Planned Giving

You can preserve America's greatest legacy for future generations.

The Montpelier Foundation welcomes all forms of charitable giving, from the simplest outright gifts to the most sophisticated "planned" or estate gifts, which generally involve using one's appreciated assets. We are prepared to help you and your advisors find the gift structure that will provide the best combination of financial and tax advantages, while providing support for the preservation and educational missions of Montpelier.

Madison Pillars

Those who support The Montpelier Foundation through estate planning or life income vehicles are invited to join the Madison Pillars, Montpelier's planned giving recognition society. Madison Pillars enjoy a close relationship to Montpelier and are invited to participate in a variety of special events throughout the year.

Planned Giving at a Glance

Charitable giving ideas for you...

Bequests to Montpelier

You can make Montpelier a beneficiary in your will by giving a specific amount, a percentage of your estate, or the remainder of your estate. We cna provide you and your lawyer with sample language to use.

• This option enables you to keep your assets as they are with the satisfaction of knowing that your support of Montpelier will continue after your death.

For more information on bequests to Montpelier, please click here.

Gifts from an IRA

You can make gifts of up to $100,000, if you are 70½ or older from a regular individual retirement account without first paying income taxes on the IRA. These gifts reduce both income and estate taxes. The extension is retroactive, applying to distributions in 2008 as well as 2009.

• These gifts are especially good if you have a substantial balance in your IRA and if you already make substantial charitable gifts because the income tax deduction percentage limitations on most charitable gifts do not apply.

Charitable Gift Annuities

You can give marketable securities, real estate, or cash, in exchange for a fixed, annual income paid to you by Montpelier. These gifts are easy to make and provide you with a guaranteed lifetime income, while reducing income and estate taxes, and avoiding capital gains taxes.

• These gifts are particularly good if you want to convert appreciated securities or other assets into a lifetime income stream at a substantially reduced tax cost.

Charitable Remainder Trust

You can donate cash, marketable securities or real estate while reserving a fixed or variable annuity payment for life or for a term of up to 20 years. You can create an annuity for both your life and that of someone else, such as your spouse. These gifts reduce income and estate taxes and defer or avoid capital gains taxes.

• These trusts are a very flexible way to make gifts if you want to diversify part of your portfolio or just convert appreciated assets into a lifetime income stream at a substantially reduced tax cost.

Charitable Lead Trust

You can create a trust that will benefit Montpelier with fixed or variable annual payments for a term of years, after which the turst fund will go to your designated beneficiaries. These gifts enable you to make very large gifts to family members and loved ones with little or no gift or estate taxes. An income tax deducation may also be available.

• These gifts are particularly good if you want to make large gifts to children or grandchildren who do not need the money immediately.

Remainder Interest in a Personal Residence or Farm

You can give your residence or far to Montpelier and retain lifetime use of the property for you and your spouse. These gifts permit you to continue living in your home and/or operating your farm for the rest of your life while receiving an immediate income tax deducation for the remainder interest of the property and avoiding estate taxes.

• These gifts are especially good if you want to reduce the value of your estate as the transfer will occur outside of your will and will not pass through probate. Any appreciate value of the property after the transfer avoids capital gains tax.

Life Insurance

You can make Montpelier the beneficiary of your life insurance policies. If you make Montpelier the owner or irrevocable beneficiary, such a gift will reduce income taxes by allowing you to deduct your premium payments and can avoid estate taxes on the life insurance proceeds.

• These gifts are especially useful if you have existing life insurarnce policies that you no longer need, or if your health is especially good so that you are entitled to favourable premium rates.

In addition, you may also want to consider giving outright gifts of Appreciated Securities to Montpelier, which can reduce your income and estate taxes and avoid capital gains taxes entirely. Giving appreciated securities is a great way to make both annual gifts and those special gifts you occasionally want to make.

Thank you for your interest and support.

For more information about planned giving ideas, please contact the Director of Major Gifts, at (540) 672-2728 x120, or by email.