How you can Leave a Legacy Of Sisterhood through a planned gift to the AOII Foundation.

What is planned giving?
It's thoughtfully choosing, from several options for gift giving, a way to make a future charitable gift that is also favorable to your estate. While the primary purpose is to help your favorite charity, a secondary purpose is the personal financial, tax or family benefits that a planned gift can provide you or your heirs.

Planned giving enables you, the donor, to direct charitable gifts to organizations that are important to you, and through those gifts, to continue to provide support after your lifetime.

How do I make a planned gift?
Planned gifts can be funded with cash, stock or securities, or personal property. An agreement is normally developed, and this can be revocable or irrevocable, depending on the gift. For example, a bequest would be a revocable gift during your lifetime.

When does the AOII Foundation receive the gift?
With a planned gift, the Foundation receives the gift at some time in the future instead of immediately.

What happens to my planned gift?
All planned gifts not specifically donor restricted will remain board restricted for investments, thus requiring a board vote for future use of the funds. Annual income from these board restricted gifts is used to support AOII programs and scholarships. The Foundation Board determines priority needs each year.

As the donor, you may choose to further restrict how you want the gift to be used. For example, you can specify the gift be used for scholarships, educational programs, technology or a purpose of interest to you. Income from your planned gift can only be used for that purpose.

What are some kinds of planned gifts?

Bequests: The Foundation can be named as a beneficiary in your will. You can specify a designated amount or a percentage of your estate. You also can name the Foundation as a remainder beneficiary to receive any remaining funds after individual beneficiaries have been paid. Here is some sample wording:

I hereby give, devise and bequeath to Alpha Omicron Pi Foundation, a Tennessee non-profit corporation located at 5390 Virginia Way, Brentwood, TN 37027, (either... the sum of $ , or... percent of my estate, or... the remainder of my estate when other bequests have been paid.)

If you have already made a will, it's very easy to add a binding will codicil without redrafting the original will. Contact the Foundation for a form or more information.

Life Insurance: A gift of life insurance can provide a significant charitable deduction. You may purchase a new policy or donate a policy that you currently own but no longer need. To receive a deduction for the premiums of a new policy, or for the cash value of a current policy, designate the Foundation as both owner and beneficiary. Consult your insurance agent for details. The Foundation office has further information on this kind of planned gift.

Retirement Plans: Tax consequences may make qualified retirement plans such a 401 (k) or IRA well suited for charitable gifts. By naming the Foundation as a beneficiary of your plan, the benefit would qualify for an estate tax deduction and be free of income tax obligation. Not all plans work the same way, so please consult your personal financial adviser.

Charitable Trusts: For more information about lead or remainder trusts, contact the Foundation, or your personal adviser.