Gifts of Cash or Appreciated Assets
The easiest and most common way to establish an endowment fund during your lifetime is with a gift of cash, simply write a check or use a credit card. Alternatively, giving appreciated assets can offer significant tax advantages. Donations of appreciated, publicly traded securities are the most common, tax-wise method of making non-cash charitable gifts. Securities are easily transferred, and, in most cases, easily valued for deduction purposes. The most common forms of securities gifts are shares of stock, bonds and mutual funds.
Charitable Bequests
Your will is an important element in your estate plan that enables you to protect the people you love, create a lasting partnership with the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts and help ensure the future of the Pioneer Valley Jewish community. More information about Charitable Bequests.
Life Insurance
This vehicle is an excellent way to make a gift. If your life insurance policy is no longer needed or will no longer benefit your survivors, consider donating the policy. You can also purchase a life insurance policy naming the Federation as the owner and beneficiary of the policy and contribute the amount of the premiums to the Federation and receive an annual income tax deduction. More information about Life Insurance
Individual Retirement Account
One of the most costly assets to leave to your family can be an Individual Retirment Account (IRA). You can designate the Federation as the beneficiary of a percentage or for the remainder of your retirement plan.
Congress has permanently extended this popular tax-advantages giving opportunity for individuals 70 1/2 or older. You can make a direct distribution of up to $105,000 to the Jewish Federation. Your charitable rollover or Minimum Distribution can be used to benefit Federation or any of its agencies.
Benefits include
- The contribution will be excluded from your income for Federal purposes and will not be taxed;
- The collover counts towards your required minimum distribution (RMD);
- Giving from your IRA is an easy and convenient way of making a meaningful gift!
Note: You may not make a direct distributiion from your IRA to a Donor Advised Fund or in exchange for gift annuities. As always, we encourage you to seek the advice of your professional advisor before making a charitable IRA rollover gift.
Life Income Plans
Any of the life income gifts described below will provide years of income for you or a loved one before creating an enduring legacy to benefit the Jewish community.
Charitable Gift Annuities
Charitable Gift Annuities provide you or your loved one with a guaranteed annual income stream for life before creating a permanent legacy in your name. Charitable gift annuities are straightforward and easy to set up and may offer significant tax benefits. More information on Charitable Gift Annuities
Charitable Remainder Trusts
Charitable Remainder Trusts offer a flexible way to create a significant legacy in your name and receive income from the trust for life or for a specified term of years. Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts (CRAT) provide you or a loved one fixed annual income based on the initial value of the trust, while Charitable Remainder Unitrusts (CRUT) offer you or a loved one variable annual income based on the annual value of the trust. More information on Charitable Remainder Trusts
Charitable Lead Trusts
Charitable Lead Trusts are both an income—and wealth—transfer vehicle, enabling you to transfer income-producing assets to the next generation at a significantly lower tax cost, while meeting your philanthropic objectives. Charitable lead trusts provide income to the Endowment Fund for a specified term of years, and then return the assets in the trust to your loved ones. More Information on Charitable Lead Trusts
Private Equity or Real Estate
Contact us for more information on gifts of private equity or real estate.