How do I establish a life income gift?
Family obligations and the need to provide for retirement, coupled with the high cost of living, make it difficult for many people to consider substantial charitable gifts now. But there is a way to have the satisfaction of making a meaningful lifetime gift without sacrifice. In fact, you can get current income tax and financial benefits. It is called a life income gift. You irrevocably transfer some assets to the Red Cross now, and in return, you (and a survivor, if you wish) receive income for life. As a result, the assets are used to carry out our mission.

By making a life income gift to the Red Cross, you will receive the following benefits, in addition to the pleasure of knowing the good work your gift will do. The benefits include:

• A charitable deduction in the year you make the gift for the present value of our right to eventually receive the assets.
• Substantial income tax savings increases your effective yield.
• Income can be taxed more favorably in some plans.
• Your probate and estate administration costs may be reduced.

What are examples of life income plans?

Charitable Gift Annuity
In exchange for your gift of cash or marketable securities to the American Red Cross, we agree to pay you (and a survivor or other beneficiary) a fixed amount annually for your lifetime. The transfer is part gift and part purchase of an annuity. The rate of return is attractive and the payments are guaranteed for life.

The Red Cross uses the charitable gift annuity rates recommended by the American Council on Gift Annuities.

The following are rates for a single-life charitable gift annuity:

Charitable Remainder Trust
This life income plan is created by transferring assets to a trust that pays you (and another beneficiary, if you wish) income for life. At the end of the trust, the remaining trust assets are transferred to the Red Cross. A bank or trusted advisor can serve as trustee.

The type of charitable remainder trust you choose determines your annual payments:

Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust
The charitable remainder annuity trust pays you a fixed dollar amount annually for life. The fixed payments are determined by the payout percentage selected at the beginning of the trust. You can claim a charitable deduction on your income tax form the year that you create the trust. The payments you receive are taxed as ordinary income, and in some cases as capital gain or tax-free return of principal.

Charitable Remainder Unitrust
The charitable remainder unitrust pays you a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets, as revalued each year. Like the annuity trust, you can claim a charitable deduction on your income tax form the year that you create the trust. The payments you receive are taxed as ordinary income, and in some cases as capital gain or tax-free return of principal.