Planned Giving

The principal benefits of planned gifts accrue at a later time, after your death, or the death of your last named beneficiary. Planned gifts take many forms helping to fulfill your personal, humanitarian, and charitable objectives. Planned gifts can be made in cash, real estate, stocks, bonds, personal property, or life insurance.

Bequests by Will

One of the simplest planned gifts is a bequest through your will in which you designate either a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your estate after other disbursements. In addition to supporting community, it serves as an example to your heirs of the values and ideals you hold dear. A bequest also can reduce the amount of your taxable estate, which may increase the actual amount available to loved ones.

Life Insurance

Contributions of life insurance can provide a substantial gift. The value of an ordinary policy at the time of the gift is tax deductible. If you continue paying the premiums, they also are deductible as charitable contributions. If a paid-up policy is given, the cost of purchasing a new paid-up policy at your current age is the value of the charitable deduction.

401(K), 403(B) or IRA Beneficiary

Qualified employee benefit plans accumulate tax free during your lifetime. At death, they are subject to tax.

100 percent of the account balance is included in the taxable estate of the decedent.
Any taxable beneficiary who receives a distribution from an IRA, 401(k), or 403(b) as a result of the death of the owner must pay income tax on the entire amount received.
Some plans could be taxed as much as 85% as a result of these taxes.