Gifts of Cash

Making a gift of cash is probably one of the easiest and quickest ways to make a gift to The Good Sheperd Fund. You can deduct cash contributions in full amount up to 50% of your adjusted gross income. (more…)


Gifts of Real Estate

When you make a gift of real estate property to The Good Shepherd Fund and it has been in your possession for more than a year, you can realize an income tax charitable deduction equal to the property’s full fair market value and also avoid capital gains tax on the property’s appreciation. (more)


Gifts of Appreciated Securities

The best securities to transfer as a gift to The Good Shepherd Fund are the ones that have increased in value and have been held for more than a year. This transaction will avoid capital gains tax and you will be able to make a charitable deduction based upon the full fair market value. (more)


Gifts of Retirement Plan Asset

One of the easiest ways to leave the balance of a retirement account to The Good Shepherd Fund after your lifetime is to list the Fund as the beneficiary on a form provided by your plan administrator. (more)


Gifts of Life Insurance

You may retain ownership of a life insurance policy during your lifetime with The Good Shepherd Fund receiving the insurance proceeds at your death. This could provide you with flexibility and control. (more)


A Gift of Cash

Making a gift of cash is probably one of the easiest and quickest ways to make a gift to the Good Shepherd Fund. It is certainly the most common gift. Simply write a check to The Good Shepherd Fund and mail to 1641 North First Street, Suite 155, San Jose, California, 95112, and the Fund, upon receipt, will send a timely thank you letter acknowledging your generous gift.

Charitable cash contributions are tax deductible. According to IRS Publication 78, “You may deduct charitable contributions of money or property made to qualified organizations if you itemize your deductions”. Generally, you can deduct cash contributions in full up to 50% of your adjusted gross income. Charitable contributions in excess of these limits can be carried over to the following tax year. The excess contributions can be carried over a maximum of five years.

The Good Shepherd Fund is a qualified 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Tax code.

Cash gifts provide the foundation for the charitable outreach of The Good Shepherd Fund. It is the goal of The Good Shepherd Fund to adequately fund its guardianship/conservatorship through fees, cash and estate gifts so that it can carry a charitable load of at least 40% of its clients. Your cash gift is needed to accomplish this goal and is certainly appreciated.

Cash is commonly used in establishing a Special Needs Trust for an individual with a developmental disability or other disabling conditions. There is, however, no charitable deduction for a contribution to a Special Needs Trust.

To learn more about the benefits of cash gifts to The Good Shepherd Fund, contact: Reverend Dr. Ron Beckman, +1 303 474 4609.




A Gift of Real Estate

A gift of real estate to The Good Shepherd Fund can be a fitting contribution that helps the Fund fulfill its mission while providing the donor with significant tax benefits.

Many times a home or other real estate property, held for more than one year, has increased significantly in value. That may also mean significant capital gains tax if sold. Before you sell your real estate, consider the option of gifting the property outright to The Good Shepherd Fund.

When you make this outright gift of real estate property to The Good Shepherd Fund, and it has been in your possession for more than a year, you can realize an income tax charitable deduction equal to the property’s full fair market value and also avoid capital gains tax on the property’s appreciation. Generally, your deduction for a gift of appreciated real estate property in any year is limited to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income. You can carryover any of the unused deduction for five years. If you choose to base your charitable deduction on the original cost of the property, you can raise your adjusted gross income limitation to 50 percent. Again, you can use a five-year carryover.

If you have held your real estate property for less than one year but still choose to gift it to The Good Shepherd Fund, your charitable deduction will be limited to the property’s cost basis. However, the appreciation can still be free of tax. Here the deduction can be claimed up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income and the excess value can again be carried over for five years.

The Good Shepherd Fund welcomes your outright gift of real estate property to assist in fulfilling its mission. The transfer will require a properly executed deed under your state law, suitable for recording. A qualified appraisal will be needed to substantiate fair market value.

Real estate is also an excellent way to fund a Special Needs Trust. There is, however, no charitable deduction when used this way unless a Charitable Remainder Trust is first established.

If you have questions about the suitability of a real estate gift, the gift of a home or other property, qualified appraisals, funding special needs trusts, tax savings or other details, please feel free to contact Reverend Dr. Ron Beckman, +1 303 474 4609.




Creating a Gift through a Retirement Asset

In our tax laws, retirement plan assets are generally subjected to the highest income and estate taxes, sometimes as high as 65%. Therefore, charitable donations of these assets may be the best estate planning option for many people. One of the easiest ways to leave the balance of a retirement account to The Good Shepherd Fund after your lifetime is to list the Fund as the beneficiary on a form provided by your plan administrator. This permits you to continue to take withdrawals from your account during your life and then leave the remaining value to The Good Shepherd Fund. Always be sure to discuss your interest in making a beneficiary change with your professional advisor before doing so.

If married, your surviving spouse is entitled by law to receive the entire amount in most qualified plans. Therefore, in order for the assets to be transferable to The Good Shepherd Fund, your spouse must execute a written waiver. If you prefer to make your spouse the primary beneficiary of the retirement account, you can name The Good Shepherd Fund as the secondary beneficiary.

Congress has recently changed the rules for charitable gifts made in year 2007 from individual retirement accounts (IRAs). This is good news for charities like The Good Shepherd Fund and it is good news for donors. During the year 2007, donors, over the age of 70 ½ are permitted to roll over amounts from an IRA account to charity without claiming increased income or paying additional tax. These tax-free rollover gifts can be in any amount up to $100,000 in one year. Contact your IRA custodian to arrange these gifts.

Like many individuals, your IRA may have increased in value over the years and you have more income than you may need. The IRA is a simple way to provide for The Good Shepherd Fund, while not increasing your taxable income. While there is no added charitable tax deduction for an IRA charitable rollover gift, avoiding any addition in taxable income may save income taxes not otherwise available.

A designation for distribution through a retirement account after your death might be an excellent way of funding a Special Needs Trust for an individual with a developmental disability or other disabling condition. There would be no charitable deduction for this use of retirement assets.

For more information, contact: the Reverend Dr. Ron Beckman, +1 303 474 4609.




Creating a Gift through Life Insurance

Some of the most satisfying uses of insurance, believe it or not, are connected to charitable giving! It may be a hidden asset. The versatility of life insurance is worth revisiting.

Consider naming the Fund as a beneficiary of an existing or new insurance policy. The Good Shepherd Fund would receive the insurance proceeds at your death. You make this change by contacting your insurance representative and requesting that a change in beneficiary be made. There is no charitable income tax deduction available for this gift, because you have not made an irrevocable charitable contribution.

Families are discovering that life insurance can be an important tool in funding Special Needs Trusts. Although there is no charitable deduction with this use, the leverage that life insurance can bring in building the asset base of the special needs trust can be significant.

For more information on how to make a charitable gift of life insurance to The Good Shepherd Fund through an estate, or about funding a Special Needs Trust through life insurance, contact Reverend Dr. Ron Beckman, +1 303 474 4609.

The information on this web site is not intended for individual legal, tax or financial investment advice. Please consult your legal, tax and financial advisors.