
Planned Giving
An excellent way for you to support Sistrum’s mission is to leave us a bequest in your will, living trust, or with a codicil. With simple planning now, your acts of kindness today will continue to make a difference for years to come. Planned gifts offer you the opportunity to combine your charitable interest in Sistrum with estate planning options that often feature favorable financial and tax benefits.
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What are the benefits of making a bequest?
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You leave a lasting legacy to be remembered.
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You generate income now and into the future.
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You lessen the burden of taxes on your family, thus preserving wealth for your family.
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You may receive estate tax savings.
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You can honor a family member or friend by making a tribute gift.
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Common Ways to Make a Bequest
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1. IRAs: One of the simplest ways to remember Sistrum is to list Sistrum as a beneficiary of your IRA(s). To do this generally all you need is our legal name (The Lansing Women’s Chorus), our Tax ID number (#38-2851629), and our address (Sistrum, PO Box 4191, East Lansing, MI 48826).
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2. Insurance Policy: You can list Sistrum as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy.
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3. QCDs: If you’re over 70-1/2 and have a traditional IRA, you can have the custodian of your IRA send part of your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) to a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit like Sistrum. Unlike a regular RMD which is taxed, the money in a QCD (up to $100,000) won’t count as part of your taxable income. However, the funds must come to Sistrum directly from the place that holds your IRA.
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4. Wills: One of the most common methods of including a nonprofit in your estate planning is to list the organization in your will. With the help of an advisor, you can include language in your will or trust specifying a gift be made to family, friends, or Sistrum as part of your estate plan. We are providing you with a unique tool that removes the expensive legal costs associated with writing a will and may take as little as 20 minutes to complete. Click here to learn more about how you can write your will at absolutely no cost to you: www.freewill.com.
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For more information on making a planned gift to Sistrum, please contact: SistrumLansing@gmail.com
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