As we continue to expand our North Star Legacy Society, United Way of Southern Nevada invites donors to consider new and forward-thinking ways of giving, partnering with us as we activate hope in our community and create sustainable change that will span generations.
Although gifts of cash immediately support our mission, non-cash and planned giving alternatives afford donors more flexibility and greater tax benefits than a cash gift of equivalent value, making them ideal options for charitable giving.
The information provided below is general in nature and should not be relied on as tax, legal or financial planning advice. For specific advice, please consult your professional advisors.
Including United Way of Southern Nevada (UWSN) in your estate plans is one of the most meaningful ways to ensure your philanthropic values leave a lasting legacy in our community.
Through planned giving, you can support the causes you care about, such as education, workforce development, and community support, without impacting your finances today. Whether you are able to make a simple bequest or explore more complex charitable gift strategies, UWSN can help you leave a legacy of opportunity, dignity, and hope. No matter your age or income level, you can build a philanthropic legacy that ensures lasting change in Southern Nevada for generations to come.
Create a Lasting Legacy
RETIREMENT ACCOUNT ASSETS
If you pass with retirement plan assets in your estate, those assets are subject to income taxes that may dramatically reduce the amount that would otherwise pass to your beneficiaries. Instead, consider designating UWSN as a beneficiary of your retirement accounts. As a nonprofit organization, UWSN can benefit from a tax-free withdrawal of assets, allowing us to use their full value to advance our important work.
LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES
Most people think of life insurance as protection, particularly for loved ones. But life insurance is also a powerful charitable tool that can be used to champion our work far into the future. By designating UWSN as a beneficiary on your life insurance policy, you can create a charitable legacy without invading cash and other assets designated for your heirs.
SECURITIES
By making a gift of appreciated securities, you may be able to avoid paying the capital gains tax that would otherwise be due at the sale of those securities and may also receive a charitable income tax deduction at the time of the gift. Because securities enjoy favorable capital gains treatment, they often provide greater tax benefits than a cash gift of equivalent value, particularly if they have a low-cost basis.
CHARITABLE TRUSTS
Under the right set of circumstances, a Charitable Trust may enhance your income, minimize taxes, unlock appreciated investments and ultimately provide UWSN with a significant charitable gift. Although Trusts are complex legal instruments that require competent advice and careful consideration, many donors realize optimal estate planning by establishing a Charitable Trust.
CHARITABLE BEQUESTS
Gifts made through Wills and Trusts have become the foundation of the American philanthropic tradition. The overwhelming majority of planned gifts are the result of bequests, commonly known as planned or “legacy” gifts. A simple provision in your Will or Trust may enable you to make significant contributions that are not otherwise possible during your lifetime. Although you should carefully review the terms of your Will with an appropriate professional advisor, we are happy to provide the following Sample Bequest Language: "I give, devise and bequeath to United Way of Southern Nevada, a 501, (c), (3), located at 5830 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, Nevada 89103, the sum of $____________ /or ___ % of my estate/or the following specific asset ____________________________ for the benefit of United Way of Southern Nevada, Tax ID #88-0071328, and its general purposes/or to be added to its endowment."
CREATE YOUR LAST WILL & TESTAMENT, 100% FREE
Making or updating your Will is easier than you might imagine. UWSN has partnered with FreeWill.com to give you a free, intuitive way to write your Will. By including a gift to UWSN in your Will, you help ensure that we are able to break the cycle of poverty in our community for generations to come. This tool is free to you, whether or not you choose to include a gift to us, and can be used to create your legal Will in about 20 minutes. And now, FreeWill has NEW offerings to include a free LIVING TRUST, a free ADVANCE HEALTHCARE DIRECTIVE, and a free FINANCIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY.
CRYPTO
Crypto or Digital Currency can also be donated to support our mission. Investors in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether or any of the other multitude of cryptocurrencies can contribute crypto to fulfill your philanthropic goals. You contribute the crypto on an independent platform which then sells the crypto and passes the net proceeds to United Way of Southern Nevada. UWSN team members can help you choose the crypto platform that best meets your goals and help you support our vital mission of improving the health, education and financial stability of our communities, supporting them in disaster relief and recovery efforts and helping transform them into more resilient communities.
IRA DISTRIBUTIONS
You may be looking for a way to make a big difference to help further our mission. If you are 70½ or older you may also be interested in a way to lower the income and taxes from your IRA withdrawals. An IRA charitable rollover is a way you can help continue our work and benefit this year.
ROYALTY INCOME
Royalty income derives from assets such as income from natural resources assets, sales of published books and recorded lectures, patents, other copyrighted assets, published music or other intellectual property. Supporters of our mission donate this royalty income stream directly to UWSN, either during lifetime or from their estates.
For questions, please email Laura Henkel, UWSN Major Gifts Officer at laurah@uwsn.org