Planned gifts through your Will, Life Insurance policy, Retirement Fund assets or other giving vehicles may have tax benefits, depending on your situation. Written pledges declare intent. With donor permission, a declarations of intent can be recognized by membership in our Legacy Society from the date of the pledge.

Wills can be simple to create but most Americans don’t "get a round to it” and die without one. There are useful will-writing resources available in libraries and online. The simplest language is: "I give, devise, and bequeath to St. Michael's: (specific dollar amount, or particular asset, or fixed percentage of your estate) for the benfit of St. Michael's and its general purposes."

There are other options that may be better suited for your personal situation. The following example is of one couple who were not ready to make a bequest but found a suitable planned gift option. Through careful planning their generosity had immediate benefits that they could enjoy in their life times and long-term benefits that will touch the lives of future generations:

A couple worried about supporting the wife’s elderly mother created a gift annuity that was designated to provide the mother with monthly payments for the rest of her life. They received a tax deduction that enabled them to free up enough income to make an outright gift to their favorite charity and arrange for a future gift from the remainder of the money in the annuity after the death of the mother.

We encourage you to consult with your attorney, tax advisor or estate planning expert about ways to give which might work best for your personal financial circumstances. If you have already designated St. Michael’s as a beneficiary in your will, life insurance policy or retirement assets, please let us know by clicking on our Declaration of Intent form. To find out more about designating gifts and Giving Programs, please click on Request for Information form or contact Foundation Director Cynthia Malmrose at 320-352-2221; cmalmrose@stmichaelsfoundation.org.