What is planned giving?

Planned gifts are made by passionate and committed donors who want to make a transformational difference for an organization. These gifts are made through creative vehicles, such as stock transfers, gifts of life insurance, or bequest designations (gifts through wills and estates). In some cases, like with a gift of appreciated securities, the gift is made during the donor’s lifetime, and in other cases, like with a bequest gift, the gift intent is documented in the donor’s lifetime and realized after the donor’s passing.

How does the Colorectal Cancer Alliance use planned gifts?

Like all donations made to the organization, planned gifts are used to advance our mission to end colorectal cancer in our lifetime. The Alliance welcomes the opportunity to work with donors to ensure their planned gifts are utilized in a way that matches the donor’s intent while also advancing our critical work across the screen, care, and cure programs.

What are the benefits of planned giving?

The most significant benefit of making an asset gift and/or a future intent gift through estate and financial plans is the knowledge that one’s generosity will have an impact on a cause they care about.

Additionally, there are tax-related benefits. Donors who contribute appreciated property, like securities, receive a charitable deduction for the full market value of the asset, and pay no capital gains tax on the transfer. Gifts payable to an organization upon the donor’s death, like a bequest or a beneficiary designation in a life insurance policy or retirement account, exempts the donor from estate tax.

What are some of the different types of planned gifts that the Colorectal Cancer Alliance accepts?

Bequest: A bequest is a gift made through a will or a living trust. It’s the most popular planned gift, the easiest to make, and costs nothing to the donor.
Appreciated Securities: Publicly traded appreciated securities that a donor has owned for more than one year can be gifted to the Alliance.
Life Insurance: A donor can designate the Alliance as a life insurance policy beneficiary.
Retirement Plans: A donor can name the Alliance as the beneficiary of a portion or all of his/her IRA, 401(k), or other retirement plans.