Planned giving is a term that you hear very often in the charitable sector. It is an area of philanthropy where gifts are given or planned, often with the help of a professional advisor such as a lawyer, accountant or financial advisor. Planned gifts can often require more planning, negotiation and guidance than an outright gift to a charity.
For many planned giving is a means of leaving a lasting legacy. A donor, who may not be able to give a large gift during his or her lifetime, will be able to have a significant impact on healthcare in their community through planned gifts such as bequests and life insurance.
A planned gift can take the form of cash, equity, property, stock, bequest, life insurance, works of art or other assets, and can either be made during a donor’s lifetime, or upon death. These types of planned gifts can have a major impact on a donor’s estate or financial plans. Some planned gifts such as bequests are very easy to establish, while others such as charitable remainder trusts, are more complex and are more likely to require professional guidance.
A planned gift can:
- give you a tax advantage which can often be significant
- compliment your estate plans and address concerns for your heirs
- allow you to support a charity which is important to you, long after you are gone
- help you ensure a charity which you believe in will continue to exist in the future for the benefit of your community
- give you the option to have your name associated with a particular cause in perpetuity.