtor
• Prudent Consumer

Freed-Up Financial Living workshops are free.

• Next session: T.B.D.

Have questions?

Contact Lori Changstrom

Other Resource Links

• Managing Money by The Book®
  Did you know that the Bible says more about money than about faith and prayer combined? Clearly, God knew we’d need some help in this area. In a free monthly e-newsletter, Managing Money by The Book® unpacks a verse of Scripture related to money, examining its application to our lives today. It’s insightful, encouraging, and absolutely free! Click here to subscribe.
• Matt About Money®
  Every two weeks you’ll get short summaries of four personal finance articles along with a brief commentary on how to make the most of the information for wise money management. This free e-newsletter gives you financial insights from a wide variety of sources. Click here to subscribe.