Bequests
A charitable bequest to the Lighthouse is one of the most rewarding gifts you can make to support continued advancements in treating the growing number of visually impaired individuals. Bequests enable you to make gifts of a lifetime, without giving up valuable assets during your lifetime.
A properly worded bequest to the Lighthouse should read:
"I GIVE, DEVISE AND BEQUEATH (a specific amount, asset(s) or a percentage of your estate) TO LIGHTHOUSE INTERNATIONAL, a not-for-profit corporation with headquarters located at 111 East 59th Street, New York, NY."
Through your bequest to the Lighthouse, you will help ensure the future of the Lighthouse mission and leave your own legacy of hope when vision fails. For more information, please contact the Planned Giving Office at (212) 821-9443 or email plannedgiving@lighthouse.org. All inquiries will be kept strictly confidential.
You Can Be a Visionary Philanthropist
A Lighthouse International charitable gift annuity provides a fixed income for life in return for your gift of cash or appreciated securities. You cannot "outlive the income." Annuities may be set up for one or two lifetime-income beneficiaries, and you'll receive an immediate charitable income-tax deduction.
The Lighthouse's charitable annuity rates compare extremely favorably in today's climate, too. So, if you've been considering a gift to the Lighthouse that pays you guaranteed lifetime income, now is the time to "lock in" your high rate. And a Lighthouse annuity is simple to set up. In return for your gift of cash or stock (minimum $5,000), you'll receive:
- Secure income for life for up to two income recipients.
- A fixed rate of return typically higher than many noncharitable fixed-income investments, such as CDs.
- A charitable income-tax deduction and other possible tax benefits.
Here's a sampling of current rates for a Lighthouse charitable gift annuity:
This is a great time to explore how a charitable gift annuity can benefit you and help the Lighthouse fulfill its mission on behalf of individuals everywhere who are living with vision impairment.
For a free, non-binding consultation about charitable gift annuities, please contact us at (212) 821-9443 or e-mail plannedgiving@lighthouse.org.
Gifts of Life Insurance
Some Lighthouse supporters no longer need life insurance policies that they purchased when their families were young. By donating a life insurance policy to the Lighthouse, you can claim an immediate income tax deduction. Your future premium payments are also deductible. If you prefer to retain ownership, you can alternatively simply designate the Lighthouse as a beneficiary or the beneficiary of your policy. You will only gain tax benefits, however, if you donate your policy. You will also be supporting the Lighthouse mission while meeting your commitments to your loved ones.
To learn more about gifts of life insurance to the Lighthouse, please contact the Planned Giving Office at (212) 821-9443 or email plannedgiving@lighthouse.org. All inquiries will be kept strictly confidential.
Gifts of Retirement Assets
Retirement assets left to family members can be subject to estate taxes and income taxes. But when you leave retirement plan assets from your traditional or ROTH IRA, 401(k), 403(b) and other qualified retirement plans to the Lighthouse, a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization, the entire value of these assets goes directly to our work.
To learn more about naming the Lighthouse a beneficiary of your retirement plan assets, please contact the Planned Giving Office at (212) 821-9443 or email plannedgiving@lighthouse.org. All inquiries will be kept strictly confidential.
Charitable Remainder Trusts
A charitable remainder trust is a flexible gift arrangement in which you or your beneficiaries receive an income for either a term of years or for life. As donor, you will receive an immediate and substantial income tax deduction and - if you fund the trust with long-term appreciated property - you avoid capital gains taxes.
Charitable remainder trusts can be used at all stages of life to meet varying goals. They can be used to augment your retirement income now or at a future date, or to provide for your children or grandchildren's future needs. Upon the termination of your trust, a portion or the entire remainder will go to the Lighthouse to be used for its general purposes or for a specific purpose you designate.
For more information about charitable remainder trusts, please contact the Planned Giving Office at (212) 821-9443 or email plannedgiving@lighthouse.org. All inquiries will be kept strictly confidential.
Gifts of Real Estate
Making a gift of real estate - such as a vacation home, commercial property or even your own home - is an excellent way to gain considerable tax advantages while providing for the future of the Lighthouse. Your gift of real estate may be given outright during your lifetime or through your will and will entitle you or your estate to a charitable tax deduction equal to the appraised value of the property.
There are a number of gift options for donating real estate. We can work with you to determine which one will best suit your needs and goals. To learn more about gifts of real estate, please contact the Planned Giving Office at (212) 821-9443 or email plannedgiving@lighthouse.org. All inquiries will be kept strictly confidential.