Content Capsule / July 2025
Supporting an endowment through planned giving
Blog Post
As you review your estate plan, consider whether your documents are aligned with your philanthropic intentions, especially if you’ve been giving to [ABC Charity] for years.
Sometimes referred to as “planned giving,” making arrangements for a gift to a charity’s endowment from your property after you die is a generous and important way to make sure that your favorite charities can continue to carry out their missions for years to come. A “planned gift” allows you to leave a lasting legacy to [ABC Charity], so that the support you gave during your lifetime can continue in a different form.
Although many people who arrange for a planned gift to [ABC Charity]’s endowment do so in the form of a bequest in a will or trust, there are other ways to support [ABC Charity]’s endowment through your estate plan. In particular, bequests of qualified retirement plans can be extremely tax-efficient. This is because charitable organizations such as [ABC Charity] are tax-exempt. This means the funds flowing directly to [ABC Charity]’s endowment after your death will not be reduced by income tax. This also means the assets will not be subject to estate tax.
We’re happy to work with you and your tax and estate planning advisors to structure a planned gift to [ABC Charity]’s endowment. For example, we can provide sample language for beneficiary designations of retirement plans and life insurance policies, as well as bequest language for your will or trust. Please contact [ABC Charity]’s team for the exact language that will ensure alignment with your intentions.
Social Posts
Two Facebook Posts
As you review your estate plan with your attorney and other advisors, remember to ask about ways to include support for [ABC Charity]’s endowment. A “planned gift” is a generous and effective way to leave a legacy to the community and ensure that [ABC Charity]’s continues for generations.
Did you know that you can support [ABC Charity]’s endowment through a beneficiary designation on a retirement plan or life insurance? IRA beneficiary designations, for example, can be an extremely tax-effective way to support [ABC Charity]’s work for years to come. We’d love to work with you and your advisors to structure a gift that can help address the long-term needs of our community.
Tweets
Updating beneficiaries of your retirement plans or life insurance policies? Make a “planned gift” to [ABC Charity]’s endowment.
Does your will or trust include an endowment gift for [ABC Charity]? Learn how a charitable bequest can be a key part of your estate plan.
You can use the entire blog post on LinkedIn, or simply use one of the Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter blurbs and link to the full blog post on your website.
Messaging & Tips to Drive Engagement
Key Messages
Making a “planned gift” means arranging to leave money to charity upon your death.
Planned gifts are an effective way to leave a legacy to the community and support [ABC Charity]’s endowment.
You can make a planned gift by including a bequest provision for [ABC Charity]‘s endowment in your will or trust, or through a beneficiary designation, especially on an IRA or other retirement plan.
Tips to Drive Engagement*
This Content Capsule is designed to remind your donors of the opportunity to consider a planned gift to your organization. Often, organizations are hesitant to discuss planned giving, as the topic is perceived as being sensitive and complex. However, this is so incredibly important to the growth and sustainability of your organization. Remember, you don’t have to know it all, and you know more than you think.
Reinforce that qualified retirement accounts (like IRAs) are one of the most tax-savvy and simplest ways to support your organization. It’s as simple as updating the IRA’s beneficiary designation form.
*If you are a Collaboration or Strategy Package subscriber, these tips (and more!) are discussed during the Monthly Peer Working Sessions.