In its simplest terms, estate planning is the process of taking control of your assets. An estate plan is a set of instructions that clearly spells out the way property should be managed during life and distributed at death.

Donors often look for flexible arrangements that allow them to build their retirement savings while also supporting a worthwhile cause.

Charitable Gift Annuities enter into a contract with Morning Dove Therapeutic Riding. We pay you fixed payments for life and the remainder supports Morning Dove upon your death. You receive an income tax deduction when the annuity is established and your future gift supports our mission.

Charitable Remainder Trusts transfer money or property to a trust. This removes the property from your estate and allows you to enjoy an immediate income tax deduction if you itemize. The trustee pays you lifetime income (the trustee sells any appreciated property free of capital gains tax to make the payments). When you die, the remaining assets (the “remainder”) are transferred to us or other named charities. 
You name the trust beneficiaries—yourself, your spouse, or anyone you choose. The trustee makes annual income payments for as long as the designated beneficiaries live, or for a specific term of years up to 20.

Today, more people participate in tax-favored retirement plans than ever before. While participants are committed to accumulating and growing these assets, few have planned for the harsh tax consequences associated with retirement plan distributions—a tax at rates up to 37%. Consider how you can use retirement plan assets to make charitable gifts—leaving more to heirs and the charities you love and support.

Retirement planning is a process. Whatever your age or stage in life, it’s never too late to get started, and it’s never too early to think about the role philanthropy could play in your planning.  There are many planning options available to everybody—from the recently retired, to people nearing the end of their careers, to happily retired singles and couples well into their golden years.

A qualified charitable distribution from an IRA is a well-established and popular way to give. If you are 70½ or older, this option allows you to make a charitable gift and satisfy your annual required minimum distribution without paying taxes.

Many people own long-term, highly appreciated real estate they no longer use or no longer want to manage. In many cases, owners are looking for tax-efficient ways to pass the property on or convert it into an income stream. If you are one of these fortunate property owners, you may want to consider how philanthropy can unlock earning potential, create tax savings, and make an important difference to our work.

Another gift option is appreciated stock, held for more than one year. This can be the ideal choice for individuals who want their charitable gifts to make the biggest impact to our mission for the lowest possible cost.

Revocable gifts share a number of notable characteristics that make them extremely appealing. They are easy to execute. They are flexible, as individuals can change or withdraw the gift if need be in the face of altered circumstances. They require no immediate funding, allowing donors to retain the use of the assets throughout life. Most important, they provide an opportunity for donors to leave a lasting reminder of the gratitude they feel for the charities they love and support.

Most of us, given the chance, want to leave a lasting reminder of the gratitude we feel for the institutions we love and support. It is a privilege to make a difference to show, in some way, that we have contributed to important work or played a part in a cause that benefits society, perhaps for generations to come.

We can all give back, but in years past, only the wealthiest were able create large and lasting legacies. Today, though, thanks to widely held wealth and tax-favored giving opportunities, many more of us can participate in this calling and experience the joy and satisfaction that come from making a difference in the lives of the population we serve.

Did you know The SECURE Act—which stands for “Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement”—puts in place numerous provisions intended to strengthen retirement security across the country? The SECURE Act will significantly impact retirement plan accumulations and distributions for the immediate future.