PLANNED & LEGACY GIVING
Planned giving – or charitable gift planning – involves the donation of assets to a charitable organization at the time of, or in anticipation of, death.
The simplest and most common form of a planned gift to GoodVision is a charitable bequest through your will or trust. With a bequest, you can direct a specific dollar amount or assets to GoodVision or direct a percentage of your estate to GoodVision.
Other planned gifts are more complex. To learn more about life-income gifts such as charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and charitable lead trusts, please contact Matt Gianino or speak with your estate attorney.
WHY MAKE A LEGACY GIFT TO GOODIVISION?
Your legacy gift to GoodVision helps ensure our vital work continues for generations to come. By including GoodVision in your estate plans, you can make a meaningful impact while potentially reducing your tax burden and providing for your loved ones.
When you make a planned gift to GoodVision, your generosity has an impact far beyond your lifetime.
WAYS TO MAKE A GIFT THROUGH YOUR ESTATE
There are many options for including GoodVision in your plans, and this page offers only a few ideas. We can work with you, your financial and tax advisor and your estate planning attorney to design the option that works best for your circumstances and meets your specific goals. There are many ways you can make a gift that will cost you nothing today and help you make a tax-wise investment in both your future and the future of GoodVision. You can support GoodVision’s mission by:
MAKE A GIFT THROUGH YOUR WILL OR WITH A TRUST
A will or trust is a thoughtful document that identifies the people and causes you care about most. You can make a gift of a specific dollar amount or particular assets to GoodVision or you can name GoodVision to receive all or a percentage of the remainder of your estate, after specific amounts bequeathed to other beneficiaries are distributed and estate-related expenses are paid.
Trusts which benefit both family members and GoodVision can be set up with your estate attorney. Examples are a Charitable Lead Trust (CLT) or Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT). A CLT is primarily a vehicle for transferring wealth from one generation to another at deeply reduced estate or gift taxes. A CRT is a trust that will pay donor(s) or their designated beneficiaries an income stream for their lifetimes, with the remainder then passing to charity upon the death of the final beneficiary.
NAME GOODVISION AS A BENEFICIARY
For many, retirement funds, including an IRA or other qualified retirement plan or bank account, can be the most highly taxed assets owned, as the funds can be subject to both estate and income taxes. GoodVision is tax-exempt, so your retirement fund bequest can pass to the organization tax-free.
You can name GoodVision as a beneficiary on a bank or brokerage account through a “Pay on Death” or “Transfer on Death” option. Accounts that pass to GoodVision in this manner will not be included in probate.
Sample Bequest Language
Specific Bequest
A specific bequest names a particular dollar amount to be left to GoodVision.
“I give and bequeath to GoodVision USA, a Massachusetts nonprofit corporation, Tax ID number 83-1871284, located in Newton, MA, the sum of $________ to be used for the general purposes of the organization (or to be used for a specific purpose such as A or B).”
Percentage Bequest
A percentage bequest names a percentage of your estate to be left to GoodVision.
“I give and bequeath to GoodVision USA, a Massachusetts nonprofit corporation, Tax ID number 83-1871284, located in Newton, MA, ________% of my estate, to be used for the general purposes of the organization (or to be used for a specific purpose such as A or B).”
LIFE INSURANCE
You can create a significant legacy by naming GoodVision as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy. There are several ways to give through life insurance:
- Name GoodVision as the primary beneficiary of your existing policy
- Designate GoodVision as a secondary or partial beneficiary to receive a percentage of the proceeds
- Donate a paid-up policy you no longer need for your family’s security.
- Purchase a new policy with GoodVision as the owner and beneficiary, which may provide immediate tax benefits.
Making a gift of life insurance can be especially attractive if your policy was originally purchased to provide for loved ones who no longer need this protection, or if it was acquired to cover a mortgage that’s now paid off.
NEXT STEPS
Creating a legacy gift is a meaningful decision that’s easier than you might think. We recommend these simple steps to get started:
- First, discuss your charitable intentions with your family members and loved ones.
- Consult with your financial advisor and/or estate planning attorney to determine which giving option best suits your financial and philanthropic goals.
- When you’re ready, we welcome the opportunity to confidentially discuss your giving goals and provide any additional information you need – including specific bequest language for your will or trust. While we don’t need to know the details of your gift, letting us know of your plans helps us thank you appropriately and ensure we can honor your intentions in the future.
Thank you for considering such a meaningful gift to GoodVision.
If you have further questions, please contact Matt Gianino at matt.gianino@goodvision.org or call 617-798-7986.