PLANNED AND LEGACY GIVING
YOUR VALUES. YOUR LEGACY. A LASTING IMPACT.
The values we live by shape the lives we touch and the legacy we leave behind. At the YMCA, our four core values—Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility—guide everything we do to strengthen our community.
Which of these values resonates most deeply with you? How would you like those values to continue making a difference for generations to come?
Including the YMCA in your will is a meaningful way to turn your values into a lasting legacy. Your generosity can help ensure that future generations of children, families, and individuals have access to the opportunities, programs, and support they need to learn, grow, and thrive.
Your legacy can change lives. Explore how a planned gift to the YMCA can make a difference for generations to come.
WAYS TO GIVE
BEQUEST FROM A WILL OR TRUST
Best for donors who want a simple, flexible way to make a future gift without impacting their current income.
What it is:
A bequest is a gift made through your will or living trust. You may designate a specific dollar amount, a percentage, or a portion of your estate to the Southern District YMCA.
Benefits:
You maintain full control of your assets during your lifetime. Bequests are easy to update, adaptable as life changes, and allow you to leave a lasting legacy aligned with your values.
How to Implement:
Include language in your will or trust naming the Southern District YMCA as a beneficiary. Your attorney can help you update your documents, or you may use a reputable online estate planning tool.
DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS
Best for Donors who already have a donor-advised fund and want their charitable giving to continue beyond their lifetime.
What it is:
A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a charitable giving account that allows you to contribute cash, securities, or other assets and receive an immediate tax deduction. Over time, you can recommend grants to qualified charities. You may also name the Southern District YMCA as a successor beneficiary to receive the remaining funds.
Benefits:
DAFs are simple to include in estate plans, encourage family involvement in philanthropy, and allow your charitable intentions to live on without affecting your current giving.
How to implement:
Log in to your donor-advised fund account or contact your fund sponsor to name the Southern District YMCA as a successor beneficiary.
RETIREMENT PLAN, BANK ACCOUNT OR CD ASSETS
Best for Donors who want to provide for their family and support charity while potentially minimizing taxes.
What it is:
You can name the Southern District YMCA as a beneficiary of retirement accounts, such as an IRA, 401(k), or pension plan, as well as bank accounts or Certificates of Deposit (CDs). These beneficiary designations do not affect your access to or control of the assets during your lifetime.
Benefits:
Retirement assets are often heavily taxed when left to heirs, but they can generally pass to charity tax-free. This approach may allow other assets to be preserved for loved ones while creating a thoughtful, tax-efficient legacy.
How to implement:
Complete a beneficiary designation form through your plan administrator or financial institution, naming the Southern District YMCA as a beneficiary. You may choose to designate a percentage or the full balance of the account.
LIFE INSURANCE GIFTS
Best for Donors who want to make a significant future gift while maintaining flexibility today.
What it is:
A life insurance gift allows you to name the Southern District YMCA as a beneficiary of an existing policy or donate a policy you no longer need. This enables you to turn a life insurance policy into a meaningful legacy gift.
Benefits:
Life insurance can make a substantial impact at a relatively modest cost. Depending on how the gift is structured, it may offer charitable tax benefits while helping ensure your philanthropic wishes are fulfilled.
How to implement it:
Contact your insurance provider to name the Southern District YMCA as a beneficiary, or work with your advisor to transfer ownership of an existing policy.