MISSION MATTERS
APRIL 2024
Masonic Charities Update
Recently, the Masonic Charities worked with a donor to evaluate a range of giving strategies, from annuities to trusts, to determine the best options for a significant planned gift. Valuable time was spent on the analysis of capital gains avoidance, tax deductions enjoyed, income generated for the donor and family, estimated remainder to charity and many other aspects.
Planned Giving DU E DI LI GENC E
It’s always strongly recommended that anyone considering a commitment to a charitable organization first conduct their own due diligence. This can include gathering the proper information about financial wellness, operating strategy and mission alignment.
“Align your due diligence to the size of your contribution. This process requires effort, so it should be balanced and measured with your charitable intentions,” Nick Mahler, vice president of Mission Advancement and Development for the Masonic Charities, recently shared with a donor who was considering a gift of appreciated real estate. Whether you are considering a $500 outright gift or a $5,000,000 planned giving opportunity, the charity you are motivated to support should meet your expectations. Researching, asking questions, visiting, attending an event (if possible) or even volunteering (if interested) are concrete methods to learn about an organization’s mission. For a deeper dive into completing your due diligence with the Masonic Charities, we welcome you to schedule an in-person visit or call our office to discuss your planned gift. Consider including your trusted professional to make the most of the time and conversation.
“We like to mock up illustrations and examples to share with donors, so they can see with their own eyes what a potential gift would look like on paper. It’s a great way to visualize the impact for both the charity and the donor,” Nick explained. The Masonic Charities team enjoys spending time with donors and their professional advisors reviewing planned gift options, solutions and resources to determine what works best for the donor’s goals. If you are interested in discussing your plan and objectives with us, please reach out and let us know you would like to learn more. Our financial information is available on our website, and we offer a range of publications about our mission at work across the charities we support. Listed below, you will find links to useful tools and information on our Masonic Charities, so you can start your due diligence journey today!
Visit masoniccharitiespa.org to explore our Masonic Charities. Visit masoniccharitieslegacy.org to download a free Estate Planning Guide or Wills Planner. Feel free to contact us Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., by calling 800-599-6454 or 717-367-1121 ext. 33460 or emailing giving@masonicvillages.org.