Planned Giving: Can You Afford to Make Xavier a Promise?

“Planned giving” is a loaded term. For some, the idea of leaving a planned gift seems complex. For others, perhaps the thought of one’s own mortality can be a difficult thought to wrestle with. But at the end of the day, all “planned giving” really boils down to is this – simply making a promise. 

A year ago, my wife and I made our first planned gifts and it couldn’t have been any easier. For a nominal fee, we worked with an attorney who helped us put together a will and a trust. Working with her, we included the names of charities we wished to one day receive portions of our estate. We simply gave her percentages each charity would receive. We signed the documents, the attorney filed them with the state and just like that, just that easily, we made our first planned gifts. 

Charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, or remembering Xavier though the creation of a donor advised fund are other examples of planned gifts. Simply listing “Xavier High School” as a beneficiary to a life insurance policy is a wonderful, easy way to remember Xavier. 

However, where planned giving really begins to take off is through simple conversation. Free of charge, the Xavier Foundation has worked with many over the years, discussing options that might make sense for unique circumstances and desires. We do not provide legal or financial advice. Rather, we’ve helped many over the years get started by simply having conversations. 

If you are interested in potentially leaving a planned gift to Xavier, do not hesitate to give me a call (319) 294-6635 ext. 305, or Mary Harken, Director of Development, (319) 378-4571. And if you have left a planned gift to Xavier, please let us know! We would love to include you in our Heritage Society, which today has over 100 members. 

Leaving a planned gift is one of the easiest and most impactful ways to financially support Xavier. Most planned gifts cost nothing today; it’s simply a promise. Give us a call today, we’d love to show you just how easy and how impactful, that promise can be. 

A friendly reminder for anyone over 70 1/2 years of age that there is a definite tax advantage to directly donate to a nonprofit like Xavier Foundation using funds in a traditional IRA. Please consult with your financial advisor to see if this might be a good fit for you, and here is a helpful article link with additional information.