Why We Give
At Richwoods, generosity is not about meeting a budget — it’s about following Jesus. It’s about answering the question, “What would you have me give, Lord?”
Scripture teaches us that everything we have is a gift from God, and giving is one of the primary ways we grow in trust, gratitude, and faith. In 2 Corinthians, we are encouraged to give joyfully, which is why one of our core values is to be Joy-Filled Givers. When we give joyfully and faithfully, we make God happy, we align our resources with God’s purposes, and we co-participate in what He is doing in Central Illinois and beyond.
As an additional encouragement, we are excited to let you know that 10% of all gifts in December will support Centerpoint Community Church, our church plant in East Bluff!
Give Online
Follow this link to set up either a recurring or a one-time gift. We believe it’s best to “automate the important,” including your joy-filled giving. It also helps us budget when we have reliable, recurring financial contributions to the church. But if God is inviting you to make a one-time gift, that is wonderful too!
A Simple Year-End Giving Checklist
Before December 31, we encourage every household to:
• Review your year-to-date giving
• Pray about this question: “What would you have me to give, Lord?”
• Discuss generosity as a family
• Plan your gift
• Complete gifts by December 31
• Celebrate joyful faithfulness — obedience matters more than amounts
Ways to Give at Richwoods
Richwoods offers several ways to give so generosity can be simple and secure:
• Online Giving – one-time or recurring gifts here
• In-Person Giving – on Sundays or at the church office during office hours
• Mail-In Gifts – postmarked by December 31
• Through the App – at the bottom, under the “Give” tab
• Text To Give – text RichwoodsKx to 77977
• Non-Cash Assets – stocks, real estate, cryptocurrency, and more! Contact Sandy (sthompson@richwoods.org) or Tom (tbutler@richwoods.org) for help transferring non-traditional assets to Richwoods.
You can access your up-to-date giving statement, manage recurring gifts, and explore additional options any time at richwoods.org/give.
Give with Wisdom and Maximize your Impact: Tax-Smart Strategies to Consider
Below are several commonly used year-end giving strategies that many choose to explore. Utilizing these can help maximize your kingdom impact while reducing your tax burden as much as possible. Keep in mind: while Richwoods does not provide legal or tax advice, many people find it helpful to talk with a CPA or financial advisor about strategies that can increase impact while stewarding resources well.
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)
If you are 70½ or older, you may want to consider making charitable gifts through a Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA. A QCD is a direct transfer of funds from your IRA custodian to a qualified ministry like Richwoods. QCDs can count toward satisfying required minimum distributions (RMDs) and are excluded from taxable income. Unlike regular IRA withdrawals, QCDs do not require itemizing deductions, which can be beneficial for those taking the standard deduction.
Appreciated Stock or Mutual Funds
If you own appreciated securities (such as stock or mutual funds) that you have held for more than one year, donating those assets directly may provide two benefits: you may receive a charitable deduction for the full market value of the gift, and you may avoid paying capital gains taxes that would apply if the asset were sold.
Bundling (or Bunching) Contributions
If you find that the total of your itemized deductions for 2025 will be slightly above or below the level of the standard deduction, you might find it beneficial to bunch 2025 and 2026 charitable contributions this year: itemize deductions on 2025 taxes, and take the standard deduction on 2026 taxes. In addition to achieving a large charitable impact now, this strategy could produce a larger overall tax deduction than two separate years of itemized deductions, depending on your contribution amounts and filing status.
Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)
A donor-advised fund allows you to make an irrevocable charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and recommend grants to qualified ministries over time. Assets contributed to a DAF can grow tax-free, offering flexibility in how and when gifts are distributed. We use a DAF that also allows our money to grow at 5%!
Giving After a Financial Loss
If you have experienced investment losses and still desire to give, one strategy some people consider is selling an asset at a capital loss, making a cash gift from the proceeds, and using both the capital loss and charitable deduction to help offset taxable income. This approach can sometimes turn a difficult financial situation into an opportunity for generosity.
We encourage you to begin any of these conversations early with trusted financial professionals who understand your unique situation.
Find Your Giving Statement
Log in to our Richwoods Online Community to confirm/update your personal information, as well as to download your personal giving statement. Please review your Giving Statement to confirm it is accurate!
Removing Barriers to Generosity
If you have questions about giving options, receipts, or logistics, our team is here to help. We want generosity to be joyful, not complicated.
Considering stock, IRA, or other non-cash gifts?
Our finance team can help coordinate the logistics and timing of these gifts.
For assistance, visit richwoods.org/give or contact the church office at 309-691-5252 and ask for Sandy or Tom.
Thank You!
Your faithfulness makes ministry possible. We are deeply grateful for the ways you pray, serve, and give. As you consider year-end generosity, know that your gifts are making a real and lasting difference for the Kingdom of God.
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” — 2 Corinthians 9:7