Planned Giving
Dear Friends and Family members:
Life is too short. Planned giving can make it longer. What is planned giving? I thought you’d never ask!
It is a term that development experts use for leaving money, property, stocks, or collectables to a person (or school!) If you were to leave anything in your will to Archbishop Williams, that would make you a “planned giver!” Doing so would brighten our school’s future, and it would make your life last longer than you live.
Now, I know what your thinking, “Sounds good, Carmen, but I have children; or will have. I have grandchildren; or will have. Besides, AWHS is not my only alma mater!”
I know the feeling. After Archbishop Williams, I graduated from Catholic University of America, Harvard, and Boston College. Why not leave money to them? First, because I never would have gone to those colleges if I had not gone to this high school! Last, because those colleges already have money!
Harvard’s endowment is $40 billion dollars. Boston College’s is $1.75 billion. Catholic University’s is $200 million. Archbishop Williams has an endowment of less than $1 million. That lets us offer financial aid to less than half of the students who need it.
Please consider helping us help more students. Their future depends on it. Our future depends on it.
If you do choose to help, please know that you will not be alone. Recently, my wife Dee Dee and I visited a close friend and fellow Archbishop Williams graduate to draft our will. What made us go? Archbishop Williams High School did. It has never been a better school; and it has never had a bigger need. Our school needs more. Our students deserve more. Our students need you.
Please consider leaving something behind for them in one of the following ways. Any amount, small or large will help. You owe us nothing. Please give more than you owe.
If you would like more information, please email me at cmariano@awhs.org
Sincerely,
Carmen Mariano, Ed.D.
Principal
P.S. Some of you have already left something to Archbishop Williams, but have been too modest to tell us. Please tell us! We want to say thank you. You deserve it.
Planned Giving Options
A Cash Bequest
You can leave a specific dollar amount or percentage of your estate to Archbishop Williams High School in your will.
Bequest of Property
You could bequest specific assets, such as securities, an interest in real estate or tangible personal property (e.g., works of art, antiques, collectables, etc.)
Residuary Bequest
Archbishop Williams High School could receive all or a percentage of the remainder of your estate after the payment of any specific bequests and all estate-related expenses.
Annuities
A charitable gift annuity is a simple gift that provides income to the annuitant for life.
Life Insurance
If you transfer all rights and incidents of ownership of your policy to the School, you will be eligible for a charitable income tax deduction equal to the policy’s cash surrender value or cost basis, whichever is less. The insurance policy must be whole life, not term insurance. The value of your gift for gift crediting purposes will be the cash surrender value of your policy on the date of transfer.
Real Estate
An outright gift of real estate held by the donor for more than 12 months provides the donor with a charitable income tax deduction for the full market value of the property, based on an independent appraisal.
Retirement Funds
Retirement plans are often the best asset to give to charity. Such a gift allows you to leave more tax-favored assets to your heirs.
Securities
There are many benefits to donating securities instead of cash. Appreciated securities held for more than twelve months benefit a donor in two ways. The donor is able to claim a charitable income tax deduction for the full market value of the securities. The deduction is limited to 30 percent of the donor’s adjusted gross income, but, as with outright gifts of cash, the remaining value of the securities donated may be carried over and used for deductions for the next five years.
Trusts
You can use a variety of trusts as part of your tax and giving strategy to transfer wealth to heirs. A charitable remainder trust is an irrevocable trust that pays income to the beneficiaries designated by the donor. A charitable lead trust is a gift plan that allows you to transfer assets to future generations at a significantly reduced gift or estate tax cost, while providing a stream of income.
By The Way, Do You Have A Will?
Recent surveys show that over 50% of U.S. citizens do not have a will. Yet a properly executed will is the only way to ensure that all of your assets – ones you have worked a lifetime to accumulate – will be distributed upon your death according to your wishes.
For more information, please contact the Development Office at 781-843-3610
