Wills and Planned Giving
Taking its name from the year of Christianity Today’s founding by Billy Graham, The 1956 Society gives our community a significant way to honor, preserve, and extend Graham’s vision for CT to be a voice to “speak with conviction and love.”
In this time when the Church faces immense challenges in its unity and witness, you can help enable the life-giving work of this ministry to continue for the next generations of leaders. If your Christian life has been influenced in meaningful ways by CT, we would be humbled if you joined The 1956 Society by committing to leave a gift for our ministry in your will or estate plan.
Ways You Can Join The 1956 Society
Wills and Living Trusts
To leave a gift in your will or living trust, simply share this sentence below with your attorney or financial planner:
Here is sample wording that you can use when completing or updating your will.
Retirement Funds and Life Insurance
You can add Christianity Today as a primary or secondary beneficiary on your IRA, retirement funds, or life insurance to be received by our nonprofit ministry at the time of your passing.
Charitable Gift Annuities
If you are 55 or over, and you want a stable source of revenue with a tax deduction, a gift annuity may be right for you.
A gift annuity is a transfer of cash, appreciated securities, or property to our partner National Christian Foundation that then provides you with a promised source of fixed payments for your life. You will receive an immediate charitable tax deduction for the gift portion of the annuity to Christianity Today, while also furthering our mission of elevating the stories and ideas of the kingdom of God.
A minimum amount to start an annuity is $25,000 and can include you or up to two annuitants. If you’re interested, we can answer your questions and give you a personalized illustration for your review.
Complimentary Will and Estate Planning Support
Christianity Today recommends, PhilanthroCorp, a trusted, Christ-centered will and estate design company, to guide you through a simple process resulting in will and estate documents that reflect your values and leave a lasting impact on loved ones and charities you hold dear.
As a thank you from Christianity Today, these services are provided to you free of charge with no obligation. Find out more here.
Let Us Know
If you have already made a legacy gift commitment in your will or estate plan to CT, please notify us by completing The 1956 Society Commitment Form. We would love to honor your generosity now and include you in this important society.
You can reach Cory Whitehead, Vice President of Mission Advancement, by email or at 630.384.7223 if you have any questions or would like to start a conversation about The 1956 Society.
From 1956—the founding of Christianity Today—to today, I haven’t seen a time that, as an organization, CT has departed in some significant way from the founding vision: promoting the truth of the gospel with a wide net. CT is not just for Presbyterians or Methodists, but represents the core of our faith, which is what unites all of us. I feel very good about having CT included in my will.”
I keep going back to integrity and compassion. I believe a courageously honest voice within evangelicalism can speak to this generation, and I believe that CT is that voice now and can be long into the future. We want to support CT through our will because we think it is one of the most important bastions of biblical truths and perspectives for the church around the world. CT breaks through all the various subcultures, and through CT we want to leave a lasting impact.”
When my wife and I made up our will, Christianity Today was at the top of the list. We look to CT as an organization that we can trust to support the spread of the Gospel now and in the future.”
The 1956 Society is a good name for those of us who believe in CT and its mission. It points back to Billy Graham’s original vision for the magazine in 1956, and forward to Christianity Today’s expanding global influence in the years to come.”
Get In Touch
If you would like to discuss your partnership with CT or you have questions, we would love to talk more with you to see how this vision may both align with your passions and give you joy in the difference we can make together. You can also support our ministry by check at:
Christianity Today
Donor Relations
PO Box 788
Wheaton, IL 60187-0788
