When survivors reach out to Family Sunshine Center, they are often focused on what comes next: Where can I go tonight? How can I keep my children safe? What support is available?
We are here to help survivors take those next steps. But to continue being here for the survivors who will need us tomorrow, next year, and even decades from now, we must also plan for the future.
August is Make-A-Will Month, a good time to create or update your will, protect the people you love, and think about the legacy you want to leave behind.
For some people, that legacy includes a gift to a cause that has been important to them. This is known as planned giving or legacy giving, and it may be much simpler than you think.
Do I need to be wealthy to leave a legacy gift?
Not at all.
A legacy gift can be a small dollar amount or a small percentage of your estate. The size of the gift is less important than what it represents: a belief that the work you care about should continue.
One of the easiest options is a bequest, which is language in your will directing a gift to a charitable organization. You may leave a specific amount, a percentage of your estate, or part of what remains after your other wishes have been carried out.
Are there other easy ways to give?
You can name a charity as a beneficiary of a retirement account or life insurance policy. You decide what portion the charity will receive, and the change can usually be made through the company that manages the account or policy. Some retirement plans have special requirements, particularly for married account holders, so it is important to follow your plan’s instructions.
Other options may include donating appreciated stock, establishing a trust, or including charitable instructions in a donor-advised fund.
An attorney, financial planner, or tax professional can help you understand which option makes sense for you and your family.
What if I do not have a will?
Creating a will may be easier and more affordable than you expect.
FreeWill allows users to create and download a will at no cost, along with instructions for signing and finalizing it. DoYourOwnWill.com also offers free wills designed primarily for people with simple estates.
Online tools are not right for every situation. You may need to speak with an estate-planning attorney if you have minor children, a blended family, a business, a trust, significant assets, or other complex needs.
How would my gift help Family Sunshine Center?
Legacy gifts help provide long-term stability for Family Sunshine Center and the survivors we serve. Most legacy gifts support our general operating expenses. This gives us the flexibility to respond wherever the need is greatest, whether that means keeping our emergency shelter stocked, answering the crisis line, providing counseling, assisting with transportation, or helping a survivor navigate the legal system.
You may also choose to direct your gift toward a particular area of our work, such as shelter, counseling, or advocacy. We encourage donors considering a restricted gift to speak with us so we can help ensure their intentions can still be honored many years from now.
For longtime monthly donors, a legacy gift can be a meaningful way to continue the support they have provided throughout their lives.
How do I begin?
Start by reviewing your will and beneficiary designations. Talk with your family and your professional advisors about what you want your legacy to accomplish.
If you have already included Family Sunshine Center in your estate plan, please let us know. You do not need to share your entire will. Documentation of the gift helps us understand your wishes and make sure they are honored.
To learn more or request the information needed to include Family Sunshine Center in your estate plan, contact Amy Capps, Development Director at acapps@familysunshine.org or 334-322-0819.
Family Sunshine Center does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice. Please consult a qualified professional before creating or changing your estate plan.