Major gifts are philanthropically inspired contributions that have an extremely significant impact on the entire organization. They are integral to successful campaigns and are more than just giving the same as last year plus a little more for inflation. Major gifts can be gifts of appreciated assets or cash and can be combinations of cash, other assets, and or/planned giving components. Here are some of the ways to give and support LBF’s mission:
Lifetime Giving Benefits
LBF as a recipient of Donor Advised Funds
Donor Advised Funds (DAF) are akin to investment accounts for the sole purpose of supporting charitable organizations. DAFs can be invested for tax-free growth and each account is composed of contributions made by individual donors. DAFs allow donors to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction and then recommend grants from the fund over time. Also, donors may contribute to the fund as frequently as they’d like.
Gift of Securities
Gifts of securities are a wonderful way to support the Louisiana Bar Foundation with existing assets. This can include donations of stocks, bonds, or mutual funds. When you donate shares of stock, you may be able to take a tax deduction for the full fair market value (FMV).
Benefits of gifting securities may include:
- A charitable contribution tax deduction based on the stock’s FMV on the date of the gift, up to 30% of your adjusted gross income
- Carryover of the deduction for up to five additional years
- Avoidance of capital gains tax that is due when you sell appreciated stock
Required Minimum Distributions
The required minimum distribution is the smallest amount account holders must withdraw from retirement plans each year. There are various tax advantages in donating your RMD directly to the Louisiana Bar Foundation. RMDs may be donated through advantageous charitable vehicles called Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) which may allow for up to the first $100,000 distributions not be taxed.
Benefits of donating your RMD may include:
- Effectively reducing income taxes by lowering AGI
- Not required to itemize your deductions to exclude the QCD from taxable income
- Supporting the Louisiana Bar Foundation’s mission
Required Minimum Distributions Form
LBF Donor Advised Legacy Funds (Starting contribution of $10,000)
Simple Endowment Best suited to meet emerging needs or opportunities in the community. Donors place no restrictions on how their funds are used and decisions are left to our Board of Directors.
Area of Interest Endowment Supports programs, projects, and initiatives in a specific area. Annual distributions are made at the discretion of the Board to an area of interest chosen by the donor and within the mission of the Louisiana Bar Foundation. Areas of interest include the provision of legal services to the poor, law-related education, and administration of justice.
Designated Agency Endowment Support a specific organization. Annual distributions are made at the discretion of the Board to an agency chosen by the donor and within the mission of the LBF. If an agency ceases to exist or the purpose for which a fund was created becomes obsolete, the Board of Directors may redirect the fund to best achieve the basic intent of its donor. Example: A direct disbursement to Acadiana Legal Services Corporation
Benefits of establishing Donor Advised Funds may include:
- Receiving an immediate tax deduction
- Ability to advise the use of the funds to make an impact to causes that matter to the donor
- Growing the total donation without further contributions
- Supporting the Louisiana Bar Foundation immediately, or over time
Legacy Funds Starting at $10,000 Form
Wills and Bequests
A bequest is a provision in one’s last will and testament where a gift or property is transferred from an estate to a charitable organization. A bequest can also be made by simply adding a codicil to an existing will. LBF donors are encouraged to make bequests to LBF under their wills and trusts. Such bequests will not be recorded as gifts to LBF until such time as the gift is irrevocable. When the gift is irrevocable but is not due until a future date, the present value of that gift may be recorded at the time the gift becomes irrevocable.
Life Insurance Policies
LBF must be named as both beneficiary and irrevocable owner of an insurance policy before a life insurance policy can be recorded as a gift. The gift is valued at its interpolated terminal reserve value, or cash surrender value, upon receipt. If the donor contributes future premium payments, LBF will include the entire amount of the additional premium payment as a gift in the year that it is made. If the donor does not elect to continue to make gifts to cover premium payments on the life insurance policy, the LBF may:
- Continue to pay the premiums
- Convert the policy to a paid-up insurance
- Surrender the policy for its current cash value
Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation
Donors are invited to name LBF as a beneficiary or contingent-beneficiary of their life insurance policies. Beneficiary designations naming LBF shall not be documented as gifts until the date of which the gift becomes irrevocable. When the gift becomes irrevocable, but is not fulfilled until a future date, the present value of that gift may be recorded at the time it becomes irrevocable.
Charitable Gift Annuities
LBF may accept charitable gift annuities in amounts of $25,000 or more. LBF’s Gift Acceptance Committee may make exceptions to this minimum. The minimum age for life-income beneficiaries of a gift annuity shall be 55. Where a deferred gift annuity is offered, the minimum age for life income beneficiaries shall be 45 and may not begin sooner than five (5) years after initial donation, or until the age of 54; whichever may be later. In the event of joint beneficiaries, annuity may not begin until five (5) years after gift, or until the age of 54 of the younger beneficiary; whichever may be later.
Retirement Plan Beneficiary Designations
Donors are welcomed to name LBF as beneficiary of their retirement plans. Such designations will not be recorded as gifts to LBF until the time your gift is irrevocable. When the gift is irrevocable, but is not due until a future date, the present value of that gift may be recorded at the time the gift becomes irrevocable.
Other Planned Gift Instruments:
- Deferred Payment Gift Annuities
- Pooled Income Funds
- Retained Life Interest Gifts
