For those who are unfamiliar, planned giving is simply the process of making a deliberate and well thought out charitable gift of one's estate assets to a non-profit organization. Essentially, it allows a donor to make a gift while achieving personal financial goals. Every year, donors discover the positive benefits of remembering Pacific Historic Parks through their estate planning and planned giving.

Almost always, these types of donations require the assistance of a financial advisor or attorney to insure that the donor receives the greatest tax benefits possible, and in some cases to assist in the completion of legal documents.

Planned gifts take two different forms: a gift made during a donor's lifetime in which the donor receives a tax benefit at the time of the donation, and legacy gifts in which the charity is provided for via an individual's will. Wisely planned charitable giving allows for the aboidance of captial gains tax or estate tax. While the idea of planned giving may sound daunting, it really is quite simple, offering the donor many advantages, and can be accomplished in a myriad of different ways.

Please refer to the chart on the next page to see which planned giving option may best suit your individual needs. A discussion of each of these options follows the chart, or you can simply call the Development office or your tax planner for more information. Click here to view (to download PDF. right click link and save as) a PDF document with sample bequest language.

Donors who include Pacific Historic Parks in their estate plans are honored with inclusion in the Pearl Harbor Legacy Society. A listing of our current members can be found here on our website. If you would like to be included in this society, please click here to view (to download PDF. right click link, and save as) a PDF document with further information. You can also call our office at 1-866-332-1941 to discuss the Pearl Harbor Legacy Society or to answer your other planned giving questions.

Option details.

GIFTS OF SECURITIES OR STOCKS: allow a donor to donate stock that has been owned for at least one year, to the PHP. Many tax advantages may be possible with a stock donation. Donation of appreciated stock that is transferred to PHP, as opposed to sold and the proceeds donated, allows a donor to avoid capital gains on profit gained while receiving the full tax deduction for fair market value of the gift. As always, check with your financial advisor for sage handling of your financial assets.

GIFTS THROUGH LIVING TRUSTS OR WILLS: one of the most common ways to assist in funding the important programs of Pacific Historic Parks. A bequest through a will or living trust allows a donor to direct that a specific amount, or a portion of what remains in the estate after providing for loved ones, be dedicated to PHP. It is as simple as adding the following to your codicil, will, or living trust: “I give Pacific Historic Parks, located at Honolulu, HI, (Federal Tax ID # 99-0194501), the sum of $________, or _______% of my estate for its chosen purposes.” To make a charitable bequest to the PHP is to remind the world of your commitment to the memory of the events of December 7, 1941.

GIFT OF LIFE INSURANCE: is a particularly flexible means of funding a charitable contribution to the PHP. In many cases, an insurance policy purchased many years ago which may no longer be needed for its original purposes, can be a meaningful way of carrying out a charitable gift. While there are several other ways of making a gift to PHP through life insurance, it is important to know that state laws regulate insurance policies which can affect the deductibility of donations for purposes of federal income tax.

Other options for gifts to Pacific Historic Parks include Gift Annuities, Charitable Remainder Trusts, and Charitable Lead Trusts. In the case of a GIFT ANNUITY: the donor can make a gift to charity and receive regular payments to supplement income for life. This is basically a contract in which PHP, in exchange for assets, agrees to pay a fixed payment to the donors or other income beneficiary over their lifetime.

CHARITABLE REMAINDER TRUST: the donor contributes appreciated property to a trust that will sell the property tax-free, and make payments for life. Charitable Remainder Trusts actually provide for two sets of beneficiaries; the first set is usually the donor whom receives a percentage of income for life; the second beneficiary is the PHP which receives the principal of the trust after the first set of beneficiaries passes on. A Charitable Remainder Trust can be ideal for a situation where the asset was originally of low cost but now has a highly appreciated value.

CHARITABLE LEAD TRUST: is essentially a reverse Charitable Remainder Trust. In this case, PHP is the income beneficiary receiving income over the life of the donor. After the owner’s death, the named heirs receive the extent of the trust’s assets. Both kinds of trusts have the benefit of offering current income tax deductions and also capital gains tax reductions. As in all of these examples, please check with your advisor to see if either of these planned giving options offers a tax advantage to you. Please contact our office toll free at (866)332-1941 ext. 23 with any questions or to request paperwork to become a member of the Pearl Harbor Legacy Society.

Pacific Historic Parks, is a 501(c)(3) organization. Your donation is tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Federal Tax ID #99-0194501