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Giving Through Your Will or Living Trust
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In addition to filling an important role in providing for your family and others, your will or living trust can be a way to make a wonderful gift to
WWF. It can be gratifying to know that a portion of your property will be put to good use after you no longer need it.| Example: Bob has been a generous supporter of
WWF for over 30 years. When he revised his will 10 years ago, he decided to provide that
WWF would receive his estate should his daughter not survive him. Today his daughter is financially independent. After careful consideration of his overall plans, especially the fact that he can now leave more to his daughter free of estate tax, Bob decides to revise his will to provide that WWF will receive a generous gift from his estate at the time of his death while his daughter will still inherit the majority of his assets. The amount left to WWF will be fully deductible for estate tax purposes and could result in a significant reduction in estate taxes that might otherwise be due under current or revised tax law provisions. |
Options using life insurance and retirement plans
Many people have life insurance or retirement plans with significant balances. In some cases, these assets total more than is needed for a comfortable retirement, and could give rise to heavy estate taxes.
In that case, it may be wise to consider using these funds to make charitable gifts
now or in the future. A simple change of beneficiary form may be all that is required
for gifts of what remains in your accounts. As in the case of gifts through wills and
revocable living trusts, such gifts can be arranged to take place only if loved ones
predecease you, or in the event of other circumstances you specify. For more information
on retirement plan giving and special tax incentives for those over 70½ who make gifts from these accounts,
visit the retirement plan section.
Your retirement plan benefits advisor or your life insurance professional can also provide more details upon request.
Banks and Brokerage Accounts
One of the easiest ways to provide a gift to charity involves naming a charitable beneficiary for any funds that remain in a bank or brokerage account at your death. The gift is arranged by completing a simple P.O.D (Pay on Death) form for a bank account or a T.O.D (Transfer on Death) form for a broker account. Your bank branch officer or financial officer can assist you.
For additional information contact us at legacygifts@wwfus.org.
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