Make a Gift in 3 Easy Steps

Beneficiary Designations Are Easy and Flexible

Not everyone wants to commit to making a gift in their will or estate. Some prefer the increased flexibility that a beneficiary designation provides by using: 

  • IRAs and retirement plans
  • Life insurance policies
  • Commercial annuities

It only takes three, simple steps to make this type of gift. Here's how to name the Catholic Diocese of Marquette as a beneficiary:

  1. Contact your retirement plan administrator, insurance company, bank or financial institution for a change-of-beneficiary form.
  2. Decide what percentage (1 to 100) you would like us to receive and name us, along with the percentage you chose, on the beneficiary form.
  3. Return the completed form to your plan administrator, insurance company, bank or financial institution.

Learn More

Download our FREE guide Beneficiary Designations: The 3 Easiest Ways to Leave Your Legacy.

View My Guide

A Parishioner’s Perspective on Stewardship and Giving

Recently retired after 40 years of working in obstetrics, Dr. Susan Ritter is expressing her faith in new ways that bring joy and purpose to her life—and will continue to impact the lives of others.

“Now that I have a little more time, I can be a little more visible out in the community, so it’s kind of fun to do that,” Susan says.

From attending Mass to volunteering at the local pregnancy resource center to providing medical assistance to women in a remote Tanzanian village, Susan is sharing her time, talents and passion for her Catholic faith. In October, Susan plans to return to Tanzania, this time taking with her a fourth-year medical student.

“When I was younger, a little quieter maybe, I didn’t want to rock the boat as much,” Susan says. As time goes on, however, she says she cares less about rocking the boat and more about speaking up.

“I want people to know how important faith is—in how we live our lives, how we make our decisions, how we interact with others,” she says.

“I just realize that, as I mature, I want to leave a legacy. I want to leave a world of faith.”

One step Susan is taking to leave a world of faith is to update her estate plan. She and her husband are prayerfully discerning the disposition of their worldly assets in a way that honors and perpetuates the Catholic faith.

“I feel by giving, that is one way that I can be assured that there will always be faith,” Susan says.

Make Sure You Have a Plan for All Your Assets

Download our FREE Personal Estate Planning Kit

Download My Kit

Next Steps

  1. Contact Scott Fenley at (906) 227-9108 or sfenley@dioceseofmarquette.org for additional information on beneficiary designations and how they can help support the Church with our mission.
  2. Talk to your financial or legal advisor to learn which assets will or will not trigger taxable income when paid to a beneficiary.
  3. If you name the Church in your plans, please use our legal name and federal tax ID.

Legal Name: Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette
Address: 1004 Harbor Hills Drive, Marquette, MI 49855
Federal Tax ID Number: 38-1390524

Legal Name: Upper Peninsula Catholic Foundation, Inc.
Address: 1004 Harbor Hills Drive, Marquette, MI 49855
Federal Tax ID Number: 81-3169110

Diocese of Marquette ~ 1004 Harbor Hills Drive, Marquette, MI 49855-8851 ~ 1 (800) 562-9745 ext.108

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to the Catholic Diocese of Marquette a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

"I give to the Catholic Diocese of Marquette, a nonprofit corporation currently located at 1004 Harbor Hills Drive, Marquette, MI 49855, or its successor thereto, ______________ [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose."

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to the Church or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to the Church as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to the Church as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and the Church where you agree to make a gift to the Church and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.
Personal Estate Planning Kit Request Form

Please provide the following information to view the materials for planning your estate.

First name is required
Last Name is required
Please include an '@' in the email address

eBrochure Request Form

Please provide the following information to view the brochure.

First name is required
Last Name is required
Please include an '@' in the email address