You asked: safeguarding the intended purpose of my gift

Dear Foundation, 

I want to give money to my church for a specific project, but I’ve been holding on to it because our current pastor doesn’t share my priorities and won’t spend it the way they should. How can I make sure that my gift gets used for its intended purpose? Do I have to wait until we get a new pastor? Or is it best to put this kind of gift in my will? 

This is a tough one. Giving is easier when there’s a common vision. I’m sorry you’re having this experience. 

First, let’s dispel a common misconception: pastors often have influence over special projects, but per paragraph 2529 of the Book of Discipline, the authority to accept or reject gifts rests with the charge conference, and is usually delegated to the trustees. 

With the authority to accept or reject gifts comes a responsibility to choose which gifts are wanted. To maintain their nonprofit status, churches must use restricted gifts the way donors intend. If a gift is offered for an unwanted purpose, the trustees would have a responsibility to disclaim (refuse to accept) it. 

This gives you a lot of leverage. The church can ask you to change your gift’s designation, but it can’t force you to do so. But likewise, you can ask the church to undertake a certain project, but you can’t force the church to do so. If neither you or the church leadership is able to negotiate on the vision of how the gift should be used, then unfortunately, the gift may be a no-go. 

If you absolutely do not want to negotiate, then putting the gift in your will is one way to make sure you don’t have to. But it doesn’t really resolve the issue; it just kicks the can down the proverbial road. And it increases the chances that your church may have to disclaim the gift. In the end, you need to decide which is more important to you: the gift’s intended use, or its intended beneficiary. 

If your priority is for your church to be the beneficiary, then you may have to widen the scope of its designation. This is something we recommend to all donors, not just those who have reached an impasse with their pastor. It’s helpful for institutions to have some wiggle room for other contingencies in the face of an unknowable future. For example, a donor who wanted to give money for choir robes could widen that scope to “music ministries.” 

If your priority is for the project to happen, you may need to find a different beneficiary who is willing to undertake it. For example, if you want your gift to pay for a regular free meal to the community, and your church isn’t willing to take on that project, you might reach out to local food banks and soup kitchens. 

That said, we’ve helped many donors and churches come to agreements over the years in similar situations. Often, an unsuccessful gift is merely the result of incomplete information. If it would be helpful, a member of the Foundation’s staff might be able to share experiences and information that would help the gift work for both the donor and the church. 

I admire the fact that you have a strong vision, and pray that you will be able to discern God’s will for this gift.