A bequest in your will is one of the simplest and most impactful ways for you to establish a legacy with your favorite organizations. Donors can bequeath specific items, specific sums of money, or a percentage of their estate. This can be done alongside making provisions in your will for loved ones. 

A gift of appreciated securities (including stock, bonds, and mutual funds) generally provides you a full market value tax deduction. When compared with selling the securities and donating after-tax proceeds, this provides an increased gift and tax deduction through avoiding long-term capital gains.

Naming an organization as a beneficiary of your insurance policy or retirement account allows these gifts to pass to the charity outside your will. Additionally, naming an organization as both owner and beneficiary of an insurance policy can provide immediate tax benefits to you. In many cases, updating beneficiaries may be completed online or via a simple form and multiple beneficiaries may be named.

Endowment funds are to our parishes, schools, or nonprofit ministries what retirement funds are to an individual: set-aside resources for the future. Once established with a minimum gift of $10,000, anyone can make additional contributions to a fund in any dollar amount. You may establish an endowment to benefit a single or multiple organizations through the annual distribution.

Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from IRAsIf you receive a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from your IRA (if you are 70 ½ or older), you may make a QCD to satisfy all or part of your RMD. The funds are sent directly from your IRA administrator to charitable institutions, which reduces your taxable income. For more information or to notify the foundation of a QCD you plan to make for an archdiocesan parish, school, or ministry

Charitable Trusts are legal entities which provide support to your favorite causes while providing gains for you or your loved ones. A Charitable Lead Trust (CLT) generates income for your charity of choice over a set number of years, after which you or your loved ones regain ownership of the assets. A Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) provides you or a loved one with annual income for a period of years or your lifetime; afterwards, the trust remainder is transferred to support your favorite organization’s mission.

DAFs provide you with a centralized, efficient, and accessible repository to manage your charitable giving. Gifts of cash, securities, or other appreciated assets may be gifted into a DAF, and a minimum of $10,000 is needed to begin the fund. You may recommend grants from the fund at any time to organizations; no minimum annual distributions are required and additional contributions may be made at any time. Grants can be made to any 501(c)3 organization provided its mission does not conflict with Catholic teachings.

The CARES Act, which was signed into law on March 27, 2020, includes provisions affecting both individual and corporate donors. These provisions include the following: