Planned gifts provide creative and flexible solutions as you pursue your charitable and financial goals. Among the financial benefits you may receive are substantial tax savings. However, the greatest benefit is knowing that you are supporting work that is important to you, your community and future generations.

Ways to Give

Bequests in a will or trust

• Giving a specific amount: Stating a dollar amount to be given through your will offers certainty as to the amount that will be used to charitable use.
• Giving a percentage: If you are unsure at this time, what dollar gift to leave as a bequest, you may want to specify a particular percentage of the assets passing under your will to the Foundation. This way your charitable dispositions will automatically adjust along with the total value of property passing under the terms of your will.
• All or part of “what’s left”: If you are not comfortable with the idea of leaving a specific amount or a percentage of your assets to charity, you might wish to provide for a gift from the residue, or ‘what’s left’, after providing adequately for your loved ones. In this manner, you can assure that others receive what you would like them to have before any assets are distributed for charitable use.
• View Bequest language available

 

Gifts of life insurance and retirement plan assets

• Although many people have excess life insurance, they do nothing about such obsolete insurance coverage. Ask yourself the following questions to determine whether a gift of life insurance could play a role in your charitable giving plans.
  • Do you have a policy on you life that was intended to protect a spouse that no longer needs it or a child who is now financially independent?
  • Do you have a policy purchased to complete payment of a mortgage that has since been paid in full?
  • Do you have a policy you bought to help provide retirement income? Have you since accumulated adequate amounts in your other retirement plans?
• Check your life insurance policies. Compare your coverage with your present needs. Then consider how your life insurance may be used to help you meet your other goals.
• Other retirement plan assets that can benefit the Foundation include mutual funds and retirement accounts. Simply contact the particular asset plan administration and request that the Foundation be named or added as a beneficiary.

 

Gifts of real estate, tangible personal property or other assets

• A gift of real estate allows you to take a tax deduction, avoid capital gains tax, and provide support for the Foundation. To qualify for tax benefits, you must own the property for at least 12 months before giving it to the Foundation. The gift may be an entire piece of property or an undivided fractional interest in it. Each proposed gift of real estate is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The owner must obtain a qualified appraisal for tax purposes.
• You may make a gift of real estate to the Foundation and still retain lifetime occupancy for yourself and/or another person. ISF does not take possession of the residence until after the lifetimes of the tenants you have named. However, you are eligible to receive an immediate income tax charitable deduction because the gift cannot be revoked. The amount of the deduction depends on the value of the property and your age (and the age of any other person given life use).

 

Gifts that provide a life time income for you or a beneficiary

• A charitable remainder trust allows you to make a significant gift to the Foundation and receive income for life. When the trust ends, the assets remaining in the trust go to the Foundation. This type of gift offers a number benefits to a donor. Using this giving vehicle, you may be able to achieve one or more of the following goals:
  • Increased income from low-yielding assets.
  • Reduction of elimination of income, estate and gift taxes that could otherwise be due.
  • Diversification of investments and the potential for tax-free growth of assets.
  • Creation of a source of income for children, parents and/or other loved ones.
  • The enjoyment of making a gift that might not otherwise be possible.

 

For more information about planned giving or the Foundation in general, please contact us at info@isfdn.org or 425.391.8557

Please consult your professional advisor for specific advice about your estate planning.