Memorial/Honor Gift | Giving For Income | Pledge Card

Cash, Check or Money Order

Cash is still the most popular way to give, and a cash gift could actually cost you much less at tax filing time if you itemize deductions on your return.

Appreciated Stock

If you own appreciated shares of stock that you have held for more than one year, it is often more tax-wise to contribute stock than cash if you itemize deductions on your return. This is because gifts of appreciated stocks generally offer a two-fold tax saving. In addition to receiving an income tax deduction for the full fair market value of your appreciated security, you save a second time by avoiding capital gains tax on the appreciation of the stock.

Life Insurance

You could purchase a new policy or donate a policy that you currently own but no longer need. To receive a deduction, designate the Foundation of choice as both the owner and beneficiary of the life insurance policy. If the policy is paid in full, your charitable gift is generally the replacement value or cost basis of the policy, whichever is less. Ongoing premiums paid on a gifted life insurance policy also qualify for charitable deductions. Check with your insurance agent for details.

Real Estate

A residence, vacation home, farm, acreage, or vacant lot may have appreciated in value through the years and its sale results in a sizeable capital gains tax. By making a gift of this property instead, you avoid the capital gains tax while receiving a charitable deduction for the full fair market value of the property.

Bequest

We can be named as a beneficiary in your will in any one of a number of simple ways. An outright gift, either a designated dollar amount or percentage of your estate, could be specified. We could also be named as a remainder beneficiary to receive funds only after specific sums have been paid to individual beneficiaries. It may be helpful to know that you can easily add us to your will through an amendment to your will called a codicil; thus your entire will does not have to be redrafted.

A memorial/honor gift is a meaningful way to honor someone you love or admire. Such a gift is appropriate when someone has given birth, passed away, celebrated a special occasion, or done something that deserves recognition. Very often, patients make a gift to express gratitude to a physician, nurse or staff member who has taken care of them.

If you make a memorial/honor gift to one of our Foundations, we will send the family or honoree notification of the gift. All memorials and honorees are listed annually in our publication and on our Donor Walls located inside Divine Providence Hospital and The Williamsport Hospital & Medical Center.

Many of us delay making a generous philanthropic gift until death because it's important to maintain income during our lifetime. But did you know that you can make a charitable gift of an asset now and often attain a higher income from that property? We call it a "life-income gift" - the gift that pays you back. The following are examples of some of the life-income gifts available through our Foundation that pay income and often save income and estate taxes for you and your heirs.

Charitable Gift Annuity

Of all the gifts that pay you back with a life income, the charitable gift annuity may be the simplest and most affordable. Unlike a trust, you contribute your gift directly to our Foundation, and we agree to pay you a guaranteed life income, which is partially tax-free. To decide whether a charitable gift annuity is right for you, ask yourself:

• Do I want to make a gift and still retain income for myself, my spouse or another person?
• Do I want a guaranteed, fixed income from my gift?
• Would it be helpful to save current income taxes, capital gains taxes or estate taxes?

If you answer yes to any of these, you may want to think about a gift annuity.

Charitable Remainder Unitrusts

When you establish a charitable remainder unitrust, you transfer cash or property to a trust. You then decide what percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets you wish to receive as income. The unitrust offers a wonderful hedge against inflation. As the value of the trust rises, so does your income. Conversely, if the value of the unitrust declines for some reason, you still receive your fixed percentage, but your income payment is smaller. You may also make additional gifts to the unitrust after it has been established, increasing the trust's value and the income paid to you or another beneficiary. When the trust terminates, our Foundation receives the rest of the trust. Benefits to you include increased current income, a generous income tax deduction that can be carried forward for five more years, bypass of capital gains tax and estate tax and probate cost savings.

Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts

An annuity trust is similar to a unitrust, but the income you receive is set as a fixed amount when the trust is established. In this way, you obtain a reliable, stable income that is not subject to market fluctuations.

Charitable Lead Trusts

Charitable lead trusts are essentially the reverse of the remainder trust described above. Under this arrangement, you transfer assets to a trustee who makes payments to our Foundation for a specified number of years, after which time the assets are transferred to your heirs. The charitable lead trust allows you to pass assets on to your children and grandchildren substantially free of all estate and gift taxes.

We would be pleased to provide you with more information and assist in any way as you consider making a gift. Our assistance is given without obligation and is completely confidential. Please call the Susquehanna Health Foundation office at 570-320-7460.