Thank you for considering a gift to help support our mission. We know that if you make a contribution, it’s because you believe in what we do, and because you want to help make a difference in the lives of others via planned giving.
We’d like to make sure you benefit, too. How does this happen? You may be surprised to learn that some of the best gift plans also improve the donor’s financial and tax status.
Your Giving Options
The most common donations are outright gifts, such as cash, check or an online donation. But, if you want to hold on to your assets just to be sure you can meet your family’s future financial needs, you can consider planned giving. Planned gifts can be revocable, like a bequest in your will, so you can change your mind any time. Or they can be irrevocable, just like outright gifts, so you can take an immediate tax deduction. Planned gifts are deferred, so that you receive benefits from the gifts in your lifetime, and the charity receives the assets later.
| Option | What is it? | What are the tax benefits? | What are some other benefits? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outright Gift | Donation of cash, securities or personal property. | Tax deduction for the value of the gift, plus no capital gains tax due on appreciated property. | Ability to tailor your gift to the charitable organization’s immediate needs. |
| Living Trust | Trust you establish to take effect during your lifetime. | Possible savings in estate taxes if a charity is the beneficiary of the trust remainder. | Terms of the trust can be changed at any time. |
| Bequest in Will | Gift you make by naming a charity in your will. | Estate tax deduction for the value of your bequest to the charity. | Give you flexibility in providing for family needs first. |
| Life Insurance Gift | Gift of an old or new policy with a charity names as beneficiary and owner. | Immediate tax deduction for gift’s value, plus possible estate tax savings. | Provides a way to make a significant gift with little expenditure. |
| Retirement Plan Gift | Gift made by naming a charity as remainder beneficiary after your death. | Immediate tax deduction for the charitable value of the gift, plus no capital gains tax due. | Preserves the plan’s value and allows you to leave heirs less costly bequests. |
| Real Estate Gift | Donation of real property, either in full or with a retained life interest. | Immediate tax deduction for gift’s value, plus no capital gains tax due. | Can allow you to live in your home and still receive charitable deduction. |
| Charitable Remainder Annuity Gift | Trust that pays a set income to you or those you name before a charity receives remainder. | Tax savings from deduction, no capital gains tax liability, possible estate tax savings. | Provides fixed annual income for donor or other beneficiary. |
| Charitable Remainder Unitrust | Trust that pays variable income to you or those you name before a charity receives remainder. | Tax savings from deduction, no capital gains tax liability, possible estate tax savings. | Provides annual income that could increase if trust value increases. |
| Charitable Gift Annuity | Contract in which a charity agrees to pay you back a percentage of your gift annually for your lifetime. | Immediate tax deduction for the charitable value of the gift, with capital gains spread out over your life expectancy. | Gives you/another beneficiary fixed payments for life. |
| Charitable Lead Trust | Trust that pays an income to a charity for a period of years before you or heirs receive remainder. | Gift or estate tax savings for value of payments made to the charity. | Allows you to pass assets to heirs intact at a reduced cost. |
