planned giving

help us transform lives for years to come with a planned gift

When you think of planned giving, you may think you have to win the lottery or be wealthy to make a large gift to Habitat, but that’s not the case! In fact, planned giving is simple technique that can enable anyone to increase the impact of their support for Habitat and receive tax benefits at the same time.

Please contact our Resource Development Director, at 413-586-5430 x102 or resource@pvhabitat.org for more information about setting up a lifelong gift for Franklin Hampshire Habitat, and changing the lives of families in the Valley for years to come. Thank you!

Contact Us

Email: resource@pvhabitat.org
Call: (413) 586-5430 x102

FreeWill partnership

We invite you to join Franklin Hampshire Habitat’s Framing the Future Legacy Society by including us in your estate planning. Designating an estate gift today toward Habitat’s future can make an impact you could never imagine tomorrow. Our partnership with FreeWill helps you make or update your will in just 20 minutes for free. If you choose, you can even include a gift of any size in your estate plan. This contribution costs nothing today, but opens up a world of new opportunities for families in our community for generations to come.

Make my plan today

traditional planned giving

Some of the most popular methods of planned giving are outlined here. Please consider this information as a starting point. The most effective planned gifts are made in coordination with an estate plan. To provide the most benefit to Franklin Hampshire Habitat for Humanity, please consult with an attorney and tax advisor prior to making any planned gifts.

Nothing could be easier than making a gift of cash to Habitat for Humanity. It is the most common gift and the one you probably think of first. If you itemize in the year of contribution, all cash donations are tax deductible up to 50% of your adjusted gross income. Any excess deductions can be carried forward for the next five years. You can make year-end gifts, or make a gift in memory or honor of a friend or loved one, perhaps on the occasion of a birthday, graduation, anniversary or other special day. It is the perfect gift for someone who has everything!

Online gifts can be made by clicking here. Check gifts can be mailed to FH Habitat at PO Box 60642, Florence, MA 01062.

Begin your legacy with us! To help you get started on your plans and legacy, you can use FreeWill, an online tool that guides you through the process of creating your will or trust. It’s easy to use, accessible online and can be completed in 20 minutes. You can use this resource on its own, or use it to document your wishes before finalizing your plans with an attorney.

Have you already included a gift in your will or trust? Please fill out this form to let us know! We would love to thank you for your generosity.

Do you have an IRA, 401(k), life-insurance policy, or any other assets not included in your will? If so, these are called non-probate assets and you must plan your beneficiaries for them separately. Use this online tool to make your plans and designate us as a beneficiary of one or more of these assets.

Stocks and publicly traded securities are easy to give and offer great tax advantages. The best stocks to use for charitable giving are those that have increased greatly in value, particularly those producing a low yield. If you have held them for more than one year, you will pay no capital gains tax on this transaction, and you can deduct the full fair market value.

Are you aware that you can name organizations as the “payable-on-death beneficiary” of your bank accounts or on certificates of deposit? You own the assets for your lifetime and have them available for your use. Upon your death, the assets pass directly to us without going through probate. Simply visit your bank and request the necessary forms to name a beneficiary on your accounts or CDs. You can change beneficiary designations at any time.

A gift of real estate offers you the opportunity to make a significant charitable contribution with a tax-friendly outcome. There are several ways to donate real estate depending on your situation.

An outright gift may be the simplest solution if you own property that is not mortgaged, has appreciated in value and that you no longer need or use, such as a second home or vacation property. You can deduct the fair market value of your gift and avoid all capital gains taxes. Plus, you no longer have to worry about the costs of continued ownership, and you have removed that asset from your taxable estate.

Did you know that you can transfer the deed of your personal residence or farm to us now and keep the right to use the property for your lifetime and that of your spouse? You will receive a current charitable deduction in an amount that is based upon the life expectancy of you and your spouse and the value of the property.

A bargain sale can generate a gift that is less than the full fair market value of the property. In this scenario you agree to sell the property to a charitable organization at less than its fair market value. The difference between the sale price and the fair market value is your charitable deduction. While the tax rules relating to a bargain sale are somewhat complex, the net result is often more favorable than selling the property at fair market value and making a charitable contribution from the realized capital gain.

gifts that give back to you

There are several ways you can make a significant future gift to us while retaining, or in many cases increasing, the income you receive from the asset.  Because you receive income in return for your gift, your charitable deduction is limited to the portion of the gift that will ultimately pass to Habitat for Humanity.  We would be happy to discuss any of these methods with you in more detail or share sample illustrations of how a life income gift can benefit you first, then eventually Franklin Hampshire Habitat.

This is a simple contract between you and a charitable organization that pays you a fixed dollar amount (an annuity) for your lifetime and that of another individual, if desired, based upon your age(s) at the time of your gift. The older you are, the higher the annuity. If you use appreciated property to fund the gift annuity, you will escape the capital gains tax on the gift portion of the transaction and the remaining gain will be apportioned over your lifetime. This is a wonderful way to increase income from stocks that pay small dividends and carry heavy capital gains.

We can assist you with establishing your annuity through Habitat International! Contact resource@pvhabitat.org for more information and to get started.

A charitable remainder trust is a trust that will pay the donor (and one or more other named beneficiaries, if desired) a fixed or variable income depending on the type of trust selected. The payments are made either for life or a period of time not to exceed 20 years. The annual payments cannot be less than 5 percent of the initial fair market value of the trust. At the end of the trust’s term, the balance in the trust helps support Habitat’s mission.

This type of charitable trust pays income to one or more charitable organizations, typically for a period of years, and then the remaining assets of the trust pass to non-charitable beneficiaries, such as family members. While this type of trust usually does not provide a current income tax deduction, it can effectively pass property to family members at reduced estate and gift tax costs.