Ways to Give

Planned Giving: We partner with the Mennonite Foundation or your financial institution to assure tax-wise charitable gifts. We want your family to receive every tax advantage, possibly "disinheriting the IRS". Wise gifting can both provide for your family and help a charity that has provided loving service to your family.

Charitable Gift Annuities: These wonderful gifts may increase your income and decrease your taxes, while supporting either Promise Partners Fund or a capital campaign. A gift annuity may be funded with as little as $10,000 and will pay quarterly interest of up to 11%, depending on your age. The following items can be gifted directly or used to fund a Charitable Gift Annuity:

• Cash - Gifts of cash are always appreciated.
• Stock - Gifts of appreciated stock avoid capital gains tax. Gifts of highly appreciated stock may bypass significant capital gains and generate tax savings that can exceed the original cost of the stock. Please call us before making any stock gift.
• Insurance - Unneeded insurance policies make wonderful gifts that may generate current income. Some families have policies that were purchased for estate tax purposes when estates over $600,000 were subject to inheritance tax. The current exclusion limit is $2,000,000, so that policy may now be surplus.
• Bonds - Older bonds may not pay any interest or may pay relatively low interest. Converting bonds into charitable gift annuities may eliminate the accrued tax and provide much greater income.
• Real Estate - Gifts of farmland, commercial or residential property may increase your income while eliminating taxes and maintenance headaches.

IRAs - The residual left in an IRA can be gifted easily and will avoid double taxation that could otherwise approach 70%.

Trusts - Charitable remainder trusts may provide lifetime income and tax benefits to your family. Charitable lead trusts provide MHC with the income from an asset only until your passing.

Bequests through your will - You may leave a fixed amount, a percentage, or the residual of your estate after other contingencies are met.

NOTE: Many companies have matching gifts programs that can double your philanthropy. Please contact your Human Resources Department.

Greg Pierce, Director of Development
Mennonite Home Communities
2001 Harrisburg Pike
Lancaster, PA 17601
phone 717.390.4903 fax 717.390.4906
e-mail gpierce@mennonitehome.org