Planned Giving

A Planned Gift to the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter helps secure the future of vital American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter programs and services and can help you achieve your financial goals as well. Consider these options:


Including the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter in Your Will or Living Trust:
Having provided for their loved ones, many of our supporters make charitable gifts by naming the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter as a beneficiary in their wills or living trusts. To make a bequest to the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter, the following language will be helpful to your attorney:

I give, devise and bequeath to the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter ______ % (percent) of my residuary estate.

OR, to give a sum of money or a specific gift of property, the following language will be helpful to your attorney:

I give, devise and bequeath to the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter, the sum of $ _________ (or otherwise describe the gift if property or some other tangible asset.)

When you make a planned gift to the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter we will honor you with membership in our Heritage Society. If you have already included the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter in your will, living trust or estate plan, please contact us. We realize that by making this special gift, you consider us to be part of your family and we want to keep you informed as to how your gift will be used and provide the opportunity for you to express your wishes.


Life Income Gifts
Life income gifts allow you to make a meaningful lifetime gift without sacrifice and have the satisfaction of knowing that your thoughtfulness will help ensure the future of the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter. In return for irrevocably transferring assets to the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter or a trustee, you get an immediate income tax deduction and receive a lifetime income (some of which may be tax free) for yourself and/or a designated beneficiary. The assets then revert to the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter to help carry out its mission upon your death. 

Examples of Life Income Plans:

Charitable Gift Annuity
In exchange for your gift of cash or securities to the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter, we agree to pay you (and a survivor or other beneficiary named by you) a fixed annual income for your lifetime(s). The rate of return is very attractive and varies with the age(s) of the annuitant(s). The older the annuitant(s), the higher the rates. The minimum age is 65 and minimum amount is $5,000.

Example: Mr. Fulton is 75 and his wife is 70. They transfer $20,000 to the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter for a gift annuity, and receive $1,220 annually for life ($20,000 X 6.1%--the annuity rate for their combined ages), some of which will be tax free. They also may claim a generous income tax deduction for the year in which the annuity is established. The full guaranteed payments continue for both of their lifetimes.

If you wish, you may also defer a charitable gift annuity. This is a great option if you are concerned about having enough retirement income. You can make the gift now and the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter will pay you (and another beneficiary if you wish) life income starting at any date you specify. The amount you receive depends upon the amount of your gift, your age now and your age when the payments are scheduled to start. You will also receive an income tax deduction for the year in which you make the gift.

Charitable Remainder Trust
This life income plan is created by transferring assets to a trust that pays you (and another beneficiary if you wish) income for life, as well as providing an immediate income tax deduction. Upon the death of all of the income beneficiaries and after all necessary administrative work is completed, which is when the trust terminates, the remaining trust assets are transferred to the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter. A bank or trusted advisor can serve as trustee. Once the trust has been created and assets have been transferred to fund it, it cannot be revoked by the donor.

The type of charitable remainder trust you choose determines your annual payments. Options are:

Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust (CRAT)
The CRAT pays a fixed dollar amount annually for life. The payout percentage is selected at the time the trust is created. You receive a charitable income tax deduction for the year in which the trust is created. Income from the trust is taxed as ordinary income and in some cases as capital gain or tax-free return of principle. Upon the death of all of the income beneficiaries and after all necessary administrative work is completed, the remaining trust assets are transferred to the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter.

Example: Mrs. Johnson transfers $100,000 to create an annuity trust that will pay her with life income payments at a 7% payout rate. She will receive $7,000 per year for life. Any income earned by the trust in excess of the $7,000 fixed payment is reinvested.

Charitable Remainder Unitrust (CRUT)
The CRUT pays you a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets, as revalued each year. You can claim an income tax deduction for the year in which the trust is created. Income is taxed as ordinary income, or in some cases, as capital gain or tax-free return of principle, just as with the Annuity Trust. Upon the death of all of the income beneficiaries and after all necessary administrative work is completed, the remaining trust assets are transferred to the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter.

Example: Mr. Edwards transfers $100,000 to create a CRUT that will provide him and his wife with lifetime income payments. The trust agreement specifies a payout rate of 6% of the fair market value of the trust assets each year. The first year, Mr. & Mrs. Edwards receive $6,000 from the trust ($100,000 X 6%) One year later, the trust assets are valued at $110,000 and the payment is $6,600 ($110,000 X 6%). If the trust assets are worth $120,000 at the beginning of the next year, Mr. & Mrs. Edwards will be paid $7,200, and so on each year. The payments may increase or decrease depending upon the value of the assets. If trust income exceeds the stated payout percentage, the excess is added to the unitrust assets and reinvested.


Gifts of Life Insurance and Retirement Plans
If you own life insurance that is no longer needed for its original purpose, please consider donating the policy to the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter. You may claim a charitable income tax deduction for the approximate cash surrender value of the policy and the proceeds are removed from your estate. Likewise, if you have over-funded qualified retirement plans such as an IRA, 401(K) or Keogh Plan, gifts from these plans either directly or through a trust created in your will or living trust can help reduce your taxable estate while supporting the work of the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter either now or in the future.

While we have attempted to provide illustrations here of the options available to you in leaving a meaningful gift to the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter, we advise you to contact an attorney and/or financial professional in matters of your estate plan. 

For more information on planned gifts, contact Barbara Deurwaarder, Gift Planning Officer, at (503) 528-5632, toll free at 866-315-5255 or by email at deurwaarderb@usa.redcross.org. You can also contact Maree Wacker, Chief Development Officer at (503) 528-5632 or by email at wackerm@redcross-pdx.org.

Top