Vehicles for Giving

A charitable gift from your estate is a favored method of giving that enables you to achieve your financial goals, maintain control of your assets, and benefit Cardigan.

While you may transfer many of your assets through your will or living trust, a document called a beneficiary designation controls distribution of your retirement plans, life insurance policies, commercial annuities and a variety of financial accounts.

Make a substantial gift to Cardigan Mountain School in the form of fixed annual payments and pass assets to your family or other heirs at reduced tax cost.

A charitable remainder unitrust can help you maintain or increase your income while making a significant gift to Cardigan Mountain School. The charitable remainder unitrust is highly flexible. You can easily make gifts of assets that are not easily converted to cash using the unitrust. If your unitrust grows, your payments will grow too, providing a potential hedge against inflation.

Here is a tax-smart way to make an impact to Cardigan Mountain School using your traditional or Roth IRA. The IRA charitable rollover (also called the Qualified Charitable Distribution, or QCD) is a great way to make a tax-free gift to Cardigan Mountain School and satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). If you are not required to take an RMD but no longer itemize your deductions, then a QCD may be right for you as well.

Giving appreciated stock that you have owned for more than one year is one of the most tax-advantaged ways to make charitable gifts. With careful planning, you can reduce your capital gains tax while supporting Cardigan Mountain School.

A gift of your retirement assets, such as an employee retirement plan, IRA, or tax-sheltered annuity, is an excellent way to make a gift. A gift of these assets can shield your heirs from taxes while funding Cardigan's future.

Life insurance is a valuable asset for making a charitable gift. You can make a gift of a life insurance policy without diminishing other investments or assets earmarked for family members.

A gift of real estate allows you to preserve your cash assets, receive tax and income advantages, and make a significant charitable gift to Cardigan.

A gift of artwork, coins, antiques, or other personal property can be an excellent way to support Cardigan.

A donor-advised fund can provide you with immediate tax benefits while making your charitable giving easier for years to come. Might a donor-advised fund be right for you? Here’s how it works.