You don’t have to be wealthy to make a planned gift! In fact, you can put a planned gift in place that costs you nothing during your lifetime. Your gift may be designated for a particular purpose that you specify.
The concept of planned giving was developed to benefit nonprofit organizations by creating incentives for charitable giving through favorable tax treatment for these gifts.
Planned giving often begins with an appreciated asset, such as stock or real estate, which would be subject to significant taxes on the capital gain. In many cases, planned giving allows the donor to:
Westar benefits from receiving a larger gift than what might have been affordable with a cash donation.
A bequest—a designated gift to Westar Institute in your will or living trust—is the simplest form of planned giving. A bequest:
You can structure your will to make Westar the beneficiary of a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or a percentage of your residuary estate.
To name Westar in your will or trust, you’ll need to know:
If you have named Westar Institute in a will, trust, or other planned gift, please let us know so we can include your gift in our financial plans. We would be honored to list you as a member of the John Dillenberger Heritage Society and to thank you for your help in securing the future of Westar Institute.
Naming Westar as the beneficiary of a qualified retirement plan asset such as a 401(k), 403(b), IRA, Keogh or profit-sharing pension plan will accomplish a charitable goal while realizing significant tax savings.
It can be costly to pass such assets on to heirs because of heavy tax consequences. By naming Westar as a beneficiary of a retirement plan, you maintain complete control over the asset while living, but at your death the plan passes to support Westar, free of both estate and income taxes.
Making a charitable gift from your retirement plan is easy and should not cost you any attorney fees. Simply request a change-of-beneficiary form from your plan administrator. Return the form to your plan administrator and notify Westar. We can also assist you with the proper language for your beneficiary designation.
Westar Institute can be a beneficiary on a life insurance policy, either as a percentage of the policy or for the entire amount. Just contact the issuing life insurance company to make Westar a beneficiary.
Life insurance can be an easy and flexible way to make an important gift to Westar. Whether it’s a new policy purchased specifically to benefit Westar, or an old policy that has outlived its original purpose (such as for a spouse who no longer needs it, a child who is financially independent, or to protect a business that no longer exists), a gift of life insurance can allow you to leave a much larger gift for religious literacy than may have otherwise been possible.
Gifts of life insurance can be structured several ways:
Assets may be transferred into a trust that names Westar Institute as beneficiary. You receive tax benefits during your lifetime and retain the income generated from the assets given to the trust. An estate lawyer or financial planner can help you decide if setting up a charitable remainder or other trust makes sense for you.
Donating stock or mutual funds to Westar Institute can allow you to avoid capital gains tax and receive a tax deduction.
A gift of real estate can also have substantial tax benefits. Gifts of real estate are welcomed, but must be accepted based on their marketability, as Westar does not have the capacity to manage properties.
You may transfer the ownership of a home to Westar Institute and retain the right to occupy the premises for the rest of your life, while receiving an immediate tax deduction.
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