Tag Archives: donate

year-end tax planning

Year-End Tax Planning in Uncertain Times

There is always a certain degree of guesswork that goes into year-end tax planning, but this year there is the added uncertainty surrounding what the tax code will look like after Washington completes the overhaul of our tax system.  The income tax rates for many individuals and businesses may decrease; the definition of income subject to tax may change considerably as well.  Many itemized deductions that we have become so used to, such as the deduction for qualified medical expenses, state and local income taxes and real estate taxes may be eliminated.

However, if the resulting new rules resemble the proposals, there will be a doubling of the standard deduction and the possible elimination of the controversial Alternative Minimum Tax.  Below are some tax-planning suggestions, including suggestions related to charitable gifts, which consider both the typical year-end planning techniques as well as planning for a potential overhaul:

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planned giving - why have a will

Why You Need a Will

Most Americans don’t have a will. They will work to build a life and home for themselves and take care of their friends and family along the way. Unfortunately at the end of their lives, without a will, their property is up to state law instead of being distributed to their friends, family, or charity organizations of their choosing. Shouldn’t it be up to you to decide where your property goes?

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Planned giving gift models

Charitable Gift Annuity: A Win-Win

Often you hear the phrase, “Charity begins at home.” The story of this family can be characterized by the phrase, “Charity begins and ends at home.” Wayne was only in his 20s and attending college in Arizona when he was diagnosed with arthritis. “I remember him saying his back hurt so bad that when he had to cough or sneeze, he found a convenient tree or wall to brace up against it,” says his wife Carole, a retired high school English teacher.

Years later, Carole and Wayne were browsing through a copy of Arthritis Today magazine when an advertisement caught their attention. The ad featured an opportunity to receive guaranteed payout rates for life and other financial benefits – while they helped the Foundation find a cure for arthritis.
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Planned Giving Gift Models Arthritis Foundation

Planned Giving: Do More with Thoughtful Planning

Have you ever received information from the Arthritis Foundation’s Planned Giving Department and wondered exactly what it means? Have you ever seen a request to remember the Arthritis Foundation in your will or trust or read that 25% of all revenue the Foundation receives is from donor bequests? Have you ever met one of the Foundation’s Planned Giving Directors and wondered if they could help you? If so, you’re not alone.
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Ortman Family Juvenile Arthritis

The Ortmans: Giving After They’re Gone

Ortman Family Juvenile ArthritisMichael Ortman, Arthritis Foundation board chair, knows all too well how juvenile arthritis (JA) can impact a family for a lifetime.

When his son, Daniel, was 11 years old, he began complaining of pain in his foot and ankle. The Ortmans took Daniel to numerous doctors to determine the cause, and after he was diagnosed with a bone scan, Mike and his wife, Kate, were told that Daniel had JA – and that it was spreading to other joints in his body. His parents watched as Daniel went from an active, tree-climbing, independent child to a boy who needed a wheelchair and assistance performing everyday tasks.

Now 27, Daniel continues to struggle with mobility, and has spent most of the last three years homebound. Although he has experienced some recent victories, he still struggles from the ongoing physical and mental challenges of arthritis.

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Planned Giving Gift Models Arthritis Foundation

Planned Giving Options: How to Give – Part Two

Help us champion the fight against arthritis with planned giving! In our past posts in the Planned Giving Series, we discussed the type of planned gifts we accept and an overview of planned giving to help you better understand how planned gifts differ from other types of donations to the Arthritis Foundation.

In our last post about how to give (part one), we talked about several types of gift models we accept that have multiple benefits for you and your loved ones, including bequests, beneficiary designation gifts, charitable gift annuities and more. Below, we’ll discuss additional alternate types of planned gifts you can make, which will help make a difference in the lives of those with arthritis for years to come!

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Planned giving gift models

Planned Giving Options: How to Give – Part One

When you leave a planned gift with the Arthritis Foundation, you’ll help us improve the lives of those with arthritis – and you’ll leave a lasting legacy that will help us make a difference in the arthritis community for years to come.

So far, in our planned giving series, we’ve discussed how planned giving can benefit you and your loved ones both during your lifetime and after you leave your legacy with the Arthritis Foundation – no matter what type of gift you make!

In this post, we’ll discuss the various types of planned giving that might provide tax benefits, additional income, and even more. Read more about the types of gift models you can donate below.

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Arthritis Foundation Planned Giving Options

So Many Ways to Give: Your Planned Giving Options

Leaving your legacy with the Arthritis Foundation allows us to continue our fight against arthritis, so you’ll know that you’ve made a difference in the arthritis community for years to come. Planned giving is one of the most flexible, beneficial ways you can help us improve lives and conquer America’s leading cause of disability.

In our last post introducing you to planned giving, you learned about some of the high-level benefits you could experience when you donate a planned gift. Now we’ll differentiate the benefits you (and your loved ones) can realize depending on the type of planned gift you make.

Read a brief overview of the many types of donations you can make below.

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Arthritis Foundation Planned Giving

Leave Your Legacy: Planned Giving 101

How do you want to leave your legacy? Some people have shaped history, leaving behind memorable works of art, monuments and landmarks; others have helped to enact lasting political and historical change. By donating a planned gift to the Arthritis Foundation, you too can leave an impact – by providing much-needed support for people living with arthritis, helping us to find a cure and to help families say Yes, day after day.

What is a Planned Gift?

A planned gift is a donation (usually to charities) that occurs at a later date, whether after your death or after the death of your last beneficiary. You and your financial advisor will decide what assets are distributed and how they are gifted. These donations can take place in a variety of forms, including:

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