WGC LEGACY MEMBER: gifts of all sizes

A legacy gift to the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County is a powerful way to ensure that your values and commitment to uplifting women and girls endure beyond your lifetime. By including the WGC in your estate plans, you are investing in a future where women and girls in Howard County have access to opportunities, resources, and support that can transform their lives. Your legacy gift will provide enduring support for programs and initiatives that address critical needs, from education and leadership to empowerment. This lasting contribution not only honors your legacy but also ensures that your generosity continues to create positive change, empowering women and girls in Howard County for generations to come. The WGC is a fund of The Community Foundation of Howard County, and we are excited to work with you.

​WHAT is a Legacy Gift? 

• A legacy gift, also known as a planned gift or bequest, is a donation that an individual arranges to give to a charity, organization, or cause, typically through their will or estate plan. This type of gift is intended to leave a lasting impact and can be made in various forms, such as cash, stocks, real estate, life insurance policies, or other assets. Legacy gifts are often made by individuals who want to ensure that their values and passions continue to be supported even after their lifetime.

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WHY Give a Legacy Gift:

You can leave a legacy to be remembered by future generations. You can support a cause that's important to you with a tax efficient gift. You can ensure that the WGC can support women and girls in Howard County in perpetuity. And, there are other benefits:

• Long-term Impact: Planned giving allows donors to leave a lasting legacy that supports causes they care about well into the future.
• Tax Benefits: Donors can receive significant tax deductions and reduce estate taxes, making charitable gifts more financially efficient.
• Financial Flexibility: It enables donors to make larger contributions than they could during their lifetime, ensuring continued support without immediate financial strain.
• Stability for Nonprofits: Planned gifts provide a reliable and steady stream of funding, allowing nonprofits to plan for the future with greater confidence.
• Personal Fulfillment: It offers the opportunity to make a meaningful, enduring difference, reflecting the donor's values and priorities.

HOW to Give a Legacy Gift:

• Giving a Legacy Gift to the Women's Giving Circle can be done either directly or through a gift model that can provide tax benefits and even income. Learn more here

WHAT to Give as a Legacy Gift:

When considering a legacy gift, you have several options that can align with your financial situation and the impact you wish to make. Here are some common types of legacy gifts. Learn more here

• Bequests: A specific amount of money, a percentage of your estate, or a particular asset (like real estate, stocks, or valuable personal property) left to an organization in your will.
• ​Life Insurance Policies: You can name a charity as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy or transfer ownership of the policy to the organization.
• Retirement Accounts: Designating a charity as a beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k), or other retirement accounts can be a tax-efficient way to give.
• Charitable Remainder Trusts: This type of trust allows you to provide income to yourself or others during your lifetime, with the remainder going to the charity after your passing.
• Charitable Lead Trusts: This option provides income to a charity for a set period, after which the remaining assets pass to your heirs, potentially reducing estate taxes.
• Real Estate: You can donate real estate directly or arrange for a gift of property that allows you to live there for the remainder of your life.
• Stocks and Securities: Donating appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual funds can offer tax benefits while making a substantial gift.
• Personal Property: Art, jewelry, or other valuable items can be left as a legacy gift if they align with the organization's needs or can be sold to support its mission.
•  The Endow Maryland State Tax Credit rewards donors who help build permanent charitable funds for local communities across the state. Endow Maryland provides an incentive for Marylanders to give back to their local communities in a meaningful and lasting way.

Each of these options can be tailored to fit your estate plan and the legacy you want to leave behind. Consulting with a financial advisor or estate planner can help you choose the best option for your situation.

Take a Listen! 

​WGC's “Leave Your Legacy” Planned Giving Lunch & Learn
During this 40 min. session we explored various ways you can include charitable giving in your financial and estate planning, helping to ensure that your values live on for future generations. Participants learned about the basics of planned giving with actionable tips for creating a meaningful legacy, and heard from several WGC donors who have made creative planned gifts to leave their legacy to support women and girls through the Women’s Giving Circle. 

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WGC Donors Utilizing Legacy Gifts:

Thank you to the following WGC donors for including the us in your will! Your legacy gift will continue to uplift and empower women and girls, making a lasting difference in our community now, and forever:

• Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Melissa Curtin, Barbara K. Lawson, Kashonna Marrow, Jean F. Moon, Lynne Schaefer, Barb Van Winkle

Why WGC Donors are Leaving Legacy Gifts:

The WGC is a fund of The Community Foundation of Howard County, where you can find a good deal of information about Planned and Legacy giving.

We are excited to speak with you about your thoughts and ideas for leaving YOUR legacy. Please contact WGC Executive Director Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz with any questions.

* Members may wish to discuss these options with a personal attorney or tax accountant.

Have you left a gift to the Women's Giving Circle in your will? Please let us know so we can be in touch with you! Download information here.