By Lucy Weberlein
What is planned giving?
We sat down with Senior Philanthropic Officer Amy Allen, who specializes in planned giving to find out. As the name implies, planned giving is a way for donors to make a planned charitable gift, either within their lifetime or as part of their financial estate. Planned giving is definitely not a one-size-fits-all model. There are numerous ways the Foundation helps individuals, in conjunction with CPAs, attorneys and financial advisors, with their planned giving strategy.
Why is planned giving important?
Amy: Planned giving enables a donor to give back to the causes they care more about while being strategic about their personal financial planning. It’s making a long-term plan that ensures a donor’s wishes and financial interests are honored exactly the way they would have wanted.
What are some examples of impactful/ successful planned giving strategies?
Amy: A planned gift can include assets such as appreciated stock, real estate, life insurance or a retirement plan.
Some strategies of planned giving can include a return income or other financial benefit to the donor for the charitable contribution of a gift payable upon the donor’s death to a fund with the Foundation that will support charitable organizations.
How can the Foundation help people with their planned giving goals?
Amy: We’re here to help individuals understand all of their options when it comes to planned giving. Sometimes that means getting creative as there are numerous ways to make a planned gift , and we want to make sure our solution is the best and most efficient choice for that individual.
When should people start thinking about planned giving?
Amy: It’s never too early to start thinking about planned giving. If you’re already a donor or fundholder at the Foundation, we encourage you to reach out at any time, especially if you have a major life event on the horizon like celebrating a milestone birthday, selling your business or undergoing major surgery.
No matter who you are, if you want to leave a legacy or pass along philanthropy to the next generation, planned giving will likely be an important part of your charitable giving strategy.
If you’re ready to get started with planned giving or just want to learn more, check out the Foundation’s “Plan Now, Give Later,” section on our website.