Legacy Gift Planning

Cementing Your Family’s Philanthropic Footprint

Distribution Plan and Review

Moving Beyond One-Time Giving: The Permanent Legacy


Legacy gift planning designs long-term charitable commitments that integrate estate goals, family values, and tax strategy into a durable philanthropic legacy. Unlike annual contributions, a planned gift is typically arranged in the present but fulfilled in the future, often after the donor’s lifetime.

For family offices, this process helps support the transfer of wealth to causes the family cherishes, transforming personal values into sustained community benefits for generations.

Core Instruments of Legacy Gift Planning

A well-structured donor legacy strategy utilizes specific financial instruments to balance family needs with philanthropic intent.

Charitable Bequests in Wills and Trusts
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Charitable Bequests in Wills and Trusts

The charitable bequest is the most common form of planned giving due to its simplicity and flexibility.

  • How it Works: You designate a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or the remainder of assets to a charity in your will or revocable living trust.
  • Tax Benefit: Bequests are fully deductible for federal estate tax purposes, with no limit on the deduction amount, which can significantly reduce the tax burden for heirs.
  • Flexibility: You retain full control over your assets during your lifetime and can modify the bequest if your circumstances or priorities change.
Charitable Trusts (CRT & CLT)
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Charitable Trusts (CRT & CLT)

For high-net-worth (HNW) families, gift structuring often involves sophisticated trust architecture.

  • Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT): You transfer appreciated assets into a trust that provides you or your family with income for a term of years or life. The remaining assets pass to charity at the end of the term, providing an immediate upfront charitable deduction and avoiding capital gains tax on the donated assets.
  • Charitable Lead Trust (CLT): The inverse of a CRT, where the charity receives income for a specified period, after which the remaining assets pass to your heirs with reduced or no gift and estate taxes.
Beneficiary Designations (Retirement & Life Insurance)
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Beneficiary Designations (Retirement & Life Insurance)

Naming a charity as a beneficiary of retirement plan accounts (IRAs, 401(k)s) or a life insurance policy is one of the most tax-efficient ways to give.

  • Retirement Assets: Heirs would normally be taxed on the income from retirement accounts, but charities receive these assets 100% tax-free.
  • Life Insurance: You can gift a policy that is no longer needed for wealth replacement, potentially receiving an income tax deduction for future premium payments.
Succession and the Family Foundation Legacy

Succession and the Family Foundation Legacy

For families with private foundations, philanthropic succession is critical to maintaining a family foundation legacy.

Endowment Planning:

Establishing an endowment is intended to help keep the principal investment intact while only the earnings fuel annual grantmaking, providing ongoing support for chosen causes.

Heir Involvement:

Legacy funds can serve as a training ground, inviting multiple generations to collaborate on gift decisions and participate in fund stewardship.

The 2026 Shift: Strategic Gifting Considerations

The 2026 Shift:

Strategic Gifting Considerations

Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, federal estate tax exemptions are set to increase to $15 million per individual ($30 million per couple) in 2026. However, the new 0.5% AGI floor and 35% deduction cap on itemized gifts make the timing and structure of your legacy plan more critical than ever.

Families are increasingly using legacy income trusts (LITs) as a turnkey alternative to CRTs, offering potentially higher deductions and lower administration costs while allowing for more income beneficiaries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my legacy plan if I relocate?

Yes. Your core estate and planned giving strategy remains portable at the federal level. However, a change in domicile can introduce different state-level rules affecting trusts, administration, and taxation. Your plan should be reviewed with counsel so that it remains aligned with the laws of your new jurisdiction.

Do I have to be "wealthy" to have a legacy plan?

No. Legacy funds can be established for any amount and are often set up as "shells" that only activate once assets are received from your estate.

What is the benefit of donating appreciated stock instead of cash?

By donating appreciated securities, you avoid paying capital gains tax on the increase in value and can claim a deduction (subject to relevant limitations)..