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The need to address the environmental challenges facing communities and all life on the planet, including human life, is critical, immediate and ongoing. Our core supporters understand that creative giving both now and in the future is key to our ongoing success in supporting the grassroots environmental movement internationally. You can help Global Greengrants Fund now and in the future through a variety of giving options. Well-planned gifts benefit both the donor and Greengrants. Advantages to the donor are many: tax benefits, recognition and the satisfaction of knowing that you are making a significant impact on Greengrants and the groups we support. Planned gifts to Greengrants benefit our grantmaking by providing a reliable, steady flow of income and principal that allows us to make multi-year investments in organizations and work that needs our long-term support. Greengrants is a nonprofit 501 9 (c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Below we outline several options for giving. We would be happy to talk with you or with your attorney or financial advisor further about options. Together, we can develop a plan that meets your needs. United States tax laws are structured with incentives to encourage donors to give to charitable organizations and each of the options below have potential tax advantages: 1. Cash Gifts. A cash gift made by check to Global Greengrants Fund and mailed to 2840 Wilderness Place, Suite A, Boulder, Colorado 80301. A cash gift can also be made by credit card from our website at www.greengrants.org (click on About Us: Giving to Greengrants). This option allows you to authorize monthly donations in a single transaction. 2. Appreciated Assets-including stock. Gifts of assets that have increased in value since their purchase can bring the following benefits to the donor: Sales of stock, bonds and mutual funds that have appreciated in value generate a taxable capital gain. Gifts of appreciated assets to Greengrants are deductible at their full fair market value if they have been held longer than 12 months. The fair market value of the asset(s) can be deducted up to 30 percent of the donors adjusted gross income. Excess deductions can be carried forward into as many as five additional tax years. 3. Retirement Assets. In terms of bang-for-the-buck, retirement accounts are an ideal asset to donate to Global Greengrants Fund. This is because of the high income tax burden they often carry. Gifts of retirement assets can save large income AND gift and estate tax burdens and help you more effectively accomplish your charitable objectives. When you bequeath retirement assets to your heirs, you are leaving them assets subject to income tax. After your heirs pay the income taxes due on these assets, their inheritance will be considerably less than the original amount. However, if you bequeath retirement plan assets to Greengrants, we will not have to pay income taxes on the assets. This will allow you to make a larger gift and save other nontaxable assets for your heirs. You may also want to consider setting up a charitable remainder trust with retirement assets. With a trust, you simply transfer your retirement assets to Greengrants as the last beneficiary. The trust can provide payments for your spouse or another loved one for the rest of his/her life. After the death of your beneficiary, the assets remaining in the trust can be transferred to Global Greengrants Fund to continue our work. There will usually be no estate or income taxes imposed on the assets at the time of the gift. 4. Life Insurance. Life insurance is often overlooked as an important asset for charitable giving. It offers several flexible options: Give a Percentage You can opt to designate any percentage of your life insurance policy as payable to Global Greengrants Fund. Give a Paid-Up Policy Many people own life insurance policies that have outlived their original purpose. For instance, policies for a college education, those insuring a business, or those protecting a mortgage, can make excellent gifts when given to a charitable organization. And the donor can deduct the replacement value of the policy. Buy a New Policy Some people find they can make a much larger gift than they could otherwise afford by purchasing a life insurance policy and naming Global Greengrants Fund as owner and beneficiary. The future premiums paid are deductible as cash contributions. Buy Insurance to Replace a Bequest You can make a current gift of assets you had planned to bequeath in your will. You receive the income-tax benefits at the time of the gift and replace the assets by buying a life-insurance policy for an equal amount. You enjoy the satisfaction and the tax deduction now. Add a Contingent Beneficiary You can name Global Greengrants Fund as a secondary or final beneficiary of a new or existing policy. This simply means that if the first beneficiary (ies) predeceases you, Greengrants becomes the beneficiary. Because the gift is not definite, there are no income tax benefits; but, if any funds do finally go to Global Greengrants Fund, they will be deductible from federal estate taxes. 5. Bequests in a Will. By including Global Greengrants Fund in your will, you can leave a legacy to build and sustain the world you believe in. Greengrants pledges to be a good steward of these funds. . There are several ways to make contributions through your will. You can give: A Percentage I give, devise, and bequeath to Global Greengrants Fund of Boulder, Colorado_____ % of my estate to be used for its charitable purposes. A Specific Dollar Amount I give, devise, and bequeath to Global Greengrants Fund of Boulder, Colorado, the sum of $ _______ to be used for its charitable purposes. A Residue (Whatever is left after other bequests have been granted.) All the residue of my estate, including real and personal property, I give, devise, and bequeath to Global Greengrants Fund of Boulder, Colorado to be used for its charitable purposes. 6. Life Income Gifts. A life-income gift allows you to make a gift to Global Greengrants Fund and retain the right to receive monthly or other periodic payments during your life. Such gifts include charitable gift annuities, charitable annuity trusts, and charitable unitrusts. Each plan allows you to help us in the future and enjoy immediate benefits in exchange for your future contribution. Your benefits include: The opportunity to receive fixed or variable payments for life. The opportunity to provide benefits for a surviving beneficiary. Income-tax deductions can be taken in the year the life income plan is established and can be carried forward into as many as five additional tax years if necessary. Avoiding or reducing capital gains tax when you use appreciated property to fund certain life income agreements. Savings from estate and inheritance taxes on assets transferred to Global Greengrants Fund. A word about Restrictions on your gift. If you wish to restrict you gift in terms of timing or geographic focus, please contact us. We will be happy to talk with you about available options. Most of our donors, however, provide general support funding as this allows us the flexibility to deal with developing needs and emergencies, and to pursue our commitment to placing as much authority in our local advisors as how best to allocate funds. It helps a great deal in our planning to be informed of any planned gifts you make to benefit Global Greengrants Fund, even if the gift is contingent. We would like to appropriately acknowledge the gift and ensure that we have a good understanding of your goals in making the gift. We must add the usual note that the above wording is suggestive only and you should consult legal counsel before executing any legal document. This information is not intended as specific legal advice. Consult your attorney when considering any legal matter. State laws that govern wills and contracts vary and are subject to change. Contact: Kelly Purdy Global Greengrants Fund 2840 Wilderness Place, Suite A Boulder, Colorado 80304 kelly@greengrants.org 303-939-9866 |
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