- Donor Stories
Leaving a Legacy Through a Gift of Farmland
The feeling of community and the people of the parish are what make your church a home away from home. It’s a place where the community is united in its mission to serve Christ and where the people of God can take time to be together with Our Lord. For Lyle Divis, Holy Trinity Church in Brainard is his wellspring of grace.
When he inherited his family’s land, Lyle knew he wanted to someday donate it to Holy Trinity Parish. “I asked myself what Dad would want, and I knew he’d be happy to see it go to the church,” he says. “This way, the land could benefit everyone in the community – not only the church, but the entire parish, my good neighbors, and even the people who might purchase it.”
As many do, Lyle presumed he’d only be able to donate the land posthumously, but with the Foundation’s help, he’s able to witness the fruits of his charity firsthand while also improving his financial security for life.
Hard Work Is Its Own Reward
You won’t find Lyle sitting around too often. He’s been driving the school bus for 51 years, and when he’s not getting kids to school on time, he’s hard at work cutting down trees and helping his neighbors. Lyle has cleaned the church in Loma since 1996, and he even sings in the choir. Lyle is generous; taking more than he needs is not in his nature. “Keeping everything going on the farm was why I stayed at home. I never expected to inherit the land,” he says. “I think my family just knew how hard I worked there, late hours and nights mending fences and cutting down trees to take good care of the farm.”
Putting The Plan Into Action
After careful consideration, a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) was the best fit for Lyle and the parish for several reasons. First, it allowed Lyle to make an immediate gift to the parish through the Catholic Foundation. The Catholic Foundation sold the land, using part of the proceeds of the sale to purchase an annuity from an A-rated insurance company.
An annuity ensured Lyle would receive a guaranteed monthly income of more than four times the amount he was currently receiving from renting out the ground while also giving a significant amount as a gift to the Holy Trinity Fund, which is actively managed and invested to grow over time for the sole benefit of the parish.
Maximizing Lyle’s Gift
By adding to the Holy Trinity Fund at the Foundation, Lyle could realize his gift and see it put to good use in the community. Financially, there are some real benefits for Lyle going forward, too. When a large charitable gift is made, you can spread the tax deductions out over six years. “The tax strategy of the Foundation is smart,” says Lyle. “Taxes on the land itself were big bills I had to pay each year. And now, not only am I no longer obligated to pay the land taxes, I’m able to benefit from tax deductions for a few years going forward.”
Planning for the Future
The Catholic Foundation of Southern Nebraska works with donors, pastors, and professional advisors to ensure every aspect of a gift works in the best interest of the donor and the charitable causes they care about. Planning is the most important part of ensuring a gift is given wisely and charitable giving goals are met. Undoubtedly, Lyle’s gift to Holy Trinity Parish will make a difference in the lives of many people of faith in the years to come.
