Why Give?

In life, most people require some kind of assistance, whether it’s physical, financial or spiritual. Perhaps a local church congregation or food bank supplied meals during a tough time. Maybe you enjoyed a scholarship that made the dream of college possible. Perhaps you or a loved one were shown especially compassionate healthcare during an illness or injury. An estate gift to a favored charity can help ensure a bright future for this important work. Charitable organizations need financial assistance from people like you to continue their work. More than 80 percent of Americans contribute to nonprofit organizatioduring their lifetimes, but only eight percent chose to continue this support through an estate gift.

By making bequests and other “planned” gifts, you can continue to help organizations that are making an important difference in your community. Charitable giving is not only for the wealthy. Gifts large and small are important.

I have children and relatives. Shouldn’t I leave my entire estate to them?

This is perhaps the number one cause for reluctance when making a bequest. In reality, many people include both family and charitable organizations in their estate. Typically, an appropriate allocation is based upon family needs and your charitable goals; however, such decisions remain entirely up to you. Also, in some situations a charitable estate gift may help reduce your total estate tax liability. A consultation with a financial advisor or attorney can help explain such options more thoroughly.

An Untapped Well of Good

• Approximately 2 million Americans die each year.
• According to various studies, only 30-40 percent of all Americans die with a valid will.
• In 1996, 79,346 estate tax returns were filed with the federal government. (At the time, these forms were required for estates in excess of $600,000.)
• Only 18 percent of taxable estates included a charitable gift, while 82 percent did not.
• Between 1976 and 1992, the portion of taxable estates left to charity has declined from 21.8 percent to 6.3 percent.

If only 20 percent of Americans remembered a charitable organization in their will, the current number of gifts would more than double. Imagine the impact to charitable organizations if the 80 percent of Americans giving during lifetime also made a charitable estate gift!

Please help strengthen the fabric of your community with a charitable estate gift.

Click here to view our Partnership Agreement (74k PDF file).