It has been energizing to see our program year kick-off with excitement, new offerings, and more opportunities to grow as a community. For me, all of these ministry offerings are a concrete reminder of the importance of our prayers, participation, and financial support. All of these make room for the Spirit to guide us in the way of love.
Today also marks the start of the final quarter of the calendar year. We will send third quarter giving statements on Monday, October 5. I hope you check your email and review your statement. This is a helpful way to ensure the accuracy of our records. And I hope, helpful for you to see where your giving stands. We are so appreciative of the support we receive.
Soon we will kick-off our annual stewardship campaign. I wanted to share with you some strategies that may help further your support of Saint John’s.
- Starting in 2026, those who take the standard deduction can also claim an additional $1,000 (individual filers) or $2,000 (married filing jointly) in charitable giving.
- Donating your 2027 pledge in 2026 is one way to “bunch” charitable deductions and could allow you to itemize your 2026 taxes while taking a standard deduction in 2027. If you wish to utilize this strategy, simply note “2027 pledge” on your donation or reach out to patrick@sjcathedral.org.
- For those 70.5 or better, you can give a qualified charitable distribution through your IRA to Saint John’s of up to $111,000 per individual or $222,000 per couple. Giving through your IRA is easy and directly reduces your tax burden.
- Giving through a donor advised fund allows you to take an immediate tax deduction when you fund the account and then give tax free from the accounts’ growth.
If any of these sound like they may be helpful to you, I would encourage you to speak with a tax professional. If you have any questions about making a donation, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at patrick@sjcathedral.org or our Finance Manager, K.J. Begley, CPA at kj@sjcathedral.org.
As always, know that your support is greatly appreciated and is what makes all of our ministries possible.
Patrick Lannen, Director of Stewardship & Operations