PLANNED GIVING: LEAVING A LASTING LEGACY

New Mexico Appleseed’s Planned Giving program provides an opportunity for you to use your assets — beyond your annual income — for charitable giving. We provide a range of gift plans to serve your financial and philanthropic goals, maximize financial and tax benefits, and leave a lasting and meaningful legacy of impact.

There are many ways to make a planned gift to New Mexico Appleseed. The best vehicle for you will depend on your individual circumstances. Please discuss your gift planning desires with your attorney or tax advisor before making a decision on this matter. The information on this site is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. For more information or to discuss other gifts of complex assets, please contact Rebecca Anderson, Director of Advancement, at randerson@nmappleseed.org or call 505-814-1200.

BEQUESTS

Your last will and testament is the document through which you may pass on your legacy to family, friends, and charitable organizations that you support. You may make a bequest to New Mexico Appleseed by directing in your will and/or your revocable living trust that certain assets be transferred to New Mexico Appleseed after your death. You can structure the bequest to be a specified sum of money, a percentage of your estate, or as a contingent bequest.

During your lifetime, such assets will continue to remain in your control and you may also modify the bequest to address changing circumstances during your lifetime. Although no lifetime income tax deduction is available for the bequest, your estate will receive an unlimited estate tax charitable deduction for the bequest to New Mexico Appleseed. We encourage you to discuss your estate plans with your attorney or tax advisor.

LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES

You can name New Mexico Appleseed as the beneficiary or contingent beneficiary of a life insurance policy, which can reduce the value of your taxable estate. Please contact us to discuss this option and to make arrangements for the payment of future premium payments, if any.

RETIREMENT PLAN ASSETS

Funds held in retirement plans (including 401Ks and IRAs) at death can often be subject to income and estate taxes of approximately 80 percent of the assets (leaving only 20 percent for heirs). This double taxation can be avoided by gifting such assets to New Mexico Appleseed, and therefore make excellent candidates for testamentary charitable giving. The most effective way to transfer a retirement plan to Appleseed is to name New Mexico Appleseed as a designated beneficiary in the plan or IRA document or, alternatively, direct that an IRA distribution be made directly to New Mexico Appleseed.