Legacy Gifts
It is often said that a person is remembered most through strength of character, kindness, and generosity to others. This is what defines one's legacy.
Through a legacy or planned gift, you have the opportunity to continue your generosity and commitment to helping others, to express your values, and to encourage others to lend their support to the community.
Legacy gifts allow you to perpetuate your caring and compassion for those less fortunate.
Made during your lifetime or through your estate, legacy gifts are arranged so that your lifestyle and the assets you wish to pass on to your heirs are not diminished. Legacy gifts are usually made from assets, not from current income, and can provide significant tax savings and guaranteed tax-free income for life.
There are a number of tax benefits associated with this form of giving.
Described below are some of the gift planning vehicles that are available.
Bequests
This is one of the most common ways of planning a gift. Bequests are donations made through your Will, and are critically important to COSTI's ongoing work in the community. This type of giving also makes it possible for you to make a gift without putting a strain on your personal finances or estate.
You can leave funds in your Will to COSTI through one of three ways:
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Gifts of Residue
With this method, after you have provided for the needs of your family and friends, the remainder of your estate is given to COSTI. -
Fixed Sum Gifts
This method allows you to choose a specific amount of funds to be given to COSTI. -
Gifts of the Whole Estate
You may also wish to leave all of your estate to COSTI.
Life Insurance Policies
Life insurance policies ensure the financial security of those you care about. And this can also be applied to COSTI. By providing such a gift, you are ensuring that COSTI can continue to deliver its various programs and services in the future. Giving such a donation is very simple, and there are no associated legal or administrative fees. You make such a gift either through signing over an existing policy, or by purchasing a new policy and naming COSTI as the beneficiary.
By signing over an existing policy, the cash surrender value of the policy is considered a donation, and is tax deductible. With a new policy, the premiums paid are considered tax deductible.
Gifts of Securities
Recent changes in the capital gains tax have made Gifts of Securities an attractive option for many individuals. A gift of appreciated public securities, such as stocks, bonds, and mutual fund shares and units, is now t he most tax-effective way to make a significant donation.
Endowments
Establishing an endowment provides you with the opportunity of making a donation that will continue to support COSTI's activities in the future. An endowment is a gift where the principal is held in perpetuity, and the interest from the principal is used in accordance with the donor's wishes.
For more information on any of these options, please contact your financial or legal adviser, or call 416.658.1600, or E-mail giving@costi.org.
The information provided on our website is for general informational purposes only, and is not intended to be tax or legal advice. Please consult a qualified financial advisor before making a gift of this nature.
