Planned Giving

The Sonoran Institute offers planned giving options, some with special tax advantages and some that provide income to you. Gift planning, either through structure or tax benefits, often provides a way for people to give more than they thought possible. Read on to see how a planned gift can help you do the same.

Securities - Donations of appreciated stocks, bonds, and mutual funds may have special tax advantages. You can transfer stocks directly from your brokerage account to the Sonoran Institute. Please contact Lydia Breunig or Jessica Ristow (contact information above right) in Development for brokerage information.

Example - Mr. and Mrs. Smith have long held XXX company stock, which they bought for $2 a share. The stock has seen considerable appreciation and is now worth $10 a share. If they were to sell the stock they would be required to pay capital gains tax on the appreciation ($8 a share). By gifting the stock to a qualified charity they can avoid paying capital gains, take the full amount of the gift ($10 per share) as a charitable deduction on the federal income tax form and make a larger gift to the organization than they thought possible.

Real Estate – You can contribute real property now or by creating a life estate for a time when you no longer have use for the property.

Example - Mr. Adams has a lovely vacation cabin in the mountains of southern California. He used to spend nearly every summer there. Mr Adams has had health problems of late largely brought on by his advanced age. While he still gets to the cabin, it is not as frequent. With the help of his estate planner he was able to create a Life Estate with the property—ensuring that the property will go to his favorite qualified charity when he has chosen not to use it anymore. Added advantage:  In many cases while the property owner retains the use and benefits of the property for a period of time, he or she is able to attain favorable tax status on the gift now.

Life Insurance - An excellent way to give. Simply name the Sonoran Institute as beneficiary of the policy. Also, a life insurance policy that may no longer be needed may be gifted to a charitable organization. The organization, in turn, may surrender it for the cash value or continue paying the premiums until it matures.

Gifts that provide life income - These include charitable gift annuities and Charitable Remainder Trusts. The simplest of these life income gifts is a gift annuity.

Example - Ms. McNair gives $10,000 to her favorite qualified charity to establish a gift annuity which will guarantee her payments for life. The payout percentage is based on her age—the older you are, the more it makes sense. Ms. McNair is 82 and therefore she will receive 8% or $800 annually for the balance of her life.*

Bequests - You can show your support for the Sonoran Institute by naming the Institute as a beneficiary in your will. You can do this by designating a fixed amount, percentage or remainder portion of your estate to the Institute.

Suggested bequest language for the Sonoran Institute is:

"I, [name], of [city, state, ZIP], give, devise and bequeath ____% of my estate to The Sonoran Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Tucson, Arizona, for its general use and purpose."

In all cases, we advise that you consult your attorney or tax consultant about how tax benefits may apply to your specific situation. Donations to the Sonoran Institute, a 501(c)(3) charity, are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Our tax identification number is:   86-0684610

Not all gift planning options are discussed here.For questions concerning gift planning or to discuss giving to the Sonoran Institute —please contact Lydia Breunig at 520-290-0828, x 1147

*Current rate for single payee at this age from American Council on Gift Annuities