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Planned
Giving: Options and Opportunities
“To leave the world a little better – whether
by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
to know even one life
has breathed easier because you have lived…This is
the meaning of success.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
How you can make a difference today and tomorrow.
While many Americans contribute to charity throughout their lives,
only 8% continue this support through a gift in their will or estate
plan.
In many cases, it’s because they simply didn’t realize this was
an option.
The lifeblood of most non-profits is not the
government or foundations. It’s
ordinary people from all walks of life, giving their time and money to nonprofits
that reflect their values and passions.
What happens after you are gone? The answer
is simple: leave a legacy by including charity in your will or estate
plan to ensure that the
organizations that count
on you today are not forgotten after you’re gone – and a way to “live
forever” by creating a personal legacy around something that matters
to you.
Don’t I have to be rich to make a
planned gift to the Geographic Society?
An estate is simply the value of everything you own – typically,
cash and investments, property and personal belongings. Most people
have very respectable
estates when they add it all together. And, remember, you can
make a planned gift of any size.
What can I leave to the Geographic Society
besides cash?
You can make a gift of just about anything you own – cash, stocks, life
insurance policies, retirement accounts, real estate or personal property.
Do I need a will to make a planned gift to
the Geographic Society?
It depends on the type of planned gift you make. While there
are some planned gifts that don’t require a will, others do need to be a part of your
will to be valid. Your best bet is to consult a professional advisor to be
sure your
wishes will be carried out.
How much work and time is involved in making
a planned gift to the Geographical Society?
It depends on the type of gift you make and the complexity
(or simplicity) of your estate. There are many types of planned
gifts
that a qualified
advisor can
help you set up quickly land easily.
What are the tax advantages to making a planned
gift to the Geographical Society?
Most planned gifts do carry tax advantages – but how many depends on the
type of gift you make. That’s why it’s important to consult a professional
advisor to be sure you are maximizing all available tax breaks as you consider
making a planned gift.
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