THE WEALTH TRANSFER IS NO LONGER COMING; IT IS HERE

An estimated $12 trillion to $15 trillion will flow to charitable causes through 2045. Churches and faith-based organizations sit at the heart of this moment because their most loyal members, Baby Boomers who have given for decades, are now thinking about legacy.

Baby Boomers contribute 46% of all church donations while representing only 28% of attendees. They are the financial backbone of congregations. Yet religious organizations currently receive only about 4% of affluent donors’ estates. That gap does not signal disconnection. It signals an important conversation waiting to happen.

Giving USA 2026 reported that bequest giving reached $62.19 billion in 2025, up nearly 20%. The Giving USA report confirms that legacy giving has become one of philanthropy’s most significant growth opportunities.

FAITH COMMUNITIES HOLD A UNIQUE CONNECTION

People give to organizations they trust and feel connected to. Baby Boomers have spent decades in congregations, in pews, at potlucks, in choirs, and through births, weddings, funerals, and seasons of personal struggle.

That history matters. Legacy is top of mind because many Boomers want their final chapter to reflect the values they have lived. Their church or ministry may be the place that shaped their family, strengthened their faith, and helped them serve others.

As the Presbyterian Church USA explains, “Planned giving is an act of faith and good stewardship.”

Dwayne Ashley, CEO of Bridge Philanthropic Consulting, shares, “Churches hold a sacred trust with their members, and the wealth transfer is the moment to honor that trust with intentional planned giving. Boomers want their legacy to live through the communities that shaped them. Faith-based organizations that ask, educate, and steward those intentions will build ministries that outlast every generation.”

ASK, EDUCATE, AND STEWARD

Many potential legacy donors are interested, but they wait to be asked. We encourage church leaders to:

1. Start conversations from the pulpit and during pastoral care moments.

2. Create a legacy society that honors members who include the congregation in their estate plans.

3. Offer accessible education about wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations.

4. Personally reach out to long-term members, older patrons, and faithful volunteers.

5. Connect each gift to ministry impact, not institutional need.

   

At Bridge Philanthropic Consulting, we partner with faith-based organizations to design asset and endowment strategies, launch planned giving programs, strengthen board governance, and build long-term sustainability. We help leaders turn decades of loyalty into lasting ministry capacity.

The wealth transfer is a once-in-a-lifetime invitation. Let us help you prepare for it with intention, care, and a clear plan.

Takeaway: Faith communities do not need to wait for legacy giving to happen. When we ask, educate, and steward faithfully, we help today’s generosity strengthen tomorrow’s ministry.

BPC adheres to the highest ethical standards in its work as members of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Association of African-American Development Officers, and the Giving Institute.