Presbyterian Bequests in 2010

Bequests: The Annual Decline Continues, and It’s Really Bad.

For the past five years the rapid annual declines in quantity and size of bequests have been consistent, according to the PCUSA Statistics for 2010. Click here to see graph of trends.

We believe that PCUSA churches are missing bequests worth in excess of $100 million each year. That may appear to be a shocking proclamation, but, before brushing it off, consider the data (based on the past 5 years starting 2006):

• The denomination received $98 million in bequest revenue during 2010. This represents an annual drop of approximately $10-$15 million each year since 2006, when net bequests were $160 million.
• The percentage of churches receiving bequests continues to drop each year by nearly 1%. In 2006 25.4% received bequests, and in 2010 22.4% received bequests.
• Demographics should be in our favor: 43% of Presbyterians are 65 years or older / the median age is 61) - most of our members are from the most generous generations.
• For those churches receiving bequests, the average bequest revenue dropped precipitously from $59k in 2006 to $41k in 2011. This may be heavily explained by declining estate values (i.e. securities and real estate) over the past several years.
• The average non-profit receives over 10% of charitable giving from individuals through bequests - the PCUSA just over 4%. If PCUSA churches received bequests in proportion to the average in the non-profit world, it would generate well in excess of $100 million annually.

We've waited patiently for the bounce or at least for a leveling out. Unfortunately, the decline appears to have strong momentum, and already the bottom is much lower than many of us had predicted.

MOPING STOPS HERE.

Despite the gloom above, this is actually an exciting time for planned giving in the church. It is not too late to get started. There are scores of churches becoming aware of the missed opportunity for the giver and for the congregation. There are rapidly growing numbers of our own churches charging out of the gates intent on reversing the trends.

If you have been wondering if you should get your program going, it is an exciting time to get started:
• Know that You are not alone. There are lots of resources in the denomination
• Do not be embarrassed about a lack of experience - It is very rare that anyone doing planned giving at their own church has relevant experience. Whatever YOUR background, it is relevant.
• There are scores of churches out there who are doing an outstanding job and sharing their outstanding ideas. That is one of PEER's primary goals - facilitating this flow of ideas and materials. We are always trying to improve the way we move information and ideas between yours and other churches.
• PEER's Membership Program: Planned Giving communications tools (planned giving web pages, brochure templates, etc.)
• Round Tables already begun in many cities to share ideas and materials directly between churches
• Online Library and Tools