An Option to Show Your Support of Center for Hospice Care Through Pledging a Planned Gift

Each day Center for Hospice Care (CHC) and Hospice Foundation (HF) benefit from the generous giving of many supporters as demonstrated by the list of donors in the back pages of this publication.  Funding generated by these donations enables CHC to fulfill its long-standing promise to serve all patients eligible for hospice care regardless of their ability to pay for it.

Hospice Foundation’s new Cornerstone Society provides an option for donors making a planned gift to be recognized for that gift during their lifetime.  Planned gifts come from donors’ long-term financial planning.

CHC and HF are fortunate to receive planned gifts regularly. In some cases, donors share with us that a gift from their estate is forthcoming, but in most cases, we receive gifts without much advance notice and after the donor’s estate is distributed. 

The Cornerstone Society provides donors who have included CHC/HF in their estate plan with immediate opportunities to be recognized. Those interested in sharing the assets of their estate with
CHC/HF are encouraged to work with their financial advisor/legal counsel to determine options that best align with their planned giving goals.

Planned Giving – The Basics

Planned giving is the transfer of assets like stock, real estate or life insurance to HF during a lifetime or upon death. This usually happens by stipulations in a will or other written means.  

This type of giving is “planned” because in most situations these assets are not liquid, have tax consequences or can be used to simultaneously generate income for donors during their lifetime.  People in a variety of income levels and life stages can benefit by making a planned gift.  Some of these situations include: a windfall from the sale of a business; the need to generate a revenue stream for elderly parents; methods to offset an increase in tax liability; the birth of a child or grandchild; the establishment of a trust; updating financial plans or the acquisition of new assets.

Many planned giving options offer generous tax benefits while supporting the long-term success of Center for Hospice Care.

Following are some of the most frequently considered planned giving options:

• Bequests – one of the easiest ways to give involves naming Hospice Foundation as a beneficiary in a will and living trust.
• Life Insurance Policy and Retirement Assets – naming Hospice Foundation as a partial beneficiary of these assets is a way of providing support.
• Life Income Gifts – these allow donors to leave a gift in the care of Hospice Foundation while earning income for them during their lifetime. The two most popular are charitable remainder trusts and charitable gift annuities.
• Complex Gifts – these are for those owning businesses, real property or those that have other types of complex assets. Giving options exist that help both the Hospice Foundation and benefit the family of the donor.

To determine your needs and how best to make a planned gift, we welcome the opportunity to meet with you and your attorney, financial planner or tax advisor to discuss options available to you. 

The Foundation for the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization headquartered at 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545. To learn more about planned gifts and joining the Cornerstone Society contact Chris Taelman, chief development officer  at taelmanc@centerforhospice.org  or 574.243.3713.