Planned Giving

Selecting the best gift plan to meet your financial and charitable goals depends upon your personal financial situation.  Because tax laws are always changing and each family and individual situation is different, we encourage you to consult with your financial advisor to determine which method of contributing is most beneficial to you.

Planned Gifts
Planned giving is the process of carefully selecting the best method and asset for making a charitable gift. Such a gift can enable you to take full advantage of the tax laws to accomplish your financial and charitable goals.

A bequest through a will is a popular and flexible method to make a future gift while retaining control of your property during your lifetime. Due to recent major changes in the estate tax laws this may be a good time to review your estate plans and consider a charitable gift in your will.  
 

Sample Bequest Language
"I, [name], of [city, state, ZIP], give, devise and bequeath to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines, [written dollar amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose."

Life income gifts are an effective way to contribute assets while keeping an income for yourself or your family. Generally, to create a charitable remainder trust you place assets into a trust which pays you an income for life. When the last beneficiary dies the remaining principal goes to help our schools. A charitable gift annuity is a simple contract between you and the diocesan foundation who is the beneficiary of your gift. In exchange for your irrevocable gift, the foundation will pay you a fixed sum for life. These gift plans may provide income and estate tax advantages and they may allow you to increase your current income.

Other gift opportunities include gifts of retirement assets that can be a very tax-effective way to contribute to the mission of our diocese, reducing estate taxes and potential income taxes to your heirs without any negative impact on your current assets. A gift of real estate may allow for an income tax deduction based on the fair market value of the property and avoidance of capital gains taxes. Another option is to make a transfer now but to continue to use the property for life.

You may make a gift of life insurance by designating the Diocese of Des Moines or any diocesan entity (i.e. Catholic Charities) as the owner and beneficiary. You will be entitled to an immediate income tax deduction for the value of the policy or for continuing annual premiums.

For more information on any of these methods of charitable giving, please contact Joan Bindel, development director, at (515) 237-5079