Why We Can’t Wait Until Tomorrow to Talk About Planned Giving

Parish leaders carry a quiet but profound responsibility: caring not only for the spiritual life of the community today, but also for the future of the Church tomorrow. One of the most pastoral, practical ways to do this is by helping parishioners think about planned giving: simple beneficiary or estate‑plan gifts that strengthen parish life for generations.

Planned giving is not about pressure. It is about care. It helps families plan well, and it helps parishes prepare wisely. And given the financial and demographic trends shaping parish life today, this invitation has never been more important. Let me tell you why.

Key Takeaways in this Article:

• The data points to an immediate need for long-term financial planning to alleviate the financial fragility of our Catholic intuitions.
• The opportunity is now with the largest wealth transfer in U.S. history is underway.
• Parishioners need priest's encouragement to normalize planned giving. It's not about taking legacy gifts away from family, it's about maintaining the institution that will continue to give to their family for generations.
• Planned giving applies to everyone, not just the wealthy. And it doesn't have to be complicated. Anyone can use simple tools like beneficiary designations on accounts.
• Contact the Catholic Foundation for customized tools and advice for your parish.

The Case for Long‑Term Planning: What Today’s Giving Trends Tell Us

Across the country, long‑term parish stability is being shaped by several converging trends. None of them are new, but together, they create a moment that calls for clarity, courage, and planning.

Fewer Households Are Participating in Parish Life

National participation in religious communities has declined significantly:

• In 2020, only 47% of U.S. adults belong to a house of worship, down from 70% in 1999 (Gallup)
• While local DOW-R Catholic church attendance stats show 4% annual growth in 2025, we also know we took a significant, 12%, loss during COVID.
• Just 36% of millennials belong to a church (as of 2020), compared to 66% of the pre‑1946 generation (Gallup data summarized by TIME)

This means fewer families are giving regularly, and thus fewer will naturally “replace” today’s most faithful donors.

Giving Is Concentrated Among a Small Group — and That Group Is Aging

In most parishes today, a small number of households carry the majority of the financial responsibility. Studies consistently show that roughly 20% of parishioners provide about 80% of all giving (Pushpay). These are often long‑time, deeply committed Catholics whose generosity has sustained parish life for decades.

But many of these faithful donors are now in their late 60s, 70s, or 80s. As they age, parishes face a growing gap between what ministries require and what the weekly offertory can reliably provide. Without intentional long‑term planning, this shift places increasing pressure on fewer and fewer families.

Younger Adults Give Differently — and Less Consistently

At the same time, younger generations approach charitable giving in a very different way. National research shows that adults under 45 donate at lower rates than older adults (AP‑NORC), and Gen Z gives less consistently than previous generations (Barna). This isn’t a sign of indifference or lack of faith. It’s a generational pattern shaped by economic pressures, student debt and different expectations around institutional giving.

The result is a widening space between the generosity of older parishioners and the giving habits of younger adults. It’s not as simple as moral failing, it’s a reality that requires thoughtful planning and pastoral leadership.

The Largest Wealth Transfer in History Has Begun

Cerulli Associates estimates that tens of trillions of dollars will pass from older generations to heirs and charities in the coming decades: $124 Trillion by 2048!

This is the most significant opportunity in our lifetimes to strengthen parish endowments, support ministries, and secure the future of the Church.

What This Means for Parishes

It’s simply a fact. The financial health of our invaluable Catholic institutions are fragile. Annual giving alone cannot sustain tomorrow’s needs. Legacy gifts such as bequests, beneficiary designations, and gifts of assets offer a faithful, practical way to prepare for the future. So the next question is how.

Why Parishioners Need Their Priest’s Encouragement

People take action when their pastor gives permission

Many Catholics quietly assume that estate planning is something “wealthy people do,” not something meant for ordinary families. Because of that, they often hesitate to bring it up or don’t realize how simple and meaningful a legacy gift can be. A gentle word from their pastor can change that entirely. When a priest gives permission: “It’s okay to think about including your parish in your will,” it removes fear, normalizes the conversation, and helps people see planned giving as an act of faith rather than a financial transaction.

Priests also hold a unique place of trust in the lives of parishioners. A brochure or website can explain the mechanics of planned giving, but only a pastor can speak to its spiritual value. When parishioners hear their priest affirm that remembering the Church in an estate plan is a good and faithful thing to do, it carries a moral and pastoral weight that no printed material can match. Many simply want to know: Is this something the Church encourages?

And when the parish never mentions planned giving at all, people often assume the opposite: that the Church doesn’t need or want to be included. Silence unintentionally creates confusion. A few well‑placed, pastoral reminders can open the door for parishioners who are already inclined to be generous but aren’t sure where to begin.

What Planned Giving Actually Is (and Isn’t)

It’s not complicated. Most planned gifts are simple:

• A bequest in a will
• Naming the parish as a beneficiary of a retirement account
• A percentage gift
• A life insurance designation

It’s not about taking from children: Most planned gifts come from residual assets—what remains after family is cared for.

It’s not only for wealthy Catholics: Even modest estates can make a meaningful impact.

The Spiritual Dimension: A Legacy of Faith

Planned giving is far more than a financial decision. For many Catholics, it becomes a deeply spiritual act. One that expresses gratitude, hope, and a desire to continue participating in the life of the Church even after they have gone home to God.

At its heart, a legacy gift is an act of thanksgiving. It is a way for parishioners to look back on the blessings God has given them—the sacraments that shaped their lives, the community that supported them, the faith that sustained them—and respond with generosity.

For some, it becomes a final expression of stewardship: a way of saying, “All I have received is gift, and I want to return a portion of that gift to the Church that formed me.”

It is also a final witness. When someone includes their parish in their estate plan, they are making a quiet but powerful statement about what mattered most to them. Their gift becomes a testimony to their faith, a way of ensuring that the Church they loved continues to serve, teach, and accompany others long after they are gone.

And for many, it is a way to honor the Church that has walked with them through every season of life. The sacraments, the community, the education, the pastoral care—these are treasures worth sustaining for the next generation. Planned giving allows parishioners to help ensure that the same blessings they received will be available to their children, grandchildren, and the families who will one day sit in the same pews.

How Planned Gifts Transform Parishes

To making giving more tangible, priests can share with their parishes the potential impact that Legacy gifts can make that apply directly to their parishes situations. Some examples include:

• Funding scholarships
• Supporting vocations
• Strengthening youth ministry or adult formation
• Building operations endowments
• Sustaining evangelization
• Providing for large capital needs

These gifts allow parishes to move from scarcity to mission: planning boldly and sustainably.

Take Action: What Parish Leaders Can Do Today

• Mention legacy giving once or twice a year. A simple bulletin note or homily reference can open the door.
• Normalize the conversation by having it! “Many parishioners choose to remember the parish in their will…”
• Partner with the Catholic Foundation. We can help with Workshops, Templates, Donor conversations and Endowment creation. You don’t have to navigate this alone.

Conclusion: A Simple Invitation That Strengthens the Church for Generations

Encouraging planned giving is pastoral care.

It helps families plan well, and it helps the Church thrive long into the future. A parish that talks about legacy giving becomes a parish that is ready for tomorrow: spiritually, financially, and missionally.

For more information about planned giving, to host a free planned giving seminar at your parish or to get a free parish endowment toolkit, contact us today: info@catholicfsmn.org