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.
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.
Common Ways to Make a Bequest
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).
2. Insurance Policy: You can list Sistrum as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy.
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.
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.
For more information on making a planned gift to Sistrum, please contact: SistrumLansing@gmail.com