Leave A Legacy Our Mission

LEAVE A LEGACY TO RAINBOW CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
RAINBOW CHILD DEVELOPMENT IS ONE OF MANY LOCAL NON-PROFIT AGENCIES WHO HAVE JOINED TOGETHER TO FORM THE ORGANIZATION.

Leave A Legacy of Central Massachusetts' mission is to inspire all people to make gifts through their wills to causes and organizations they care about most.

Many people think you have to be wealthy to have an estate to donate to charities. This is not true an estate is any property, money or personal belongings you have at the time of your death, and you can arrange to leave a charitable gift from your estate, regardless of its size.

There are many ways to leave a gift, but the most common is though a will. You can set aside a certain dollar amount or a percentage of your estate. You might want to donate personal property, such as land, a car or a valuable collection. Some people leave a life insurance policy or investments.

When You Leave A Legacy, You make Sure That Help Continues For Those Who Need It.

Think of how others have helped you think of the difference other people or organizations have made in your life. This is an opportunity to do the same for your neighbors, your community.

Charitable and philanthropic groups play an important role in Central Massachusetts. They fight disease, care for our children, promote arts, work to save the environment, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless. Our charitable organizations provide these and other critical services and programs through the region

Leave A Legacy is not about gifts of any special size or cause... It is about giving back to the community where we live and work. When you Leave a Legacy, you make a difference today and in the lives that follow.

Ten Steps to Leave Your Legacy

1.) Prepare a will. Without a will you will lose control over your property at death.

2.) Evaluate your financial situation and decide what your charitable goals are.

3.) Consult an attorney, accountant or financial advisor about tax-friendly options for making a legacy gift.

4.) Choose one or more organizations that have made a difference in your life to leave a gift to in your will.

5.) Contact the organization(s) of your choice to learn about opportunities for legacy giving.

6.) Leave a specific dollar amount or a percentage to the assets in your will to a charity of your choice.

7.) Name a charity as the beneficiary of your pension or a life insurance policy.

8.) Consider using non-cash assets for your legacy gift.

9.) Encourage family and friends to leave gifts to charities in their wills.

10.) Remember that almost everyone has the capacity to Leave a Legacy

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Isn't estate planning or legacy giving only for the wealthy?

A: You probably own a car or a house. Chances are, you have a savings account, an insurance policy or a few stocks. If you do, then you have an estate and should seriously consider developing an estate plan. Having an estate plan is the best way to minimize taxes, avoid probate and if you wish, Leave a Legacy to your favorite charity.

Q: Why do I need a will?

A: Without a will, your property, money, belongings and finances are settled according to state laws, not according to your wishes. When you have a will, it puts you in control of your possessions. You can distribute them to the people and causes that you care for and believe in.

Q: When should I start to think about legacy giving?

A: Once you have someone or something to protect, the time has arrived to think about this. The time has also come to decide how you wish to be remembered. As a charitable person once said: "I don't want the cemetery to be the only place my children and grandchildren will see my name." Your children may find it meaningful to know that you provided for an organization that you supported during your life.

Q: What can I do to start the process?

A: Speak with attorney or financial planner or contact the development office of the charity or charities of your choice. Most importantly, remember that if you don't take action, the government, by law, will do so on your behalf. Because the government is a tax collector, not a tax payer, it is nunlikely they would make the same decisions you would make or spend your money as you would wish.

Q: After death, how do I leave a gift to an organization I admire?

A: You can arrange for a gift in several ways, the most common being setting aside a designated dollar amount or percentage of your estate in a will. Some people may leave a charity their vehicle or real estate. Others leave a paid-up life insurance policy or other financial investment.

Q: Who can help me arrange for a making legacy gift?

A: Your favorite not-for-profit organization is a good source of information for beginning this process. Or, if you have a financial planner, attorney, accountant or insurance agent, you can talk with any of them about your wishes.

Q: What tax benefits does legacy giving provide?

A: Depending on how much you leave to charity and the way you leave it, you can realize considerable financial benefits in the form of current income tax savings, future estate savings and possibly even current income. Also, because charities are tax-exempt, in some instances, your gift is worth almost twice as much to a charity as it costs you to give.