Give

Why Give?

And God says, “My word goes out from my mouth and does not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire … You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace.” (Isaiah 55:11-12)

As followers of Jesus, we’re convinced that an open hand is better than a closed fist. We’ve experienced the joy that comes in being generous with our time, talents, and finances and we’re committed to supporting programs that offer community support and healing to those within and outside our church walls.

Click here to read our 2026 Stewardship Letter

 

The Annual Pledge

The majority of our operating budget comes from pledges made by members of our community. There are some distinct advantages to this way of giving. First, our pledges tell the church how much of its vision it can plan to support during the following church year. But more importantly, our pledges are a spiritual practice: we commitment to the congregation at the beginning of the year, which foregrounds our relationship to the church and then disciplines our spending over the coming twelve months. Many Christians find that pledging to a congregation leads to a less materialistic, more meaningful life.

Each fall, pledge cards are mailed and are also available by completing our online pledge form. Many people contribute each Sunday by placing a check in the offering plate during worship. However, we also now offer online giving, through Tithe.ly, our online giving platform.

Click the “Donate Online” icon above to set up a recurring contribution or to make a one time donation to the ministry of Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church.

To make your annual pledge online, please set up a recurring payment and then email the church office to notify us of your annual pledge amount.

Thank you for joining with us in becoming a more generous community.

 

Planned Giving – Building your legacy at Old Pine

It is our hope that Old Pine will be a sanctuary for God’s people for generations to come.  Old Pine encourages church members, neighbors and friends of the church to prayerfully consider including Old Pine in their estate planning.  Estate gifts contribute to the long-term health and sustainability of the Church by supporting the continued robust growth of our church community, the expansion of our mission work, and the maintenance of our historic Church property well into the future.  Earnings from the church’s endowment funds also supplement the church’s day-to-day needs.

Ways to Give

Planned giving is encouraged for all ages and levels of wealth. Only you will be able to determine how a charitable gift fits into your estate plan. These gifts can be structured as part of a will and /or the designation of the Church as a beneficiary of your retirement fund, insurance policy, bank account or other vehicle.  Depending on the complexity of your individual situation, it may be advisable to consult with qualified financial and legal advisors on the appropriate process for moving forward.

While a variety of gifts are welcome, the Church wishes to express its strong preference for gifts to be made in the form of cash and/or marketable securities and be unrestricted to both reduce complexity and optimize the ability of church leadership to direct funds to its most pressing priorities over the years.

Below is a summary of acceptable gifts.  For more detailed information on ways to give and types of gifts, please refer to the church’s Gift Acceptance Policy, which can be found here.

  • Cash and Marketable Securities – Gifts of cash and/or marketable securities are both welcome and preferred as part of your estate planning. These gifts can be from a donor’s financial investments, retirement funds (401(k), ROTH and other plans), pensions, life insurance policies, and bank accounts.
  • Real Estate and Tangible Real Property (artwork, jewelry, collections and other personal property). These gifts can only be accepted by the church with the approval of the Finance Committee and Session.
  • Charitable Remainder Trusts and Charitable Gift Annuities. The church will encourage the use of the services of the Presbytery Foundation for these gifts.
  • Pooled Income Funds – The church will use the Presbytery Foundation Pooled Income Fund for donors wishing to contribute to such a fund.

Use of Funds

Founded in 1768, Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church holds a unique place in our local and national history. To preserve and carry our legacy into the future, estate gifts to the endowment will strengthen our ability to continue to invest in our growing congregation and ministry to all ages.  The growth of our congregation over the past several years continues at a robust pace, attracting families and individuals of all ages!

Old Pine also continues to grow its mission and community outreach programs with time, talent, and treasure in support of a variety of missions. These include Bethel Presbyterian Church, mission trips, supporting vulnerable children and the elderly in our community, and other various philanthropic organizations dedicated to supporting those in our community who are in need. Additional funding would extend the reach and impact of our congregation in the community.

And, of course, the endowment serves as the source of funding to maintain the infrastructure and beauty of our historic church building and grounds for the benefit of the congregation and the community.

As time passes, the needs of our congregation and community will grow and evolve.  By building a stronger foundation today, together we are providing resources that will sustain the church in the future.

What is the Duffield Circle?

The Duffield Circle will include all those who have notified the church that they have or intend to establish a planned gift of any size for Old Pine for the purpose of expressing our gratitude and celebrating them.  We will organize events for this group to gather and celebrate together their commitment to the legacy of Old Pine.  We also hope that some members of the Duffield Circle will act as “ambassadors” for the Program, sharing their stories and inspirations with others.

What are my next steps?

If you have already included Old Pine in your estate planning, we respectfully ask that:

  • You kindly download the very simple Letter of Intent form, complete the form and provide it to our church office. This allows the church to be informed of your intent.  We do not ask for amounts or anything like that.
  • Kindly also review the Gift Acceptance Policy to ensure that the gifts you have planned are within the guidelines set by Session.

If you would like to speak to someone further about the program, please phone (215-925-8051) or email our church office to be put in touch with our Planned Giving Team or Pastor.  The church cannot provide you with financial or tax advice, so for that information we recommend that you please consult with your estate attorney or financial advisor.

For those families and individuals who have not yet established formal estate plans (a will, etc.), this process can be as easy as logging into your retirement account, insurance plan or other such vehicle and establishing Old Pine as one of your beneficiaries.

We thank you for your thoughtful consideration of what your legacy will be for Old Pine Presbyterian Church.

Resources

  • The Presbyterian Foundation of PC(USA) has developed a Legacy Planning Guide for Individuals, which can be found on their website with the following link. This document includes template language for wills and other valuable guidance.
  • Our Church Administrator (who can guide your call within the church to an appropriate person to help you).

Thank you for joining us in becoming a more generous community.