Planned Gift


Planning for the future and shaping the legacy you wish to leave is one of the most meaningful ways to make a lasting impact. A gift made through your will or living trust, known as a bequest, helps ensure your impact lives on. This gift may take the form of a specific amount, a percentage of your estate, or what remains after other commitments are met.

Fund Your Donation With:

  • Bequests (Gifts by Will or Trust)
    • The donor leaves a specific amount, asset, or percentage of their estate in their will or living trust.
    • Funding can come from:
      • Cash
      • Securities (stocks, bonds, mutual funds)
      • Real estate
      • Personal property (artwork, jewelry, etc.)
  • Retirement Plan Assets
    • A donor designates a nonprofit as a beneficiary of their 401(k), IRA, or other qualified retirement plan.
    • This is often tax-efficient, as charities do not pay income taxes on distributions.
  • Life Insurance
    • A donor can:
      • Name a charity as a beneficiary of an existing policy.
      • Transfer ownership of a policy to the charity.
      • Purchase a new policy naming the charity as owner and beneficiary.
  • Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT)
    • The donor places assets into a trust that provides income to the donor (and/or others) for life or a term of years.
    • The remainder goes to the charity when the trust terminates.
    • Funded by: cash, appreciated securities, or real estate
  • Charitable Lead Trust (CLT)
    • The charity receives income from the trust for a set period.
    • After the term ends, remaining assets go to the donor’s heirs.
    • Often used for estate tax reduction
  • Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)
    • A donor contributes to a DAF (held by a sponsoring organization) and recommends grants to charities during their lifetime or through their estate.
    • Funded by: cash, stock, or other appreciated assets.
  • Real Estate or Property Gifts
    • Donors can contribute property outright, through a retained life estate, or via trust arrangements.
    • Example: A donor gives a home but retains the right to live there for life.
  • Gifts of Appreciated Securities
    • Donors can donate stocks, bonds, or mutual fund shares directly.
    • This avoids capital gains tax and often provides an income tax deduction.
  • Gifts of Cash with Life Income Arrangements
    • Through vehicles like charitable gift annuities, the donor transfers cash or property to a charity in exchange for fixed lifetime payments. After death, the remainder benefits the charity.