Gifts Anyone Can Make
These gifts often do not affect cash flow during your lifetime
Gift Through Your Will or Estate
Bequest
Details:
A bequest – a gift made through your will or living trust – can be the easiest gift to make to
Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper because it costs you nothing during your lifetime. Plus, it’s “revocable,” so you can update or change it if circumstances change. If you already have a will or living trust, you can amend it to include a bequest to Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper with a simple codicil. Download a typical sample codicil here.
Donor Profile:
Bequests are one of the easiest and most popular gift plans. This plan can fit any prospect: single, married, child-free or multi-generational, wealthy or not. Often a bequest is simply a set amount or percentage of an estate set aside to make a gift to
Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper. Do you already have a will and do not want to pay your attorney to change it? In most states a donor can execute a simple codicil (or will addition) to make the gift in a cost-effective manner.
Buy Low. Give High.
Appreciated Securities
Details:
You transfer publicly traded securities that you have owned for more than one year to Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper. We sell the securities and apply the proceeds to the charitable purpose(s) that you designate. You claim an income tax charitable deduction based on the fair market value of the securities and also avoid capital gains tax on the securities’ appreciation.
Donor Profile:
Donors who hold highly appreciated securities for a number of years. Also for donors who do not plan on selling the stock.
Large Gift. Little Cost.
Life Insurance
Details:
You designate Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy. When the time comes, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper receives the proceeds. Thus, you can provide a large gift to benefit Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper for relatively little cost. The policy proceeds distributed to Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper will be exempt from estate tax.
Donor Profile:
Donors who hold a paid-up life insurance policy where no one needs the proceeds. Great for those who do not want to affect current cash flow. The donor will have the flexibility to change his/her beneficiary designation later if his/her circumstances change.
Tired of Maintaining It?
Gifts of Real Estate
Details:
Real estate makes a real great gift. When you deed property to Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, you receive an income tax charitable deduction for the value of the contribution. Plus, you can elect to make an outright donation, or use the value to fund a gift that pays you income. Either way, you make a generous gift to Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper and those it serves.
Donor Profile:
Donors whose property will face significant capital gains tax and who do not need (or want) to pass their property on to an heir are the best prospects for a real estate gift. Also perfect for properties that are tough to maintain or vacation homes no longer one wants.
Paintings? Antiques?
Personal Property
Details:
You can make a significant gift by transferring a painting, antiques, collectibles – any “appreciated stuff” – to Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper. In return, you receive an immediate income tax deduction, and pay no capital gains on the appreciation. Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper can either hold the property, display it, or sell it and apply the proceeds to the purpose you choose.
Donor Profile:
Donors who have appreciated property and no heirs, or no interested heirs, are the best match for this type of gift. In some cases, prospects have heirs, but they own a piece of appreciated personal property that their heirs do not want or cannot use.
Avoid heavily-taxed assets to heirs.
Retirement Plans
Details:
Donor names Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper as the beneficiary of a portion or all of his/her IRA, 401(k), or other retirement account. When the time comes, the amount designated passes to Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper income- and estate-tax free.
Want to help us during your lifetime? If you are 70½ or older, you can make a Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA of up to $100,000. We call this the “tax-free” gift. Contact us for more information.
Donor Profile:
Someone who holds a 401(k), IRA, or other retirement plan and does not need the additional income, and want to give the most heavily-taxed assets in his/her estate to Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper and leave more favorably-taxed property to his/her heirs.
A “Tax Free” Gift?
Charitable IRA Rollover
Details:
The IRA charitable rollover allows taxpayers age 70½ or older to make tax-free charitable gifts of up to $100,000 per year directly from their Individual Retirement Accounts to Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper. The funds should be directly transferred to Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper and not withdrawn first.
Donor Profile:
A donor who does not need the additional income and wants to avoid “double taxation” on the minimum required distribution (MRD).