Legacy Gifts

One of the most important ways that you can express your commitment to the mission and work of the ACLU is by making a gift today that will provide financial support for the protection and advancement of civil liberties after your lifetime.

All ACLU entities accept legacy gifts, and those gifts directed to the ACLU Foundation or the ACLU Foundation of Colorado, 501(c)(3) organizations, qualify for the income tax and estate tax charitable deductions. Legacy gifts, like other contributions, are shared  between the Colorado and national ACLU entities.

You may wish to consider one of several types of legacy gifts:

Bequests

You may include the ACLU as a beneficiary of your will for a specific amount, for a percentage of your estate, or as a contingent beneficiary. If you are talking with your attorney about placing the ACLU in your will, please contact us for suggested language.

Retirement Plans, IRAs and Life Insurance

Making the ACLU a beneficiary of insurance, an IRA or a retirement plan can provide for a significant future gift to the ACLU. Also, there may be advantages to directing retirement plan assets to a non-profit, such as the ACLU, and leaving other, non-taxable assets to other heirs.

Life Income Plans

There are several vehicles that allow you to support the ACLU, and in return, receive regular income for the rest of your life. Life income plans may also provide significant income tax savings and favorable capital gains treatment of gifts of appreciated securities. Some of the most popular life income plans include: charitable gift annuities, pooled income funds, and charitable remainder trusts. Your estate planning attorney will likely advise you before establishing one of these plans, and the professionals in the ACLU Planned Giving Office will be happy to discuss options with you, too.

Real Estate

Donating real estate to the ACLU may also be beneficial to your financial planning. By making such a gift, it is possible to avoid capital gains while receiving a tax deduction for the fair market value of the property.

If you would like to explore any of these options, please contact Stephen Meswarb, Development Director, at 303-777-5482 x105, or at smeswarb@aclu-co.org.