GIVING AT TRINITY

Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above. - James 1:17

Make a GiftMake a Pledge

Why We Give

2022 Giving / Pledging Infographic

Trinity is a member supported church, which means we count on you! Thank you for offering your time, prayer, talent, and financial support to sustain our mission.

At Trinity, you are a vital part of our church family and our community. Your pledge or gift is important, regardless of the amount that you give.

Trinity is our church home, sustains us, grows our faith, nurtures our children, and shows love and mercy in our community.

Ways to Give

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:34

Planned Giving helps ensure that Trinity's mission,
to love our neighbors, do justice, and walk humbly with God – continues.

Planned giving is separate from the annual stewardship campaign, which funds the yearly operating expenses of our parish. Planned gifts may be unrestricted or directed. Unrestricted planned gifts will be used with guidance from the Vestry. Directed gifts may be used for a specified purpose as outlined by the donor.

The easiest way to make a lasting difference is to remember Trinity Episcopal Church in your will. If you have an existing will, we encourage you to work with your lawyer to prepare a simple, inexpensive codicil. You may bequeath a specific amount or percentage of your estate, providing unrestricted support, benefiting a specific program or investing in the Trinity Perpetual Memorial & Endowment Fund. The bequest can specify a gift of cash, securities, real estate or tangible personal property.

Retirement Plan Assets

Often considered an attractive option for making a planned gift, retirement plan assets are among the most tax burdened assets in an estate. To make a charitable gift of retirement assets, simply complete a new beneficiary designation form naming Trinity Episcopal Church as a percentage beneficiary.

Life Insurance Policies

You may use one or more whole life insurance policies to make a future gift to Trinity Episcopal Church. To do so, name Trinity Episcopal Church as a percentage beneficiary of a new or existing policy, or simply transfer ownership. As with retirement plan assets, using a life insurance policy to make a charitable gift can be as quick and easy as completing a new beneficiary designation form.

The Trinity Legacy Society 

The Trinity Legacy Society recognizes those who have made a bequest or other planned gift from their estate. These can be gifts of any size and can be structured as a dollar amount or percentage. They can also be distributed from life insurance policies, annuities, and IRA and 401 (k) accounts. As you consider your journey with Trinity, we invite you to consider joining the Legacy Society in your estate plans.

If you intend to include Trinity Episcopal Church in your legacy planning or have already done so, please complete a form in the Office of Stewardship so that we may acknowledge your generosity and include you in Legacy Society celebrations.

Bequest Information and Form

Preparing for your Final Affairs

Making plans for your funeral, end of life medical decisions, and desires for your estate is a final gift you can give your loved ones. The following materials include estate and end-of-life decisions as well as language for bequests. 

Planning your Estate
Planning for your Funeral
Trinity Memorial Garden Application

For More Information

Raina O'Neil, Director of Stewardship and Development, will be glad to assist you and, as you wish, to arrange for you to meet with the Rector. Please contact her at (504) 670-2537 or at .

Established in 1975, the Trinity Perpetual Memorial and Endowment Fund consists of assets that have been given to the church by faithful parishioners and friends. The fund ensures a Church for the future. The Trinity Church endowment is professionally managed by Monroe Vos, a Houston firm, with oversight by Trinity's Endowment Committee. Each year the Church draws 5% from the endowment for essential operating expenses and ministries. The rest grows in perpetuity. Without these funds, we would not have the depth and breadth of programs that sustain us today.

Gifts to the endowment may be made in the form of cash, stocks and bonds, real estate, life insurance bequests payable upon the death of the donor, or other income including property. A gift may be made at any time, or may be made in the name of the donor or may be made as an honorarium or memorial for someone the donor wants to recognize.

Hundreds of Trinity parishioners, both living and deceased, have contributed to the endowment to ensure that Trinity Church will continue its mission of excellence for future generations.

TPMEF 2019/2020 Report
TPMEF 2021 Report
TPMEF Enrollment Form (v. 2022)

Trinity is happy to accept donations of appreciated stock. Please contact our broker, Jennifer Rigby, at Morgan Stanley at (504) 585-3909. Trinity's account number is 575-021402 and the DTC number is 0015.

