Planned gifts are an important source of funding for the Center for Rural Affairs’ work. By including the Center in your giving plans, you can make a difference and establish a legacy that reflects your values and priorities even after you’re gone.
The two most common types of planned giving are bequests and beneficiary designations.
With a bequest, you’ll name the Center in your will or trust. You can make a specific bequest of a stated dollar amount or asset, a percentage bequest to leave us a percentage of your estate, a residential bequest to take care of others first and leave the remainder to our organization, or a contingent bequest which only takes effect if one of your beneficiaries predeceases you. We have sample language for all these options at cfra.org/planned-giving.
With a beneficiary designation, you’ll designate the Center as the beneficiary—or one of the beneficiaries—of your life insurance policy or a retirement, investment, or bank account. After your death, the funds in your account or insurance policy will be distributed according to the beneficiary designation.
Both bequests and beneficiary designations are simple, straight-forward giving methods that can have monumental impact. At the same time, they can reduce future tax burdens on your family, giving you and yours priceless peace of mind.
As you get started on your legacy giving planning, I have two other suggested steps to take. First, sit down with shared decision makers and loved ones to discuss your values, ideas, and plans. Then, get with a trusted professional, such as a financial or legal advisor, to help you learn more about specific options and narrow down your preferred giving methods.
Thank you for considering the Center for Rural Affairs in your legacy giving plans. Your foresight and care will strengthen rural America far into the future.
For more information on these types of giving and more, give us a call and visit our Ways to Give page. You can reach me directly at 402.499.2781 and [email protected].
