DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS

An Unbroken Chain of Duty

DIRECT GIVING TO THE ORDER

Here are methods of direct contributions:

1) Set up a recurring donation through Zelle, Venmo, or PayPal

For more information, contact us via email at info@co-masonry.org or phone at (303) 681-2028.

Your contribution is processed by The American Federation of Human Rights, the corporate branch of Universal Co-Masonry. 100% of your tax-deductible gift will go directly to the program(s) that you designate with your contribution. The thank you letter we send you has the information needed to receive your charitable deduction.

Contributions can be sent to:

The American Federation of Human Rights
Attn: Office of the Treasury
P.O. Box 70
Larkspur, CO 80118

WILLS AND BEQUESTS

The Honorable Order of Universal Co-Masonry receives bequests from those who believe in its mission and wish to have the Order benefit from their estates. Your will might state that the Order is to receive:

• a percentage of your estate or specific securities, real estate, or other property;
• a bequest of all of or a portion of your estate after the payment of specific amounts to other beneficiaries;
• or a bequest to take effect only if the primary beneficiaries do not survive you.

Sample bequest language: "I give, devise, and bequeath to The American Federation of Human Rights, a nonprofit corporation located in Larkspur, Colorado, the sum of $_____ (or ___ percent of my estate; or the property described herein) for its general purposes as such shall be determined by its Board of Trustees."

Residuary bequest language: "All the rest, residue, and remainder of my property, both real and personal, and whosesoever situated, I give, devise, and bequeath to The American Federation of Human Rights, a nonprofit corporation located in Larkspur, Colorado, for its general purposes as such shall be determined by its Board of Trustees.”

CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITIES

An "American Federation of Human Rights" gift annuity allows you to make a meaningful gift to the Press while perhaps increasing your income for life. There are immediate and long-term tax advantages, including a federal income tax deduction in the year you make the gift.

Year-end gifts of appreciated stock to the Order is another increase giving while minimizing capital gains taxes. In a typical scenario, an investor (usually the annuitant) will make a single cash premium to own an annuity. After the policy is issued, the owner may elect to annuitize the contract (start receiving payments) for a chosen period of time (e.g., 5, 10, 20 years, a lifetime). This process is called annuitization and can also provide a predictable, guaranteed stream of future income during retirement until the death of the annuitant (or joint annuitants). If you are interested, more information on Annuities can be found here.

GIFTS OF STOCKS OR BONDS

The American Federation of Human Rights welcomes gifts of appreciated securities for scholarships or any of its academic programs. If you are planning to create a Charitable Gift Annuity or Charitable Remainder Trust, or give to the Pooled Income Fund, consider funding your gift with appreciated assets rather than cash.

Giving assets directly, instead of selling the asset and donating the proceeds, offers wonderful savings to the donor. Donating appreciated assets avoids capital gains taxes at the time you establish the trust, while the charitable deduction for the donated interest is calculated from the full market value of the stock.

You may arrange with your broker to transfer gifts of stock to the The American Federation of Human Rights through your Charitable Trust, Annuity, or Pooled Income Fund. If you are interested, more information can be found here on Charitable Trusts, Charitable Gift Annuities, and Pooled Income Funds.

RETIREMENT PLAN GIFTS

Using a retirement plan to fund a gift to The American Federation of Human Rights can often be a wise financial decision.

Retirement plan funds — individual retirement accounts (IRAs), 401(k) plans, Keogh plans, and others — are subject to federal, and sometimes state, estate tax. They are also subject to income tax, whether the recipient of the fund is you or an heir. Careful planning can minimize, or even eliminate, the taxes due on retirement plan assets during life and at death.

If you are interested, more information on Retirement Plan Gifts can be found here.

LIFE INSURANCE GIFTS

The contribution of a Life Insurance Policy, whether existing or a new one, provides useful tax incentives as well as the opportunity to create a substantial gift, perhaps at a level that otherwise would be impossible.

Two ways to make the Press a beneficiary of your life insurance policy:

Name "The American Federation of Human Rights" as primary beneficiary to receive part or all of a policy or name "The American Federation of Human Rights" as secondary beneficiary to receive part or all of a policy should the primary beneficiary predecease you. If you are interested, more information on Life Insurance Gifts can be found here.

GIFTS OF REAL ESTATE

Several ways to give real estate are available. One popular option is "Retained Life Interest." In this case, the donor deeds his or her home to "The American Federation of Human Rights" but retains responsibility for the property, and the right to live there for the rest of his or her life. Your tax advisor will calculate the value of the remainder interest in the property, which can be used for an immediate income tax deduction. In addition, no capital gains tax is paid on the appreciated value.

A Charitable Lead Trust of real estate that yields income gives the donor the chance to leave property to heirs with a reduced transfer tax cost by allowing The American Federation of Human Rights to use the income for a period of years. The property is transferred into an irrevocable trust, with The American Federation of Human Rights receiving the income from the trust.

For more information on Gifts of Real Estate click here.