Leaving Our Legacy

Happy anniversary, United Methodist Women!

We're celebrating our 150th anniversary in 2019, just a few short years from now. The oldest of our predecessor organizations was founded in 1869. Like anniversaries of a marriage or school or university graduation, this anniversary is an opportunity for us to celebrate, to renew connections, to marvel at what has been accomplished in a century and a half, and to make new commitments for the work ahead.

Our predecessors established a strong, vital mission organization and left that legacy for us. During the 150th anniversary era, our challenge is to leave our legacy for this organization we love and for the United Methodist Women members who'll come after us in 2019 and on into the future. Our challenge is making sure that the direct service, advocacy, education and leadership development we've been doing for our first 150 years continue for at least the next 150. We'll leave our legacy by permanently underwriting the vital mission work of United Methodist Women.

Check out the planned giving section of the United Methodist Women website: umwgift.org.

Managing Our Money: Workbook on Women and Personal Finances by Joyce D. Sohl (Women's Division, General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church, 1984).

United Methodist Women Connection
From 2015 to 2019, all United Methodist Women members are invited to participate in an organization-wide campaign to grow the Legacy Fund, an endowed fund that already exists at the national office. When the campaign is finished, interest generated by the Legacy Fund will permanently support the work of United Methodist Women.

The three components of the Legacy Fund campaign are (1) an every-member annual challenge, (2) estate planning opportunities and (3) major gift opportunities. Various options exist for any woman who wants to create a thoughtful financial plan that distributes her assets the way she wants and leaves a legacy of love and caring for her family and for United Methodist Women.

Suggestions for Action

• Collaborate with your conference Legacy Fund coordinator on fundraising efforts.
• Make gifts to the Legacy Fund in honor or in memory of United Methodist Women leaders.
• Name United Methodist Women and the Legacy Fund in your estate plans.