Create an Enduring Legacy
of Connection & Transformation with a Future Gift
Did you know that you can extend the positive impact you have on the Volunteer Center and our community beyond your lifetime by including the Volunteer Center in your estate plans?
As a volunteer, donor, and supporter of the Volunteer Center, you already understand the importance of volunteers in our community. Your legacy gift to the Volunteer Center will empower strong families, healthy businesses, and a vibrant community for generations to come.
Your impact will live far into the future with a little bit of planning today.
Planned Giving Made Easy
It's simple to include the Volunteer Center in your estate plans. You can:
- Make a Bequest: Name the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County in your will or living trust.
- Donate Retirement Assets and Insurance: Designate the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County as a beneficiary of your retirement plan or insurance policy, or other financial assets.
- Give the gift of Stocks/Bonds/Mutual Funds: Avoid capital gains taxes for your survivors by gifting these assets to the Volunteer Center.
- Engage your financial advisor: Your financial advisor can assist with more complex options, such as charitable remainder trusts and charitable gift annuities.
We're here to help!
Contact us to request a personal legacy gift consultation with our staff.
Make a Bequest in Your Will or Trust
Leaving a gift in your will or trust is a powerful way to strengthen our community’s future. A bequest creates a lasting impact on the causes you care about most, while providing potential tax and income advantages for you and your loved ones.
With the help of an advisor such as your attorney, you can include language in your will or trust, specifying a gift to the Volunteer Center.
You may bequeath a specific asset, a dollar amount, a percentage of your estate or the remainder of your estate after all other gifts have been distributed of your estate plan. You can choose to leave your gift for general use or earmark it for a specific program or endowment. How your generosity impacts the future is entirely up to you.
Donate Retirement Assets and Insurance
Your Retirement Benefits
Funds from IRAs, 401(K), 403(B) and other retirement accounts, which typically grow tax-deferred, can become substantial assets over time. Designating these assets to the Volunteer Center can help you, and your heirs, avoid multiple taxes and enhance the value of your legacy. Simply request a change of beneficiary form from your plan administrator, and designate the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County as your beneficiary.
Name the Volunteer Center as a Life Insurance Beneficiary
When the original purpose for a life insurance policy no longer applies—such as providing a college fund for children who are now grown, or providing financial security for your family—your policy can become a powerful and simple way to support our work. There are numerous options that provide various tax benefits, including naming the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County as the primary beneficiary or a contingent beneficiary. You can also make an outright gift of an existing policy or purchase a new policy. It's easy to update your policy beneficiary - contact your insurance provider for more information.
Donate Stocks, Bonds, and Mutual Funds
Stocks and gifts of appreciated assets may be some of the most tax-efficient ways to give. If you have securities that have increased in value, you may receive a deduction based on the full appreciated value, and while potentially avoiding the capital gains tax you might pay, had you sold the shares.
The Volunteer Center uses the firm “Pershing LLC” to handle all electronic transfers of stock gifts.
Please contact us before making a stock transfer.
Download this stock transfer form to share with your broker. Or contact Leslie Lee to request the form directly, ask questions, or get help with your donation:|
(831)427-5070 or email engagement@scvolunteercenter.org
Engage with your Financial Advisor
Charitable Trusts
There are various types of charitable trusts (Charitable Lead Trust, Charitable Remainder Trust) that structure a gift to the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County that may also provide a charitable tax deduction, reduction of income/estate tax, and income to the donor (or a beneficiary) over his/her lifetime. Consult your attorney and tax advisor to discuss a charitable trust.
Charitable Gift Annuity
A charitable gift annuity allows you to make a gift of cash or property to the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County and receive immediate tax benefits while ensuring that you or another beneficiary receive fixed quarterly or annual income payments for life. Charitable gift annuities can be structured through the Community Foundation.
Your financial advisor can direct you towards the most beneficial planned giving options for you and your family.
Other Ways to Give
For information on general donations, workplace and matching gifts, event sponsorship opportunities, gifts-in-kind, memorial gifts, and other ways to contribute to The Volunteer Center, contact Leslie Lee at (831) 427-5070 or engagement@scvolunteercenter.org.
