Seven “Less Taxing” Ways to Make a Gift

With December 31st around the corner, you may be like thousands of other individuals who are reviewing their financial and estate plans to ensure your family’s goals are being met. Supporting Save the Children by making a planned gift can be an effective way to help disadvantaged children for generations to come, while receiving financial benefits and/or saving taxes in 2007 and beyond.

Bequests: You can establish a bequest as a fixed amount or a percentage of your estate.

Charitable Gift Annuities: A Save the Children gift annuity can provide an immediate or deferred fixed income stream for life.This is an excellent way to supplement retirement income or help support aging parents. Payout rates are based on age, and a portion of your payment will be tax-free. You also will receive a charitable deduction for the year of the gift.

Appreciated Assets: Donate stocks, bonds or real estate, and avoid capital gains taxes on these assets.

Paid-Up Life Insurance Policies: When your family responsibilities decrease and your policies are no longer critical to their well-being, use them to support Save the Children’s work.

Retirement Plans: Tax-deferred IRA and 401K plans may be extremely vulnerable to high income and estate taxes. Naming Save the Children as a beneficiary may reduce these taxes and allow you to leave other assets to heirs.

Trusts: A charitable lead trust would generate funding for Save the Children until the time comes to transfer the remainder of the fund to your heirs. In the meantime, taxes can be minimized. A charitable remainder trust can provide lifetime income to you or your heirs, along with some tax benefits. When the income payout period ends, the remainder of the trust flows to Save the Children.

We recommend that you consult your tax, legal or financial advisors before making estate planning decisions.