Family, Faith and Philanthropy

Catholic Estate Planning Guide: Protect Families, Inspire Giving, Build Legacies

This short video explains why every Catholic needs a will to protect their family and strengthen their legacy of faith. It’s available free for your organization to use and share with parishioners, donors, and supporters.

Video: Why Every Catholic Needs a Will to Protect Family and Faith

Gallery. Click Here.

Where There’s No Will, There’s No Way

Did you know the average charitable bequest is $80,000—and that more than 90% of gifts to Catholic organizations come through wills?

Yet, 70% of Americans don’t have a will or estate plan. That means:

Families are left unprotected.
Parishioners miss their chance to leave a Catholic legacy of faith.
Your parish, school, or ministry misses transformational gifts every single day.

That’s why you need our Estate Planning Guide for Catholics on your planned giving page.

What This Guide Provides

Step-by-step will-planning instructions designed for Catholics.
Faith-centered tips for building a Catholic estate plan.
Simple ways to provide for loved ones while supporting the Church.
Practical guidance on bequests—the most popular planned gift and the easiest to make.
Inspiration to shape a Catholic legacy while strengthening annual support

Research consistently shows planned giving donors often maintain or increase annual giving.

Why This Guide Matters for Catholic Organizations

Parishes, Catholic schools, and ministries across the country are missing opportunities because they don’t address parishioners’ planning needs—even with a captive audience every Sunday morning.

Our Catholic Estate Planning Guide equips you to:

Provide parishioners with trusted, faith-based estate planning tools.
Encourage early estate planning (and updates throughout life) as part of Catholic stewardship.
Help families prepare for the future, protect loved ones, and leave a lasting legacy of faith.
Pair the guide with an online free-will planner to make Catholic planned giving even easier.

Click Gallery at Top for samples.

Download Flyer (PDF)

Download PowerPoint: Shrinking Congregations, Smaller Donations (2 Minute Read)

Bequests: Easy to Give, Easy to Receive

Take the fear out of Catholic estate planning by showing parishioners how simple it is to create a will, make a bequest, and align their legacy with their Catholic faith. Our Estate Planning Guide for Catholics gives them clear, step-by-step instructions.

Over 90% of all planned gifts are bequests.
Most parishes and schools don’t consistently focus on wills or estate gifts.
The average charitable bequest typically falls between $55,000 and $80,000.
Annual giving often increases after a donor makes a bequest commitment.

With these facts in mind, your parish can’t afford not to promote bequests.

Bequests: Increase Annual Giving

That’s the upside you can’t ignore. This inspirational guide is an ideal “ice-breaker” for Catholic donors and opens the door to conversations about legacy giving.

Use it as a leave-behind on donor visits.
Distribute it at parish events, ministries, and small-group meetings.
Share it with advisors who serve Catholic clients.
Pair it with your online free-will planner to make Catholic planned giving even easier.

This lead-generation tool teaches parishioners that legacy giving isn’t just about donations—it’s about investing in their Catholic legacy.

Flexible Designs & Easy Customization

Choose from 40+ professionally designed templates created with Catholic audiences in mind.
No added cost for custom covers—add your parish name, logo, and colors.
Use your own parish photos or select from our premium stock images.
Promote alongside your LegacyPlanner, a free online will & bequest maker, to maximize Catholic planned giving results.

Delivery Options

Final product: printed copies or print-ready PDF files—for your parish printer, private distribution, or posting on your planned giving website.

Why Catholic Organizations Trust This Guide

Created specifically for Catholic parishes, schools, and ministries—not generic financial institutions.
Developed by planned giving experts, reviewed by attorneys, and professionally designed for clarity.
Faith-centered, practical content—no legal jargon or overwhelming financial detail.
Continuously updated with the latest estate planning tools and strategies.
Available in tailored versions—including a special edition for women donors.

Save time. No endless meetings or edits. Simply add your parish name, logo, and photos—or choose from our premium stock images—and your Catholic estate planning guide is ready to share immediately.

Deliverables: You’ll receive a beautifully designed PDF you can distribute electronically, print for parish events, or post on your planned giving website. Optional professional printing is also available.

You’ll be proud to share your customized Catholic Estate Planning Guide—knowing it inspires generosity, deepens Catholic donor engagement, safeguards families, and strengthens Catholic legacies for generations to come.