LEAVE A LEGACY
Make a legacy gift and create transformational change for generations to come.
A legacy community for a stronger, more equitable Marin
The Canal Alliance Legacy Giving Circle is a community of individuals united by a shared vision: a stronger, more vibrant Marin where immigrants and their families thrive. Because we believe everyone has the right to achieve their dreams.
What legacy can look like
There are many ways to leave a legacy, including gifts that pay income, gifts that reduce taxes, and gifts that benefit heirs. Here are some of the most common ways to make a lasting impact:
Include Canal Alliance in your will or trust
Making a gift to Canal Alliance in your will or living trust is one of the easiest gifts to arrange and costs you nothing to make now. Your gift is revocable and remains under your control during your lifetime. This vehicle allows you to leave specific property, a dollar amount, or a percentage of your estate to Canal Alliance.
Make a gift through your retirement plan
Distributions from tax-deferred retirement plans, like IRAs, are taxable to owners during life — and to heirs when inherited. This means that inherited IRAs can become a tax liability for children and loved ones. When used to make a charitable gift to Canal Alliance, however, retirement plan assets are transferred tax-free. By naming Canal Alliance as a full or partial beneficiary of your retirement plan and leaving other, less tax-vulnerable assets to your heirs, you can reduce or eliminate taxes for your heirs while knowing 100% of your gift to Canal Alliance will be used to advance programs in support of the immigrant community.
If you are 70 ½ or older, you can also take advantage of tax savings by making a gift to Canal Alliance with a “qualified charitable distribution” (QCD) from your IRA.
Add Canal Alliance as a beneficiary to an insurance plan
Donating a life insurance policy you no longer need can be an impactful strategy to making a larger gift than you might otherwise afford, while receiving immediate tax benefits. Perhaps your grown children are financially independent and your other assets meet your retirement needs. Or maybe you have a policy your parents purchased for you years ago. If you assign and transfer ownership of a fully paid policy to Canal Alliance during life, you’ll receive a tax deduction for your gift. You can also make a gift of life insurance by designation. Simply request a beneficiary designation form from your life insurance company and name Canal Alliance as a full, partial or contingent beneficiary.
Make a gift of stock or other appreciated assets
By donating appreciated assets, such as stocks, bonds, and securities, you can avoid capital gains taxes on the appreciations, receive a tax deduction for the full value of the gift, and support Canal Alliance at a lower cost to you. Please talk with your financial advisor to confirm the full deductibility of your donation.
Make a gift through a donor-advised fund
In addition to recommending immediate or recurring grants to Canal Alliance from your donor advised fund (DAF), you can name Canal Alliance as the full or partial beneficiary of your fund ensuring future support of our mission.
Reach out to discuss other options
If you have interest in exploring planned giving mechanisms such as reserve life estate, annuities, and charitable remainder trusts, please call us at 415-306-0470.
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Contact Zach Rickrode-Fernandez, Major Gifts Officer, to set up a time to discuss your options.
Donor Privacy Policy
Canal Alliance will not sell, share, or trade our donors’ names or personal information with any other entity nor send mailings to our donors on behalf of other organizations. This policy applies to all information received by Canal Alliance, both online and offline, on any platform (including the Canal Alliance website and mobile applications), as well as any electronic, written, or oral communications. To the extent that donations are processed through a third-party service provider, our donors’ information will only be used for purposes necessary to process the donation. Read our full privacy policy.