Planned/Estate Giving

Planned Giving is one of the easiest ways you can make an investment in AA&MDSIF's programs and services for patients and families fighting bone marrow failure diseases. It can be as simple as including a bequest paragraph in your will, like the one below; or asking your broker to transfer stocks/securities to AA&MDSIF as a charitable gift. Making a planned gift simply means you are planning a charitable gift today that will be rewarding. Giving can be as straightforward or as detailed as you wish - the choice is entirely up to you!

There are many ways to make Planned Giving work for you while helping the AA&MDSIF.  A variety of assets and investments qualify as planned gifts, each offering unique benefits and tax advantages.

Tax information is subject to change.  Be sure to consult with your legal and/or financial advisors to select the option that best suits your financial objectives.  If you would like, AA&MDSIF can recommend an estate planner to assist you.  

Please let us know if you've included AA&MDSIF in your will or estate plan, and we'll be pleased to recognize you today in our Guardians of Hope Society with a special thank you. To discuss your interests, learn more about making a bequest or other gift, or learn how to designate your gift for specific use, please call our Development Director, Sandra Walter-Steinberg at (301) 279-7202 x104 or email at walter@aamds.org. 

Will/Bequest

Everyone should have a will, and you should review your will annually to ensure that it is up-to-date and that it accurately reflects your priorities and passions.  A will is an important way to be sure your estate is distributed according to your wishes.  By creating a will or having your attorney make a simple revision to your present will, you can provide for the needs of your loved ones and support AA&MDSIF.  

One of the easiest ways to make a gift to AA&MDSIF is by means of a bequest in your will. There are several ways you can accomplish this:  

• give a specific amount of money to AA&MDSIF
• give a specific percentage of your overall estate
  
• give a specified percentage of the residue of your estate to AA&MDSIF (that which is left over after all specific gifts have been made, whether charitable or non-charitable).
  

Many people find the bequest form of planned giving to be an excellent way to make a meaningful charitable gift. Effective planning allows virtually anyone to realize the personal satisfaction that comes from making a bequest gift.

In addition to the gifts you give today and throughout your lifetime, taking the time to write AA&MDSIF into your will or to make any other planned/estate gift provides an enduring legacy of your personal interest and commitment to providing education, service and research for those facing bone marrow failure diseases.

After you've taken care of your family and friends, consider including AA&MDSIF as a charitable recipient of either a designated amount (like $10,000 or $25,000) or a percentage of your estate (like 10%, 20%, etc).  Also consider including AA&MDSIF as a residuary beneficiary to which any undesignated dollars in your estate might be given after all your specific bequests have been given.

Ask your attorney to include this paragraph, specified to your gift preferences, in your will:

Stocks/Securities

Do you have stocks/securities that you want to donate? Consider transferring them to AA&MDSIF, and you'll receive a charitable deduction today for investments made yesterday.  While many people wait until year-end to make these gifts, you can make a stock/securities gift any business day of the year. 

Gifts of stock require little more than a telephone call to your stockbroker. A gift of stocks, mutual funds, or other publicly traded securities earns you an income tax charitable deduction equal to the fair market value of the securities on the date you make the donation - provided you have owned the asset for more than one year. The transfer of appreciated stock to AA&MDSIF can also avoid you capital gains taxes.

If you hold assets that have declined in value and would like to make a gift, it may be to your advantage to sell the asset and perhaps generate a deductible loss. The proceeds may then be donated as a tax-deductible contribution, further reducing your taxes.

To make stock transfers, contact Sandra Walter-Steinberg directly at the AA&MDSIF office (800) 747-2820 or walter@aamds.org
 

Life Insurance

One very simple way to make a significant impact on the future of AA&MDSIF is by naming our organization as a beneficiary to receive all, or a portion of proceeds of a life insurance policy. Simply name AA&MDSIF as the beneficiary of an existing life insurance policy (primary, secondary, or partial beneficiary) or purchase a new policy and name AA&MDSIF as the beneficiary. You may also wish to consider donating a paid-up whole life policy you already own or assign policy dividends to AA&MDSIF.

Donation of Real Estate and Other Property

Donating real estate and other high-value property to AA&MDSIF is a clear and gracious declaration of your commitment to help support those with bone marrow failure disease. These gifts provide you a significant tax advantage as well. You gain a charitable income tax deduction equal to the full market value of the property, avoiding capital gains on the sale of the property and quite possibly save your heirs large estate taxes by making this donation to AA&MDSIF. Be sure to consult your financial advisor and always consider your family's needs first.

Retirement Assets

Consider designating a percentage of your retirement assets, like your IRA or 401(k) or 403(b), to AA&MDSIF as a charitable gift.   Ask your financial planner, accountant or retirement plan administrator to designate AA&MDSIF as the sole or partial beneficiary, or transfer the balance of your retirement plan to a charitable remainder trust. This allows you to make contributions to AA&MDSIF and still provide ongoing income for a loved one after your lifetime.

Charitable Remainder Trusts

This is a way to make a gift to AA&MDSIF that allows you to retain income from your property for yourself or your loved ones while you are still living. In order to create a Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT), your funds are held separately and invested for payment of a fixed or variable income to you, or someone you name. Such payments may be a welcome supplement to your retirement plan.

When the trust is established, the donor elects that regular payments be made in either fixed dollar amounts or a fixed percentage amount of the principal to the beneficiaries. At the end of the trust term, the principal balance passes to AA&MDSIF. A tax deduction is allowed at the time you create your trust. The size of the deduction depends on the age, payment percentage, and other factors; therefore, due to the uniqueness and complexity of each person's financial situation, it is highly advisable you speak at length to your financial advisor regarding CRT's.

Charitable Lead Trust

The lead trust provides a substantial gift over a period of years while ensuring the property will ultimately return to the donor or to loved ones. A Charitable Lead Trust is one of the few ways to reduce or eliminate taxes that otherwise would be due on assets left to children or grandchildren. Under the terms of a Charitable Lead Trust, assets are transferred to a trust that pays income to one or more charitable recipients for a number of years determined by the donor. At the end of the trust term, the assets of the trust are returned to the donor or persons named by the donor. This allows the transfer of assets to the heirs while greatly reducing gift taxes. The trust must be in the form of either an annuity trust or unitrust. Due to the uniqueness and complexity of each person's financial situation, it is highly advisable you speak at length to your financial advisor regarding Charitable Lead Trusts.