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Planned Giving - Ways to Give


There are a number of ways a donor can make a commitment to our region through a planned gift to the Community Foundation. Our goal is to fulfill donor's philanthropic intent and assure their giving can have meaningful impact, forever.


Ways to Give

Bequest or Trust is one of the simplest ways to provide for our community is to establish or add to a fund at the Community Foundation through a bequest in a will or by providing for a distribution in a trust. This simple option allows donors to enjoy their assets while they are living, yet support what they care most about after their lifetime.

Sample Language: “I bequest $________ (or ________ percent of my estate) to the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation for ____________________ (designate a specific purpose, agency, field of interest, etc. to benefit; or designate the funds for use by the Community Foundation to benefit the community for needs yet unknown).” 

Life Insurance is another simple option. Policies that are no longer needed for their original purpose can make an excellent gift to the Community Foundation. The Community Foundation can be designated as the/a beneficiary, or donors can gift the policy during their lifetime and may receive an immediate tax benefit. 

Retirement Assets, like life insurance, can be easily gifted to the Community Foundation at the end of a donor’s lifetime. This can be done by changing the beneficiary designation for the retirement asset. In addition, donors can reduce income taxes payable by their family - in addition to saving estate taxes - by giving retirement assets to the Community Foundation. 

A Charitable Remainder Trust is established by the donor and is a separate trust that benefits only the donor and their designated beneficiaries and, ultimately, the Community Foundation. There are multiple types of charitable remainder trusts to fit a variety of situations.


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