Planned Giving

Get more flexibility and greater tax benefits with every gift

Consider investing in Bemidji’s future by partnering with us as we work to activate hope in our community and create sustainable change that will span generations.  Leaving a planned gift is a meaningful way to both make an expression of your values and realize significant financial, tax, and estate planning benefits.  

Donating to the United Way of Bemidji Area’s Planned Giving Program will help us balance our community in the areas of basic needs, health, and education.  This fund provides donors the ability to make a gift that keeps giving for generations to come.

How Your Gift Supports Your Community

To learn more, contact: 

Annie Butler Ricks, Resource Development

218-444-8929

Annie@UnitedWayBemidji.org 

 

Denae Alamano, Executive Director

218-444-8929

Denae@UnitedWayBemidji.org 

 

 

What is a Planned Gift?

Unlike traditional gifts made from your income, a planned gift is often made from your assets (such as investments or real estate) or as a part of your estate plan. These gifts provide an opportunity to continue your commitment to our region and support the issues that matter most to you. This is an additional way of giving besides your annual campaign gift. Give a one-time gift now or make a future pledge.

Why include United Way in your estate or financial plans?

When you include a gift as part of your overall estate and financial plans to support United Way of Bemidji Area, you are improving lives and creating lasting change in our region. Planning a gift is simple and your generosity will be felt throughout the community for years to come.

How can I make a Planned Gift?  

**The information provided below is general in nature and should not be relied on as tax, legal, or financial planning advice. For specific advice, please consult your professional advisors.

 

Bequest in Will or Trust

Although you should carefully review the terms of your Will with an appropriate professional advisor, we are happy to provide the following Sample Bequest Language:

Sample bequest language:
I give, devise and bequeath to United Way of Bemidji Area, 716 Paul Bunyan Dr NW, Bemidji, MN 56601 the sum of $____________ /or ___ % of my estate/or the following specific asset ____________________________ for the benefit of United Way of Bemidji Area to be added to its endowment.

 

Life Insurance Beneficiary

By transferring ownership of a life insurance policy to United Way of Bemidji Area, you can leave a gift that will not be delayed by estate probate. 
 

Charitable Gift Annuity

With a charitable gift annuity, you can make a gift to United Way in return for a guaranteed lifetime annuity payment. The charitable gift annuity offers a partial charitable tax deduction for the value of the remainder of the gift. 

 

Charitable Lead Trust

A charitable lead trust allows you to direct annual distributions from property held in a trust to be paid overtime to United Way, with the property eventually being distributed to your loved ones largely free of federal gift and estate taxes. 

 

Cash 

Through a direct cash gift, you immediately ensure that United Way will continue to meet the future health, education, and basic needs of your community.

 

Charitable Remainder Trust

A charitable remainder trust allows you, or a beneficiary you designate, to receive annual payments from property held in trust for your lifetime or for a term of years, with the remainder passing to United Way once the annual payment period ends. In exchange for your contribution to the trust, an immediate tax deduction is available for the value of the gift, and capital gains taxes on property you contribute may be avoided or deferred.

 

Securities and Other Liquid Assets

Funding a charitable gift with stocks, bonds, IRA or retirement balances can prevent it from becoming taxable in your estate, and the gift is made in pre-tax dollars.

 

Other Avenues

 

Create your Last Will & Testament, 100% free

Making or updating your Will is easier than you might imagine. United Way of Bemidji Area has partnered with FreeWill.com to give you a free, intuitive way to write your Will. By including a gift to United Way of Bemidji Area in your Will, you help ensure that we are able to break the cycle of poverty for everyone in our community for generations to come.

This tool is free to you whether or not you choose to include a gift to us and can be used to create your full legal Will in about 20 minutes.

Visit www.FreeWill.com/UnitedWay to create your FreeWill today.