Heritage Society

Our annual Heritage Society Dinner on Friday evening, May 5, 2023, is the church’s way of thanking those individuals who have made legacy gifts. We will be sharing a delicious meal and learning from our special guest, Kayla T. Jackson, Archivist, Hallie Q. Brown Community Center. 

Unity Church’s Heritage Society is the group of Unity Church members and friends who have made a legacy gift to the church. They have chosen to make a commitment that benefits our church community for future generations.

You need not be wealthy or have a large estate to strengthen our church’s future in this way. Legacy giving can be used by everyone to express closely held values. Becoming a member of Unity’s Heritage Society ensures that our children and grandchildren have a legacy of liberal religion in our community.

We are all the beneficiaries of the work of those who came before us. We lay the foundation for our church’s future today.

Why legacy giving?
When you gather at Unity Church on Sundays seeking your spiritual center, ask yourself what gives meaning to your life and what legacy will reflect that meaning. Making a legacy gift deepens your commitment to our church community today and ensures that the core values we believe in will be carried into the future.

These gifts build our endowment, a solid financial foundation for the church’s future. We invite you to be part of this future and make a legacy gift today. It’s not as hard as you think. Fill out the form at right to find out more. If you’ve already made a legacy gift to the church, please let us know. Thank you for your generosity.

What does a legacy gift look like?
There are many gift possibilities. These gifts allow flexibility, though some requirements apply, and you always retain the right to amend your estate:

• A charitable bequest in your last will and testament can be a specific amount or a percentage of what remains after providing for your heirs.
• A life insurance designation names Unity Church as owner or beneficiary of the policy.
• Retirement plan assets name the church as a beneficiary of an IRA, 401(k), 403(b), profit sharing or other retirement plan.
• Other types of planned gifts include gift annuities, life-estate agreements and charitable remainder trusts.

Heritage Fund
The Heritage Fund is the fund that receives undesignated legacy gifts and whose use is at the discretion of the Executive Team and Board of Trustees. Please let us know if you would like your legacy gift designated to the Heritage Fund or to one of the Endowment Funds listed below. 

Endowment Funds 
Endowment Funds at Unity Church are permanently restricted funds whose principal is never touched, but whose income is available for the purposes designated by the donors. 

• The D.K. Hilke Memorial Endowment Fund helps support religious education for youth
• The C. Claussen Memorial Endowment Fund supports chapel and courtyard renovations
• The Arthur Foote Music Fund provides special music each year in honor of the Reverend Arthur Foote who served Unity Church from 1945 to 1970 
• The Hallman Fund honors the Rev. Dr. Laurel Hallman and helps support a full-time Hallman Ministerial Intern
• The Dickerman Building Endowment supports Unity’s facilities. Distributions are earmarked for upgrading the facilities, replacing major appliances and equipment, and redecorating from time to time (not for ordinary annual maintenance)
• Currier Fund for Racial Justice

If you have questions about legacy giving or the Heritage Society, please contact Executive Director, Barbara Hubbard, at barbara@unityunitarian.org or 651-228-1456 x116. We have individuals on our Legacy Team who would be happy to advise you in your considerations.