Planned giving is a beautiful way to support your passions and to extend your values and philanthropic priorities in your lifetime and beyond. Many generous supporters choose to include The Upper Room in their long-term financial plans—not just as a gift, but as a legacy of faith with global impact.
Whether through a Donor Advised Fund, an IRA distribution, a bequest, a trust, or another form of planned giving, your gift helps ensure that future generations continue to encounter God’s presence through prayer, spiritual formation, and Christian community. Many options also offer tax benefits.
If you’re considering The Upper Room in your legacy planning, we are deeply grateful. Please consult your financial advisor, attorney, or estate planner to explore what’s best for you.
Gifts can be made to our general fund (Where Most Needed) or any of our designated funds found on our development website. “The ‘Where Most Needed’ fund is our most flexible giving option—an unrestricted fund that allows your gift to make the greatest possible impact where it’s needed most.” Of special note, The Academy for Spiritual Formation has two endowment funds.
It is helpful but not necessary to inform The Upper Room of your planned giving intentions. At the very least, it would allow us the opportunity to thank you.
We are grateful for you and your life of faith. Thank you for walking with us—and for considering how your legacy might continue to bless others on their journey of faith.
Charity Formal Name: The Upper Room, Inc.
Charity Formal Address: 1908 Grand Avenue Nashville TN 37212
Charity Address (bank lockbox) to Mail Checks: The Upper Room, PO Box 305150, Nashville, TN 37230-5150
Tax ID#: 36-5019628
Charity Contact Name: Nicole Curtis, Director of Fund Development
Charity Contact Info: 615-340-7236; [email protected]
The easiest way to give through your DAF is by using one of our online giving forms. Most of our giving forms have the capability for donors to give through their DAF’s at checkout. Click here to access our main giving form.
If you choose to give through your DAF another way, please note that there are multiple “The Upper Room’s” or “Upper Room’s” listed as eligible charities on donor advised funds. To ensure that your donation goes to us, please use our Tax ID #36-5019628.
For grants coming as a physical check, make the grant payable to The Upper Room and memo or note the fund of your choice. Send all donations to our secure Post Office Lockbox at PO Box 305150, Nashville, TN 37230-5150.
For Fidelity Grants, we are set up to receive EFT’s. Use our Tax ID #36-5019628 to find us. Our charity name will be listed along with our financial arm and will appear as General Council on Finance & Admins of the United Methodist Church/Upper Room.
If you have to take a Required Minimum Distribution through your IRA, a gift to The Upper Room would count as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). Make the check payable to The Upper Room and memo or note the fund of your choice. Send all donations to our secure Post Office Lockbox at PO Box 305150, Nashville, TN 37230-5150.
According to the IRS, generally speaking, people have to start taking withdrawals from their traditional IRA, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, and retirement plan accounts when they reach age 73.
Alternatively, you may want to consider naming The Upper Room as a beneficiary in your IRA.
The Upper Room is able to receive gifts of stocks and other marketable securities, such as bonds and CD’s. Please contact Fund Development to make arrangements. 615-340-7236.
The Upper Room is able to receive gifts of bequests. These are the most common forms of bequests:
A Specific Bequest is one where you direct a specific amount of cash or a specific asset to The Upper Room. Suggested wording:
I give and bequeath to The Upper Room of Nashville, TN, the sum of $_______ (or specific property) to be used for its general purposes
.
A Percentage Bequest is one where you direct a set percentage of your estate be given to The Upper Room. Suggested wording:
I give and bequeath to The Upper Room of Nashville, TN, ____% of my estate to be used for its general purposes
.
A Residuary Bequest is one where you direct that the remainder of your estate be given to The Upper Room after all other bequests, debts, and taxes have been paid. Suggested wording:
I give and bequeath to The Upper Room of Nashville, TN, the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to be used for its general purposes
.
If you have a trust, you can name The Upper Room as one of the beneficiaries.
If you have a permanent life insurance policy, such as whole life or universal life, or an annuity, you could make The Upper Room a beneficiary.