Be a Force for Education. Create a Legacy Today!
By Marianne Monoc
Imagine a world in which women and girls have the education and skills to unlock their full potential and contribute to a better, brighter future for themselves—and for their family, community, and country.
Central Asia Institute believes in the transformational power of girls’ education to overcome many of society’s greatest challenges, whether it be poverty, poor health, environmental degradation, discrimination, or conflict. Our programs promote empowerment and independence, and the ability of girls and women to create healthier, more prosperous, more peaceful societies.
By generously including CAI in your estate plans, you can join a special group of individuals who recognize the value of CAI’s mission and are committed to supporting critical educational services. CAI donors share the common bond of philanthropy and are part of a community of givers who are making access to education an important part of their legacy.
I was a teacher before I retired and believe strongly in education. And what could be more important than supporting education for women in Afghanistan? We have made gains in the U.S. It is time to pass the gift on. That’s why I’ve chosen to include CAI in my estate plan.
– Louise Cameron
JOIN OUR LEGACY SOCIETY
Helping to ensure the sustainability of CAI with an estate gift demonstrates your strong belief in the power of education. What’s more, your support of our mission will be an inspiration to others, enriching the communities we serve for many years to come.
Every donation makes an impact. When you include CAI in your estate plans, you’ll become a cherished member of our Legacy Society, which includes the following exclusive benefits:
- Regular program updates, including our Impact Report, Journey of Hope magazine, and annual calendar Invitations to virtual events, including Tea & a Tour, panel discussions, and more
- The option of having your gift publicly recognized or keeping it anonymous
- The ability to honor a loved one with your gift A CAI Legacy Society lapel pin
Donors who document their legacy gift at the $25,000 level or above are specially recognized as members of CAI’s Legacy Society Catalyst Circle. Catalyst Circle benefits include those listed above, as well as exclusive opportunities to attend in-person and virtual special events, programs, and activities.
If you have already included CAI in your estate plans, let us know so we can officially include you as a member of the CAI Legacy Society.
Planned giving is one of the most meaningful ways to show your commitment to the long-term success and growth of our organization. It also offers many potential advantages, including federal estate tax savings, the elimination or reduction of capital gains taxes, and the opportunity to increase spendable income.
Including CAI in our will was an easy decision. The work CAI has done for many years with local communities to improve girls’ and women’s education is phenomenal. We hope the work will continue long after we are gone.
– Ruth Abad
WAYS TO MAKE A LASTING IMPACT
Gifts Through Wills or Trusts
A will or trust is one of the simplest and most common ways to provide for CAI in your estate plans. Gifts through a will or living trust leave a legacy that will benefit future generations for years to come.
Bequest
A bequest is generally a revocable gift, which means it can be changed or modified at any time. You can choose to designate that a bequest be used for a general or specific purpose, so you have the peace of mind of knowing that your gift will be used as intended. Bequests are exempt from federal estate taxes. If you have a taxable estate, the estate tax charitable deduction may offset or eliminate estate taxes, resulting in a larger inheritance for your heirs.
Sample Bequest Language
If you are considering making a bequest to CAI, we recommend the following language: “I hereby give, devise and bequeath _________ to Central Asia Institute, a nonprofit organization located at 2409 W. Main Street, Suite 1, Bozeman, MT 59718, Federal Tax ID #51-0376237,
for the organization’s general use and purpose.”
Bequest Policy
The general policy of Central Asia Institute is that all gifts shall be presumed to be unrestricted unless an explicit restriction is expressed. This allows the organization to apply the funds to the most pressing needs at the time
of funding.
Donor Advised Fund (DAF)
A donor advised fund is a type of giving program administered by a third-party sponsoring organization (e.g., the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, the Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund, and the Schwab Charitable Fund) that allows you to combine the most favorable tax benefits with the flexibility to support your favorite charities. Created for managing charitable donations on behalf of an organization, family, or individual, DAFs are an excellent way to both simplify your charitable giving and facilitate your strategic philanthropic goals. Donors can make gifts of cash, stock, and other assets to the DAF. The donor receives an immediate tax deduction when the contribution is made. However, distributions from the DAF are not required immediately. Donors may take time to research and select grants of specified amounts to the charities of their choice before advising their DAF administrator to make a gift. You can also choose to have any remaining DAF funds distributed to CAI after your lifetime by naming CAI as a beneficiary of all or a portion of remaining funds.
Charitable Lead Trusts
Charitable lead trusts allow you to combine a charitable donation with gifts to children or other family members. The lead trust pays income to the charity for a specified number of years. At the end of the trust’s term, the principal is transferred to family members. This type of trust is often used to make intra-family asset transfers with substantial gift and estate tax savings.
Gifts of Real Estate or Personal Property
You can make a gift of real estate or personal property to CAI, removing a large taxable asset from your estate and benefiting by receiving an income tax deduction equal to the appraised fair market value of the property, with no capital gains tax due on the transfer.
Gifts of Securities
Publicly traded appreciated securities that you have owned for more than one year can be transferred to CAI. CAI would then sell the securities and retain the proceeds, which can be applied to a purpose you designate. As the donor, you receive an income tax charitable deduction based on the fair market value of the securities while also avoiding capital gains tax.
Gifts Through Life Insurance
You can designate CAI as a life insurance policy beneficiary. This allows you to provide a gift while also benefiting your heirs, because policy proceeds distributed to a nonprofit are exempt from estate tax.
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)
Also known as IRA charitable rollovers, QCDs are funds from your IRA that can be donated to a qualified nonprofit organization like CAI without first recognizing it as income. If you are above the age of 70.5 and have a traditional IRA, you are eligible to make a QCD. Up to $100,000 in IRA funds can be counted as QCDs annually, or $200,000 for married couples. Funds go directly from your IRA to the charity without needing to be withdrawn, and the QCD is excluded from your taxable income.
Gifts Through Retirement Plans
Like a gift of life insurance, you can name CAI as the beneficiary of an IRA, 401(k), or other retirement plan. The amount designated passes to the nonprofit, and your heirs avoid income and estate tax.
We feel that our lives have been blessed in many ways. We want to be a blessing to some who need the education and opportunity provided by CAI. That is why we have designated CAI for a legacy gift from our estate.
– John and Claire Young
CONSULT YOUR ADVISORS
We recommend that you consult your legal or financial counsel as you plan your gift. They can help you make the largest possible gift at the least expense to you. Personal financial circumstances may vary and must be carefully considered to receive maximum benefit from existing tax laws.
REACH OUT TO CAI
We welcome the opportunity to discuss how your estate gift can play a transformational role in CAI’s mission and perpetuate your personal values for generations to come. For more information about creating a legacy or to notify us of an estate gift that you have already made, please contact:
Marianne Monoc, Director of Development
Email: mmonoc@centralasiainstitute.org Call: 406-551-9945.
