While there are several benefits in setting up planned gifts to nonprofit organizations in your will or trust, three primary reasons motivate many donors:
- Income tax and capital gains tax relief
- Control in deciding how your gift is spent
- Creating a lasting legacy for you and your family
Despite these advantages, an estimated 70 percent of Americans don’t have a will, according to Crescendo Interactive.
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Often, individuals avoid creating a will because it seems morbid and time-consuming. In other cases, people don’t understand the process or what assets can be gifted after their death.
We’ve outlined five assets you should consider in your planned giving and the benefits of each gift. You can set up a legacy fund to receive any of these assets from your estate, and you determine what nonprofit causes or specific organizations you want your gift to support in perpetuity.
Start the process of making a lasting impact today by understanding the benefit of gifting each type of asset below.
Want to get started on creating your will or trust? Download our free Estate Planning Guide here >
5 Assets for Planned Giving
- Gifts of Stocks and Bonds
Donate appreciated securities, including stocks or bonds. Benefits include:- Avoid paying capital gains tax on the appreciation
- Receive a charitable income tax deduction
- Gifts of Real Estate
Donate appreciated real estate- such as a home, vacation property (excluding timeshares), undeveloped land, farmland, ranch or commercial property. Benefits include:- Avoid paying capital gains tax on the appreciation
- Receive a charitable income tax deduction
- Gifts of Retirement Assets
Donate part or all of your unused retirement assets, such as your IRA, 401(k), 403(b), pension or other tax-deferred plan. Benefits include:- Your heirs avoid income tax on any retirement assets funded on a pre-tax basis
- Receive potential estate tax savings from an estate tax deduction
- Gifts of Cash
Donate cash. Benefits include:- Simplicity – bequests of cash are the easiest form of planned giving to implement
- Receive a charitable income tax deduction
- Gifts of Insurance
Donate your life insurance policy that has outlasted its original purpose. Benefits include:- Receive a charitable income tax deduction
- If The San Diego Foundation retains the policy to maturity, you can receive additional tax deductions by making annual gifts to cover premium payments. Once the policy matures, the benefit will be paid into your fund for grantmaking.
- If The San Diego Foundation cashes in the policy immediately, your gift will be liquidated into cash in your fund for grantmaking.
Contact us today – we can help you understand the financial impact of making a gift of any of these kinds of assets. Remember, you can set up your fund to support the nonprofit causes or organizations of your choosing. Your legacy awaits.