Frequently asked questions

What is stewardship and what does it support?

Stewardship begins with prayers of gratitude. Acknowledging all that we have been given, and that our very lives are a gift from above, is powerful practice.

Stewardship supports everything we experience at Trinity — worship, pastoral care, education programs, the beautiful, sacred music, outreach programs seven days a week, maintenance of our beloved buildings and more.

 What is a pledge? Why should I pledge?

All Trinity members are asked to make a pledge of annual financial support to sustain our mission and ministry in the coming calendar year. Pledging lets our leadership plan effectively for the multitude of ministries that connect us to each other. Pledging allows the Vestry to budget responsibly and ensure with confidence that Trinity's programmatic needs will be met. New pledges and increases in pledge commitments allow us both to meet increases in annual fixed costs and expand ministry budgets to provide more robust programming and outreach efforts.

Every gift is important and meaningful. To that end, we ask every member to participate by making a pledge to Trinity.

Why should I pledge if I already give through the offering plate?

Funds collected in the plate each week to support our life and mission are important and we are grateful. However, pledges are vital to establishing our operating budget for the coming year.

Pledging is an intentional decision about financial giving. When you plan ahead for your giving, you make conscious choices about spending your money in ways that reflect your faith and values. Making a pledge allows our vestry, our lay leaders, to be able to plan for and build an annual budget. Similarly, you might establish a personal or household budget based on your anticipated income.

Your pledge honors the reality that only through significant funding can we be a vibrant parish of worship.

How do I fulfill my pledge?

Trinity Church operates fiscally on a calendar year. Payments made towards your pledge can be made throughout the year in installments that are most convenient for you.

Trinity gladly accepts cash, checks, credit cards and debit cards, as well as gifts of appreciated stock. Automatic withdrawals from a bank account are another easy option for fulfilling your pledge. Donations of cash or check may be placed in the offering plate during worship services, dropped off in the church offices, or mailed to Stewardship Office, Trinity Church, 1329 Jackson Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130.

  • Use a credit or debit card.
    • You may find it easier to pay using a credit card or debit card. Our website can securely process your gift.  Donate Now
  • Set up automatic payments using a bank account, credit or debit card.
    • Setting up recurring withdrawals is easy! Simply complete this form and return to the Church Stewardship office (1329 Jackson Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130).
  • Make a stock gift.
    • Trinity is happy to accept donations of appreciated stock. Please contact our broker, Jennifer Rigby, at Morgan Stanley at (504) 585-3909. Trinity's account number is 575-021402 and the DTC number is 0015.
  • Use our QR code or Text-to-Give

 

  • Text any amount to (504) 217-2015. If this is your first experience using the QR code or Text-to-Give, you will need to enter your contact information and credit/debit card information. This stores your information so that it is unnecessary to re-enter it with each gift.

What if I make a pledge but later find I can't pay it in full?

While we hope that you will be able to fulfill your commitment, if your circumstances change, please notify the Stewardship Office that you need to adjust your pledge. If you're blessed with unexpected extra income, you're always welcome to increase your pledge, as well!

How much should I pledge?

Determining the amount of your annual pledge is between you and God. It is truly a matter of personal and family prayer, reflection and faith.

Please know that your pledge should feel right to you. While you may feel that you cannot give a lot, we are grateful for every penny received. We encourage you to pledge an amount that is both responsible and audacious. This chart may help you decide how much to pledge during 2020.

Who knows how much I pledge?

Trinity Church's stewardship staff and finance office keep all pledges strictly confidential. A small group of church leaders –the congregation's elected officers and the co-chairs of the Stewardship Committee, appointed by those officers, and the rector – may in some cases also have access to pledge records for specific purposes. They have all signed confidentiality agreements not to disclose any information they receive.

Is my personal and financial information secure when I pledge or give online?

Yes! All of Trinity's pledges and online gifts are encrypted and securely processed through Blackbaud, Trinity’s supplier of financial management software. The form is embedded on our site but hosted by Blackbaud. To learn more, visit www.blackbaud.com. Please contact our Database Manager and Development Assistant, Kriste Buck, at  or (504) 670-2513 with questions or concerns.

Stay Connected

Sign up to receive news and announcements from Trinity Church.