Planned Giving

A Planned Gift Can Benefit Both You and Landmark

How It Works

Planned gifts are an effective way to make a contribution to Landmark while maximizing your personal financial goals and tax-wise estate planning needs. There are a number of planned gift vehicles to meet almost every need, and the advantages are equally as numerous:

To provide income for yourself and other loved ones
To avoid or delay capital gains taxes on appreciated long-term assets
To increase income
To reduce federal estate taxes and probate costs
To provide diversification and management of your investments
To know that you are making a meaningful gift to Landmark Christian School.

Some Types of Gift Plans...

Bequests
Bequests can be a specific amount, a percentage of your estate, or a percentage of the residual amount of your estate. By naming Landmark in your will you may avoid considerable estate taxes. IRAs, 401(k)s, and other qualified retirement plans, for example, may be subject to estate and income taxes that can total up to 80% of their value. When bequeathed to Landmark, these investments come to the school tax-free.

Charitable Lead Trust
A charitable lead trust enables you to provide Landmark with the income from the trust over a period of years. When the trust term expires, the remaining assets revert to you or your beneficiaries. Significant savings of gift or estate taxes may be realized when the lead trust principal passes to your beneficiaries. This is an excellent way of retaining hard-earned assets within your family, while simultaneously making a generous gift to Landmark.

Charitable Gift Annuity/Charitable Remainder Trusts
Many different assets can be used to fund a planned gift that will pay income for life including securities, real estate, closely held stock, life insurance, and qualified retirement plans. The donor's needs and gift planning instrument will determine the best asset to be used to fund the gift plan.

A charitable gift annuity is a simple contract between you and Landmark. In exchange for your irrevocable gift, Landmark agrees to pay one or two annuitants you name a fixed sum each year for life. The payments are guaranteed by the general resources of Landmark. Landmark uses the rates recommended by the American Council on Gift Annuities.

A charitable remainder trust is a gift plan defined by federal law that allows you to provide income to yourself or others while making a generous gift to Landmark The income may continue for the lifetimes of the beneficiaries you name, a fixed term of not more than 20 years, or a combination of the two. When the trust term ends, the trust's principal passes to Landmark to be used as you designate.

When considering a planned gift to Landmark Christian School, we recommend that you consult your tax advisor. We would be pleased to provide you with additional information and to work with you and your personal tax advisors to discuss a gift plan best suited for your circumstances.

Who To Contact

Martin J. Riggs CFRE, Director of Advancement
mriggs@landmark-cs.org, 770-692-6758