Couple donates $1.5 million worth of farmland

John and Martha* recently donated $1.5 million worth of farmland that The Salvation Army will use to cultivate goodness for years to come. The Minnesota couple inherited the land in the 1990s and had been leasing it to a farmer who grew corn and soybeans.

"We hoped that in the future, the land would continue to be used for crops rather than some other purpose," John said.

The couple got their wish by donating their land to The Salvation Army and creating a Charitable Gift Annuity. In this arrangement, The Salvation Army sold the land to a local farmer and is using the proceeds to provide John and Martha with a steady stream of income for life. After God calls John and Martha home, The Salvation Army will use whatever money is left to provide food, shelter, and care for Minnesota families in need.

John and Martha also requested that a portion of the proceeds be used for an endowment fund and a cash gift to The Salvation Army. The couple was thrilled to use their assets to create a legacy that will help countless people for years to come.

"We like that The Salvation Army is a Christian Church that helps deserving people in so many ways, without discrimination," Martha said.

To learn more about gifts of real estate including farmland or including The Salvation Army in your will or trust, please call Tom Cierzan, Senior Director of Gift and Estate Planning, at 651-746-3515.

*Names changed.