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Every Civitan is a member of the Civitan International Foundation. Those who wish to support its programs can make individual contributions; vote to approve club contributions to support a Fellows honoree, or the Civitan International Research Center through Civitans at the Helm; serve as volunteers in the candy or coin box projects; join the President's Council; or tak
e advantage of Planned Giving options such as including the Foundation in their wills, contributing appreciated property, contracting for a charitable gift annuity, assigning a life insurance policy or retirement plan, or establishing a trust fund.
Wills, financial planning
Including Civitan International or the Foundation in your will is the easiest way to make a significant gift of lasting value without depleting your financial resources. If you don't have a will, you should have one drawn up anyway. If you've already created a will, it is very easily modified through a codicil. By carefully planning and managing your assets, you can help assure security for your family and heirs, while providing a legacy for organizations such as your church, alma mater, Civitan, and others that are important to you.
Insurance
Another simple and often surprisingly inexpensive way to help Civitan is to donate an insurance policy, either an existing policy whose beneficiary is no long appropriate or a new one. Assigning the policy to the Civitan International Foundation makes all payments tax deductible in the U.S. The cash value of an existing policy is also deductible if given to the Foundation.
Charitable Gift Annuities
Annuities provide an income for the life of a donor or other person (or persons) he or she designates. A gift of at least $5,000 is made to the Foundation, which agrees to pay a specified percentage back annually for the life of the person or people named. Because part of the payments are actually a return of the principal rather than just earnings, high rates are attractive and competitive. Rates are based on the named people's ages. And part of the gift and the subsequent income can be tax deductible in most cases, adding to the net return. Any money remaining after the named individual dies is retained by the Foundation.
Giving Property (including stocks, bonds, and real estate)
U.S. tax laws permit deductions for the current cash value of certain types of property. If the property has appreciated greatly in value since it was obtained by the owner, substantial tax savings can be obtained. In some cases, assets that do not produce income can be turned into an ongoing income stream by donating them to the Foundation.
Trust Funds
There are a number of trust fund types that can be attractive for people with large estates while providing income for the Foundation.
Planned giving has many options available. They change frequently, and are usually affected by state laws. Anyone considering making a Planned Gift or contributing any substantial cash amount should contact a member of the Planned Giving Committee or the Civitan International Revenue Development staff first. Tax or legal advice should be obtained locally.
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