Planned giving is a way to support The Valerie Fund by means other than simply writing a check each year. It’s important to select a technique that suits your needs, so we recommend that you work with your attorney and financial advisor to make the proper selection.

How You Can Benefit From Planned Giving

A planned gift can greatly enhance the financial impact of your contribution by offering attractive, tax-saving opportunities. It offers win-win options to fulfill your financial goals and continue compassionate care of children who will seek hope and healing through The Valerie Fund now and in the future.

 Planned giving offers: 

• Significant income, gift and estate tax advantages
• Flexibility to structure your estate so you can leave a tax-free inheritance to your children or grandchildren
• Personal satisfaction of perpetuating your values beyond your lifetime
• Permanent membership in Valerie’s Legacy

 What are your planned giving options?

 Bequests

A bequest is simply a provision in your will or living trust to pass on a portion of the cash or property in your estate to a designated beneficiary. A bequest to The Valerie Fund creates a legacy of support for children with cancer and blood disorders. There is no limit on the deduction your estate can claim and the gift is also exempt from state inheritance taxes for federal estate tax purposes. A retirement asset like an IRA makes an excellent bequest because distributions from retirement plans can be subject to significant income and estate taxes if left to heirs other than your spouse or to a charity. For this reason, you may wish to name The Valerie Fund as the second beneficiary on your account after your spouse.

Trusts

Under this option, you transfer assets into a trust for the purpose of providing income to other parties known as the beneficiaries. Both of the following enable you to avoid capital gains taxes on appreciated assets you transfer and allow significant tax deductions at the time the trust is initiated.

Charitable Remainder Trust

This is an excellent vehicle for converting a portion of your portfolio to income-producing assets.

The CRT generates income for you or a loved one now. The Valerie Fund then receives the remainder of the trust assets at the end of the term set forth in the trust.

Charitable Lead Trust

This is a very effective technique should you anticipate high estate and gift taxes in transferring wealth to your heirs. With the CLT, the assets that go into the trust generate a fixed amount of income for The Valerie Fund. The balance of trust assets are passed to your heirs later with no additional transfer tax, usually leaving them larger net estate. 

If you have already planned your estate…

A will or trust does not need to be totally rewritten to be amended.  Your attorney can prepare a “codicil,” a simple amendment to your existing will or an amendment to a trust you have already created, which adds The Valerie Fund as a beneficiary. We can provide you with samples of these documents.

Valerie’s Legacy

If you plan to or have already included The Valerie Fund in your estate plans, please let us know.  We would like to thank you and acknowledge your generosity by permanently recognizing you as a member of Valerie’s Legacy, the highest level of giving.