Planned Giving

Estate planning ensures that an individual’s personal objectives are carried out after death. We look at the many issues facing estates without an estate plan, give donors a better understanding of how to develop an effective plan, and encourage the incorporation of philanthropy.

Download Estate Planning Today Guide

We detail the many critical reasons to plan, along with the valuable role of charitable giving in providing important tax benefits and creating a lasting, meaningful legacy.

Download Estate Planning Guide

This document discusses several revocable gift options, including payable on death (POD) and transfer on death (TOD) designations, naming us as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement account, real estate transfer on death, and successor elections for donor advised funds.

Download Plan Now, Give Later Guide

We discuss the key elements, their ability to change or revoke the will, and what makes a will highly effective.

Download Planning Your Will Guide

A bequest is an easy way to make a gift in a will that allows for flexibility and modifications. We review the basics using a short selection of questions and answers on this popular giving method.

Download Bequests: Frequently Asked Questions Guide

We explore the treatment of a variety of assets to help donors most effectively tailor their gift to their own personal circumstances and objectives.

Download Flexible Giving and Your Will Guide

Simple or complex, a will is more than just a tool to distribute assets—it is a reflection of an individual’s life values. We highlight six basic steps that will allow donors to make the most effective use of this important legal document.

Download Six Steps to an Effective Will Guide

We look at the many benefits of making a gift in a will—simplicity, flexible implementation and timing, ease of making changes, the potential tax impact, and more.

Download A Gift in Your Will Guide

We examine the steps donors can take now to shape their legacy through the effective and thoughtful use of a will or living trust.

Download Steps to an Effective Will or Living Trust Guide

This one-page planning guide covers many tools and strategies for making gifts while accomplishing personal planning goals and reaping useful tax benefits.

Download Gift Planning Quick Guide

We start with a review of the steps to a sound giving strategy. Then, we introduce effective gift options for making a difference today as well as options for making a difference in the future.

Download Strategic Giving Guide

We look at time-tested giving options including wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, appreciated stock, real estate, and gift annuities.

Download Retirement Planning & Charitable Giving Guide

We discuss several ways you can achieve a comfortable retirement while giving back by converting assets into income streams as part of a charitable gift.

Download Retirement Planning - With Savvy Giving, Everyone Wins Guide

We all have long-term personal, financial and philanthropic goals. We explore a variety of long-term strategies and creative gift plans that can help donors maintain their current lifestyle, take advantage of tax benefits, and make more satisfying charitable gifts.

Download Smart Personal Planning Strategies Guide

You can use this handy form to compile information and possibly even reveal areas where additional planning is necessary.

Download Personal Financial Affairs Guide

Many people have maxed out their retirement contributions but still want to generate more income in retirement. Deferred gift annuities can provide an easy charitable solution. We discuss how they work and detail their many benefits.

Download Increase Your Retirement Income with a Deferred Gift Annuity Guide

Retirement assets are heavily taxed when distributed to heirs, but not taxed when given to charity. For those planning a charitable gift, we discuss why retirement assets may be particularly beneficial for donation.

Download Retirement Plan Assets Guide

Completing a gift by the end of the year can reduce a donor’s current tax bill. We explore how various assets and giving strategies can help donors accomplish their year-end planning goals.

Download Year-End Planning Guide

IRA owners over age 70½ can meet philanthropic goals by making a qualified charitable distribution from an IRA. We discuss the details of this giving strategy so that donors can decide if it fits into their overall financial plan.

Download A Gift from Your IRA Guide

We explore some common planning options that might prove particularly useful for those navigating three life stages: working, preparing for retirement, and the golden years.

Download Planning Options for Your Stage in Life Guide

A charitable gift annuity is a life income gift that offers benefits to both donor and charity. We review the basics through a short selection of questions and answers on this popular giving method.

Download Charitable Gift Annuities: Frequently Asked Questions Guide

We explore this popular way to for you to give while receiving a life income and taking advantage of favorable tax benefits.

Download Charitable Gift Annuities - A Smart Way to Give & Receive Guide

We use a simple question and answer format to look more closely at the reasons for this popularity and the ins and outs of gift annuities.

Download Charitable Gift Annuities Guide

We discuss how gift annuities work and help donors decide if this tool might have a place in their overall planning.

Download Charitable Gift Annuities - The GIft that Gives Back Guide

The charitable gift annuity allows a donor to support a charity while securing an income, starting either now or later. We explore the ins and outs of this flexible giving tool and the many ways donors can tailor it to fit their own situation and goals.

Download Planning with Gift Annuities Guide

A charitable remainder trust provides a life income before gifting the remaining trust assets to charity. We review the basics through a short selection of questions and answers on this important giving method.

Download Charitable Remainder Trusts: Frequently Asked Questions Guide

Through a simple question-and-answer format, we present the basics of this win-win opportunity for tax-efficient wealth transfer, from interest rates to funding options.

Download A Charitable Lead Trust Guide

We help understand a wide variety of trusts—including charitable trusts—and how each can help you accomplish their planning goals, provide financial security, control the disposition of their assets, and produce meaningful tax savings.

Download Trusts in Financial & Gift Planning Guide

We discuss how charitable remainder trusts works, how to tailor it to meet individual needs and objectives, and the significant tax benefits.

Download Charitable Remainder Trusts Guide

Versatile and unique, a donor advised fund is a way to make a gift to a sponsoring organization and qualify for an immediate federal income tax charitable deduction. Learn how donor advised funds work, including the donor’s advisory privileges regarding charitable distributions from the fund.

Download The Nuts & Bolts of Donor Advised Funds Guide

A revocable gift is a comfortable commitment—an easy way to plan a future gift while retaining the flexibility to make changes if necessary. We provide more information about gifts in a will, beneficiary designations, gifts of retirement assets, and revocable living trusts.

Download Revocable Gifts Guide

Giving life insurance, either outright or through a beneficiary designation, is an effective way for a you to make a major impact with little or no immediate out-of-pocket cost. We discuss this gift option, along with the alternate strategy of using policy proceeds to replace other donated assets.

Download Gifts of Life Insurance Guide

We explore charitable giving options that unlock a property’s earning potential and create tax savings while making a meaningful gift.

Download Gifts of Real Estate Guide

We detail the many ways to give and the benefits associated with each gift, including securities, closely held stock, real estate, life insurance, and tangible property.

Download Gifts of Property Guide

We explore how to make the most effective use of appreciated stock in either outright or life income gifts.

Download Gifts of Stock Guide

For those considering a major gift but concerned about its impact on future finances, a life income gift (charitable remainder trust or charitable gift annuity) may be the answer. We discuss this gift option that also provides income payments, possibly allowing a larger gift than the donor thought possible.

Download Life Income Gifts Plans - Ways to Give & Receive Guide

For those who think that only a privileged few are wealthy enough to leave a meaningful legacy, we explore the many flexible and tax-favored ways to make gifts of all sizes—outright gifts, gifts in a will, life income plans, trusts, pooled income funds, beneficiary designations, and more.

Download Making a Difference Guide