Planned Giving Opportunities

Making a gift through your will is often the easiest charitable gift to make. It costs you nothing during your lifetime but makes a great impact beyond your life.

A will is a legal document that ensures your wishes are carried out, your loved ones are cared for, and your assets are protected. Creating a will is an important part of planning for the future and securing your legacy.

You can also use a will to support the charities and causes nearest to your heart. Bequests, charitable gifts in a will, are designed to fit any individual’s situation – single or married, young or old, wealthy or not. It costs you nothing today, and you can change or alter your gift at any time.

A bequest can be made in several ways:
General bequest: A general bequest is a gift of a specific amount.
Residual bequest: A residual bequest is a gift of all or part of the remainder of your estate after all other distributions are made.
Specific bequest: A specific bequest is a gift of a particular piece of property. (e.g. real estate, funds in a bank account, or shares of a company)
Percentage bequest: A percentage bequest is a gift of a percentage of your estate.

Naming Riverfield as a beneficiary of your financial accounts is a simple yet powerful way of providing long-lasting future support for our mission. It is as easy as filling out a form and costs you nothing today.

You can name Riverfield as “full” or “partial”, “primary” or “contingent” beneficiary of your account, allowing you to still provide for your family while supporting the causes you care about. There is no limit on how much you can leave to an individual or charity. Should you change your mind in the future, you can update your beneficiaries at any time.

How it Works
1. Contact your plan administrator, bank, insurance company, or other financial institution to request a beneficiary designation form. (Some institutions allow you to do this online.)
2. Fill out the form, sign it, and mail it back to your administrator, banker, agent, or broker.
3. Continue to freely use your account. When it is not needed anymore, the account or policy will be paid or transferred to Riverfield according to your beneficiary designation.

Benefits to You
- It costs you nothing today.
- Reduce the burden of taxes on your family and heirs. (You can save heirs up to 65% tax on your retirement asset gifts.)
- Reduce or avoid probate fees.
- Receive an estate tax charitable deduction.

If you have owned any publicly traded securities for more than one year and it has appreciated, you can transfer it to Riverfield. When you donate stock or securities, you can receive a charitable deduction and typically avoid any capital gains tax on the gift.

How to Donate Stock to Riverfield
1. Choose what type of stock and how many shares you want to donate.
2. Consult your financial advisor regarding the impact on your taxes.
3. Contact your financial institution to request the transfer of stock.
4. Contact Director of Giving Clint Rataczak to inform us of your generous gift.

You can make a lasting difference with your retirement account. If you are 70½ or older and have an IRA, you are eligible to take advantage of this simple way of giving and can receive tax benefits in return.

If you are 70½ or older, you can make a tax-free, charitable gift of up to $111,000 per year directly from your IRA. This is known as a qualified charitable distribution (QCD). It is not recognized as taxable income, which can reduce your taxes. If you are 73 or older, your QCD can count toward your required minimum distribution (RMD).

Simply complete this distribution form and send it to your custodian. Your QCD is sent directly to Riverfield, ensuring our mission is continued. We will send you an acknowledgement letter to thank you for your generosity and to use for your taxes.

Charitable gift annuities (CGAs) allow you to make a lasting difference while receiving financial stability. You make a charitable donation to Riverfield, and, in turn, you receive regular fixed payments for life for you and/or someone you designate. It is easy to set up, and you will receive tax benefits as well.

How it Works
1. You donate cash or property to Riverfield and sign an annuity agreement. This outlines who will receive the fixed payments and the dollar amount for each payment. (You may receive a charitable income tax deduction for the charitable gift portion of the annuity.)
2. In return, we promise to provide you with fixed payments for the rest of your life. (These payments may be partially tax-free.)
3. After you or someone you designate passes away, any remaining balance is given to Riverfield.

Benefits to You
- You want to receive a fixed income for life and are approaching retirement. (If you are under 65, you can set up a deferred charitable gift annuity.)
- You want to reduce your current income taxes with a charitable deduction.
- You want to leave a legacy while ensuring your personal financial security.

You can ensure your loved ones are taken care of and the causes near to your heart are supported for years to come with a charitable trust. You can make your assets work for you and your family while supporting Riverfield's mission.

Charitable Remainder Trust
A charitable remainder trust (CRT) is a type of irrevocable trust that ensures the charities you choose and the ones you love are provided for and supported. It is a tax-exempt trust that pays income to you and/or your beneficiaries for a set period or for life. After all payments have been made, the remaining assets in the trust are distributed to the charitable organization(s) of your choice.

You can transfer assets such as cash, securities, or real estate into a CRT. When you set up a CRT, you may be eligible to receive an income tax deduction and a reduction (or elimination) of gift and estate taxes on trust assets. However, once assets are transferred to the trust, the trustee of your choice will manage the trust as specified in the trust documents.

Charitable Lead Trust
A charitable lead trust (CLT) is a type of irrevocable trust that provides for the future of Riverfield while taking care of your family. This type of trust pays income to the charity of your choice for a set number of years. After all payments have been made, the remaining assets are distributed to you and/or your beneficiaries, such as family members or loved ones.

When you set up a CLT, you may be eligible for an income tax deduction and gift tax savings. However, once assets are transferred to the trust, the trustee of your choice will manage the trust as specified in the trust documents.

A revocable living trust is an estate planning tool that ensures your personal, financial, and philanthropic goals are met. You can create it alongside a will, allowing for more flexibility in asset distribution and guaranteeing your wishes are met.

A living trust differs from a will in that it becomes effective immediately, avoids probate, and is private. The ownership of your assets does not change while you are living, so you can use them during life as you would like. You get to decide the terms of the trust: who will be a successor trustee, who will inherit the assets of the trust (individuals and/or charities), when they will receive the assets, and any special provisions for family members with needs. You can add to or remove from the trust as you wish, making it flexible through each stage of life.

Additionally, this type of trust can allow you to avoid estate taxes and receive other tax benefits, depending on the terms of the trust. Donating to charity through a living trust could offer you great tax savings while leaving a legacy.

A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a separately identified fund or account that is managed by a charitable organization, like a charitable savings account. The account holds contributions, cash, or non-cash assets made by an individual. The donor is able to make direct contributions from the DAF to the qualified charities of their choice.

How to set up a DAF
1. Fill out this information form through Tulsa Community Foundation.
2. Follow the instructions on the form and make an initial, irrevocable gift of cash or non-cash assets. (The minimum to establish a DAF is $5,000.)
3. You choose which charities will receive gifts from your DAF.

Ways to give through your DAF
- Recommend a grant from your DAF through your fund administrator.
- OR: Set up recurring grants from your DAF.
- OR: Name Riverfield as the beneficiary of your DAF.

Gifts to financial aid support Riverfield's belief that all children should have access to education that ignites adventure, inspires inquiry, and builds excellence. Click here to give and select Financial Aid to designate your gift. 

Donors may also consider giving to the Opportunity Scholarship Fund to provide support for Riverfield students and families.