Some gifts meet a need today. Others keep helping long after they are given. That is the heart of creative giving.

For one person, it may look like naming City Union Mission in a will. For another, it may mean giving stock that has grown in value. Someone else may choose to recommend a grant from a donor-advised fund, explore a charitable gift annuity, or turn a piece of property into care for neighbors in crisis. Families matter, faith matters, stewardship matters, and for many people, the question is simple: “How can what God has blessed me with keep helping after I’m gone?”

For 102 years, City Union Mission has served Kansas City neighbors in need through meals, shelter, Christ-centered care, recovery support, and paths toward stability. Planned giving in Kansas City gives supporters a way to help this care continue for the next guest, the next family, and the next person who comes through the doors needing safety, dignity, and hope.

Planned Giving at a Glance 

Planned giving is a way to support City Union Mission through gifts such as a will or trust, a donor-advised fund, a charitable gift annuity, stocks, securities, real estate, or other non-cash assets. Simply put, it is generosity with a plan.

It helps supporters care for loved ones, honor their faith, and support Christ-centered work for years to come. It can also help people give in ways they may not have considered before.

Legacy Is Not Just What You Leave

When people hear the word legacy, they often think of an estate, a will, or a name on a document. But legacy is more than paperwork. It is the faith you lived out, the values you carried, the people you loved, and the work you believed in. For many City Union Mission supporters, giving has never been just a transaction. It has been a way to stand with neighbors in crisis and help make sure practical care and Gospel hope remain available in Kansas City.

A legacy gift says, “This mattered to me.” It says, “I want this work to continue.” It says, “I believe people should be met with dignity, care, and the hope of Christ when life is hard.” One day, that kind of gift may become a meal, a safe bed, a conversation with a case manager, recovery support, or a next step toward stability for someone you may never meet.

Creative Ways to Give Beyond Cash

Most people think of charitable giving as a monthly donation, an online gift, or a check in the mail. Those gifts matter because they support daily care. But some supporters may be able to give in other ways through assets they already have. Through Other Ways to Give, City Union Mission supporters can explore options such as stocks, securities, real estate, charitable gift annuities, donor-advised funds, and planned gifts.

These options may include stocks or mutual funds, bonds or other securities, real estate, charitable gift annuities, donor-advised funds, gifts in a will or trust, and other planned-giving options. For some donors, a non-cash gift may allow them to give more than they could from a checking account. For others, including the Mission in an estate plan may be a meaningful way to continue a lifetime of faith, prayer, and partnership. 

Not every giving option is right for every person. Supporters should talk with their family, attorney, tax professional, or financial advisor before making decisions. But it is worth learning what is possible. Your generosity may go further than you thought.

When Estate Planning Becomes an Act of Faith 

Estate planning can sound formal, but it is deeply personal. It is one way to care for loved ones, put important decisions in writing, and think about what mattered most in your life. During Make a Will Month, many people create or update a will. That is a meaningful step. It can also be a good time to ask deeper questions, such as: What do I want to protect? Who do I want to care for? What values do I want to pass on? What ministries helped shape my faith? What kind of hope do I want to help continue?

A planned gift to City Union Mission can be part of that answer. It does not replace caring for family. It can stand alongside that care. For some supporters, including the Mission in their plan is a quiet way to honor both family and faith. A will may be a legal document, but the choices inside it can be deeply spiritual.

Giving Stocks, Securities, or Property

A gift does not always have to begin in a bank account. Some people invest through stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or other securities. This kind of gift may allow a donor to support City Union Mission without using cash from a checking or savings account. Depending on the donor’s situation, it may also offer certain tax advantages.

A gift of stock or property can support the Mission’s daily work, including meals, shelter, Christ-centered care, family and recovery support, and practical next steps. For supporters who have assets they no longer need for income, this may be one way to use those resources for long-term good. Before making a gift of stock, securities, or property, donors should consult a qualified advisor to understand what is best for their situation.

Why Long-Term Gifts Matter

A meal served today is so important; so is a safe bed tonight, a conversation with a case manager, chapel, recovery support, and a stable place for a family to catch its breath. But City Union Mission is not only preparing for tonight. The Mission is also preparing for the needs ahead. Long-term gifts help strengthen that future and make sure the Mission can continue serving Kansas City neighbors with practical care and Gospel-centered hope.

A planned gift may one day provide meals for someone who is hungry, shelter for someone with nowhere safe to sleep, Christ-centered care for someone who feels worn down, family support during a hard season, recovery support for someone ready to rebuild, or next steps for someone working toward stability. That is why planned giving matters. It helps hope keep going.

A Simple First Step

You do not have to figure everything out today; just start with one step. Review your current plans. Look at your will, trust, beneficiaries, or estate plan and ask whether they still reflect your life today. Talk with your family so the people closest to you understand your wishes. Speak with a trusted advisor who can help you think through what makes sense for your situation. 

Then, explore creative giving options. Learn more about stocks, real estate, charitable gift annuities, donor-advised funds, and estate gifts. Consider whether City Union Mission could be part of your plans. A planned gift can help Christ-centered care continue for Kansas City neighbors who are most in need. You can also explore legacy giving resources at cityunionmission.legacywill.org.

Your Generosity Can Keep Serving

Your legacy does not have to be loud to be powerful. It can be steady, thoughtful, faithful, and carefully planned. A gift in your will, a donor-advised fund grant, a stock gift, a real estate gift, or another planned gift can help City Union Mission continue serving Kansas City for years to come. 

That means your compassion can continue to reach people. Your faith can keep speaking. Your love for this city can keep showing up through meals, shelter, Christ-centered care, recovery support, and pathways toward stability for neighbors taking their next step.

Explore legacy giving at cityunionmission.legacywill.org.