There may be a no more meaningful gift than that made through a bequest or legacy because these gifts, representing a lifetime of experience, embody a testament to one’s deepest beliefs, concerns and affections. Donors help secure the long-term financial health of the School through gifts that come in the future or over a period of years.
Bequests
The simplest way to make a gift to Allen-Stevenson is to include the school in a will or trust, directing a specific amount or a percentage of the balance remaining in the estate to the School. This type of gift allows a donor’s assets to remain in his or her control during his or her lifetime. Any asset may be given in this way, though the School most commonly receives cash gifts set out in a donor’s will.
Retirement Assets
Naming Allen-Stevenson as a beneficiary of an IRA, 401(k), or other qualified retirement plan allows the donor to leverage retirement assets to benefit him and his family while reducing the impact of taxes, and supporting A-S far into the future.
Gifts of Life Insurance
A donor may donate an existing life insurance policy or designate Allen-Stevenson as a partial or full beneficiary while retaining ownership of the policy. This can be a great opportunity for a low-cost, large impact gift if a donor is carrying more insurance coverage than his or her family obligations require.
Charitable Remainder Trust
This gift is one way for a donor to make a contribution that will benefit the School in the future while providing tax benefits and income for the donor immediately and over time. A donor transfers cash, securities or other appreciated property into a trust, and the trust pays a percentage of the value of its principal to the donor or donor’s beneficiaries. When the trust terminates, the remainder passes to Allen-Stevenson.
Charitable Lead Trust
With this gift, a donor removes specified assets from his or her estate, receives immediate tax savings, and provides the School income from those assets for a period of years. At the end of the gift period, the assets may be returned to the donor or, tax free, to a third party. Parents and grandparents find the charitable lead trust an excellent way to provide for a future generation while accomplishing good work today and decreasing their likely estate taxes.
MAKING A PLANNED GIFT
If you have included Allen-Stevenson in your estate plans, please complete the Declaration of Intent Form, so that we may properly acknowledge your commitment of support.
For more information about supporting the endowment, or about making another special gift to Allen-Stevenson, contact Katy Duckworth-Schachter at 212-933-5214 or kduckworth@allen-stevenson.org.