FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE LEGACY SOCIETY?
The Legacy Society consists of persons who have pledged to make a charitable gift to The Church of St. Paul in the Desert upon their death. These gifts may take a variety of forms, such as:
- A monetary bequest from your will or trust in a specific dollar amount
- A percentage of your estate or trust assets
- The remainder, or portion of the remainder, of your estate or trust assets after bequests are paid
- A beneficiary of your retirement plan (401(k), 403(b), IRA, ROTH, etc.)
- A beneficiary of your savings or investment account
- A beneficiary of your life insurance policy
- Real estate (proceeds from the sale of real estate)
- Items of personal property (proceeds from the sale of these items)
- A grant from a Charitable Fund that you have established (this is a donor advised fund managed by financial institution)
- A Charitable Remainder Trust (this is a trust where fixed percentage of assets is paid annually with remainder upon your death)
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE LEGACY SOCIETY?
The primary purpose of The Legacy Society is to fund St. Paul Endowment Fund and thereby to provide for the ongoing and future financial health of the Parish. Each year a portion of the Endowment Fund’s earnings supports the Parish operating budget. For example, in December 2025 the Vestry approved a distribution representing approximately 3% of the 2026 operating budget. A fully developed Endowment Fund typically contributes 10-20% to a charitable organization’s annual operating budget. Gifts from Legacy Society members are critical to growing the Endowment Fund and thus bringing the Parish closer to this goal.
SHOULD I HAVE A WILL OR TRUST?
Yes. The Episcopal Church teaches that it is the duty of every person, while they are in good health, to make legally binding decisions regarding the disposal of their earthly goods, and, to the extent that they are able, to provide bequests for religious and charitable purposes. (The Book of Common Prayer p. 445.) With a few exceptions such as a life insurance policy or retirement plan where you have named a beneficiary, or jointly-owned real property, without a properly executed will or trust, California law – rather than you – determines who receives your property upon your death. This is known as dying “intestate” and because the law and not you determines the distribution of your property, this may not be what you would have desired had you executed a will or trust.
I HAVE A WILL OR TRUST THAT I EXECUTED IN ANOTHER STATE, DO I NEED TO EXECUTE A NEW ONE IN CALIFORNIA?
If you are and intend to remain a California resident, it is recommended that your estate plan conform to the requirements of California law and therefore it likely will be appropriate for you to execute a new will or trust. A licensed California attorney can provide you with specific advice on this.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WILL AND A TRUST?
A will is administered by a person usually designated by you and appointed by the Probate Court known as an “executor” or “personal representative” who distributes your property after your death under the supervision of the Probate Court. Probating a will is public and subject to court fees. In contrast, a trust is administered by a person that you appoint known as a “trustee.” Because trusts generally are not subject to Probate Court supervision, a trustee may carry out your wishes more quickly and privately than the executor of a will, and without the payment of court fees. The reality is that the Probate Court moves slowly, and it is not uncommon for the administration of an estate under Probate Court jurisdiction to take many months and sometimes years.
IF I HAVE A TRUST, DO I ALSO NEED A WILL?
Most persons who establish trusts also have “pour over” wills so that any property held outside of their trust “pours over” into the trust upon their death and therefore may be distributed by their trustee in accordance with the terms of their trust. Your attorney can advise you about this.
MAY AN AGENT OR EMPLOYEE OF ST. PAUL’S BE NAMED AS MY EXECUTOR OR TRUSTEE?
No. Parish policy prohibits the Co-Rectors, Wardens, Members of the Vestry and employees of the Parish from acting as an executor, trustee, guardian, conservator, or custodian of an estate, trust, fund or similar of which the Parish is a named beneficiary. (This prohibition does not apply to the spouse of a Legacy Society member regarding that member’s estate.)
HOW DO I JOIN THE LEGACY SOCIETY?
Persons wishing to join the Legacy Society complete a “My Legacy Society Gift Intention” form and submit it to the Parish office. The form asks you to provide pertinent information for the Parish’s records, such as:
- Your intention to provide a legacy gift to St. Paul
- The source of your gift, e.g., will, trust, retirement account, savings or investment account, life insurance policy, proceeds of real estate or personal property, etc.
- The type of your gift, e.g., a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate or trust assets, the remainder or portion of the remainder of your estate or trust assets after bequests are paid, etc.
- The name and contact information of your executor, trustee, financial institution or other entity that will be charged with the distribution of your gift to St. Paul
- Whether you have completed End of Life instructions that are on file with the Parish office, including whether you have arranged to be inurned in the Columbarium
You will not be asked to provide the amount of your intended gift.
Each year the Legacy Society hosts an induction ceremony where those who have joined in the past 12 months are formally inducted into the Legacy Society and their names added to the Legacy Society roster in the narthex of the Church. (Members also have the option to remain anonymous.)
ARE ALL GIFTS ACCEPTED BY ST. PAUL’S?
All unrestricted monetary gifts are accepted. It therefore is recommended that Legacy Society members make their gifts this way. For gifts subject to restrictions, such restrictions must be evaluated as to whether they are consistent with the mission, ministry and needs of the Parish, and they may or may not be accepted. Restricted gifts therefore are not recommended. Except for publicly traded securities, non-monetary gifts such as real estate or personal property must also be evaluated. This is because, for example, in the case of a gift of real estate, the Parish is not in the position of being a property manager. The preferred approach is for you to direct your executor or trustee to liquidate the asset that you wish to give and to provide the proceeds to the Parish as an unrestricted monetary gift to the Endowment Fund.
WILL MY GIFT TO ST. PAUL’S BE TAXED?
No. The Parish pays no taxes upon gifts made to it for charitable purposes, such as to the Endowment Fund. In addition, California eliminated estate taxes in 2005. However, if the fair market value of your estate in 2026 exceeds $13.61 million after certain reductions and deductions (such as gifts to qualified charities), then your estate may be subject to federal estate tax. This threshold is scheduled to change in 2027 – applying to estates above $7 million – unless Congress takes further action. You should consult with your tax advisor if you believe that your estate may be subject to federal estate tax.
HOW IS A GIFT MADE TO THE ENDOWMENT FUND?
You should confirm with your attorney as to the specific language that is appropriate to your estate plan, but the recommended designation is to: “The Endowment Fund of The Church of St. Paul in the Desert, 125 W. El Alameda, Palm Springs, CA 92262, Tax ID 95-2120185.”.
WHAT IF I HAVE ALREADY MADE PROVISION FOR A GIFT TO ST. PAUL’S IN MY ESTATE PLAN BUT HAVE NOT SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED IT TO THE ENDOWMENT FUND?
As a Legacy Society member, the primary purpose of your gift is to fund the growth of the Endowment Fund and thereby to support the financial well-being of the Parish now and into the future. It therefore is recommended that the next time that you review your estate plan, or as soon as may be convenient, that you amend your estate plan (will, trust or otherwise) to specifically state that your gift is being made to the Endowment Fund.
WHAT IF I WISH TO MAKE A GIFT IN ADDITION TO MY BEQUEST TO THE ENDOWMENT FUND?
You may certainly make a gift in addition to your bequest to the Endowment Fund. Again, please consult with your attorney as to the specific language that is appropriate to your estate plan, but the recommended designation is to:
“The Church of St. Paul in the Desert, 125 W. El Alameda, Palm Springs, CA 92262, Tax ID 95-2120185, for charitable purposes as the Vestry may direct.”
WHAT WILL BE YOUR LEGACY?
How to Get Started
Please submit your Planned Gift Interest Form.
Once the form has been received, our Parish Administrator will reach out to schedule an in‑person meeting.
