LEAVE A LEGACY^®

Greater Philadelphia

Make a Difference in the Lives that Follow

More than sixty percent of people contribute to non-profit organizations during a lifetime, less than 10% continue that contribution with a planned gift.

Making a lasting contribution to charitable organizations and causes isn't just for the wealthy. Every day, people from all walks of life leave charitable gifts in their wills. In doing so, they make a tremendous difference in the world they leave behind. All it takes is a legal will and the good will or a simple codicil to your will to make important charitable work live on forever.

Myths About Planned Giving

a. Myth #1: The process is too complicated.
False. Leaving a charitable bequest is not complicated at all. Anyone who writes a will can include a charitable bequest at little or no additional cost.

b. Myth #2: I need to have a large net worth to leave a meaningful legacy.
False. Anyone with a positive net worth may leave a portion of their estate to charity. It will be a meaningful gift to your favorite group of choice.

c. Myth #3: I need to use the services of a professional tax or financial advisor, and it can be expensive.
False. It’s always helpful to receive professional tax and financial advice, especially for larger or more complex estates. But most gifts by will can be drafted simply by an attorney. Your favorite charity will tell you how.

d. Myth #4: Once I set up my legacy, I cannot change it.
False. The charitable beneficiaries indicated in your will can be changed at very little cost by a simple amendment to your will, which is called a codicil.

Top Ten Things You Can Do to LEAVE A LEGACY

1. Prepare a will. Fully 50% of Americans die without a will. Without one, you lose control of the assets you worked a lifetime to acquire.

2. Leave gifts in your will for the charitable organizations that have made a difference in your life. Fewer than 10% of households in the United States actually make a charitable bequest. Imagine the positive impact in your community if everyone made even a modest donation to a favorite non-profit organization.

3. Leave a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your estate to your favorite charities. The provision can be part of a new will or added to your existing will as a codicil.

4. "Endow" your annual gift to your favorite charity by making a bequest equal to 20 times that amount.

5. Name your favorite charity as the beneficiary of your IRA or pension plan.

6. Name your favorite charity as the beneficiary of a new or existing life insurance policy.

7. Make a gift of a new or existing life insurance policy to your favorite charity.

8. Remember deceased loved ones with memorial gifts to charities.

9. Encourage family members and friends to leave gifts to charities in their wills.

10. Ask your financial advisor to include charitable giving as part of his/her counsel to other clients.

For additional information please contact:  makous@aacr.org

Click here for testimonials

LEAVE A LEGACY^®

LEAVE A LEGACY is the public awareness campaign of the National Committee on Planned Giving. LEAVE A LEGACY programs across the country are educating the public about the benefits of leaving bequests to charity in wills and estate plans.

Our local program is organized in conjunction with the
National Committee on Planned Giving.