An interfaith guide to planned giving. Planned gifts are typically the largest gifts received by a charity and can transform religious organizations and congregations to become more sustainable, impactful, and vibrant entities for decades to come. Encouraging planned gifts to congregations and religious organizations is essential at this time of tremendous generational wealth transfer; these gifts also provide an opportunity to enhance relationships between supporters and organizations. Many congregations and religious entities fear that they cannot raise these transformational gifts due to a lack of expertise among staff or volunteers, the limited financial resources of their constituents, or the simple discomfort of addressing ultimate issues with donors. Faithful Giving can help change those dynamics. The book is intentionally inclusive of Christian and other faith traditions by offering several case studies from a variety of Christian denominations and other religions, including Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and others.

Did you know...?
Michigan is seventeenth in oil production in the United States. The Great Lakes are said to be the only glacially produced structures that can be seen from the moon. Michigan was once part of a coral reef. The wood frog is able to freeze solid during the winter without harmful effects.These and many more amazing facts await the curious traveler in The Michigan Roadside Naturalist, J. Alan and Margaret B. Holman's guide to the natural treasures of Michigan. A perfect accompaniment to the classic Michigan Trees and The Forests of Michigan, the user-friendly Michigan Roadside Naturalist offers a who's-who of the geology, biology, and archaeology of the Great Lakes State, as well as highway adventures along the state's major routes.
The book begins with an educational yet accessible tour of important points in the state's natural and archaeological history, followed by seven road trips based on commonly traveled routes in Michigan, moving from south to north in the Lower Peninsula and east to west in the Upper Peninsula. Readers can proceed directly to the road trips, or familiarize themselves with the state's treasure trove of fascinating features before embarking. Either way, an informative and fun odyssey awaits the passionate naturalist, amateur or otherwise.
J. Alan Holman is Curator Emeritus of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Michigan Sate University Museum and Emeritus Professor of geology and Zoology at Michigan State. He is the author of five books and hundreds of journal articles.
Margaret B. Holman is Research Associate at Michigan State University Museum and Department of Anthropology. She has a doctorate from Michigan State university.