Kesher L'olam

Kesher L'olam Legacy Program
As a not-for-profit 501(c)3, Temple Emanu-El relies on members of the community for support. Funds are always needed for critical needs such as upgrading our facilities and equipment along with maintaining educational programs for our youth and adults. Your tax-deductible contributions will help ensure the future of Temple Emanu-El.

Ways to Donate to Temple Emanu-El
By naming Temple Emanu-El in your will or living trust, you can make a difference in life for future generations. Leaving a gift in your will or trust allows you to retain full use of your assets during your lifetime, while making a significant difference in the Temple?s future. Plus, you will automatically become a member of Temple Emanu-El?s Kesher L?Olam?s donor recognition society. Here are some planned giving options for you to consider:

The Gift of Cash
Nothing could be easier than making a gift of cash to Temple Emanu-El. It is the most common gift and the one that you probably think of first. All cash donations are deductible, if you itemize in the year of the contribution, up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income. Any excess deductions can be carried forward for the next five years.

If you predict that your estate will be subject to estate tax at your death, keep in mind that the value also is removed from your future estate. It completely removes the estate tax on that asset. This savings reduces the net cost of your charitable gift.

Stocks, Bonds, Securities
Making a gift of stocks and other securities to Temple Emanu-El allows you to bypass all capital gains tax and receive a charitable tax deduction for the full market value of the asset. Appreciated securities that have risen in value and that you've held for more than one year are best gifted by transferring them. If you do that, you will pay no capital gains tax on the transaction and you can deduct the full market value.

The Gift of Retirement Plan Assets
IRA?s and other pension assets can be the most heavily taxed assets in your estate, yet they are tax exempt when given to Temple.

Like many Americans, you are probably aware that the accumulation of assets in your retirement plan is the basis for a financially secure future. To preserve your retirement assets for your lifetime, consider the benefits in using them in a totally different way.

Because our tax laws often subject retirement plan assets to the highest combined income and estate taxes, charitable donations of these assets may be the most efficient estate planning option.

Many techniques can be used to create generous charitable gifts for Temple, usually at your death, from retirement plan assets that could otherwise be subject to tax rates of nearly 65 percent. At the same time, you can pass more tax-favored assets to your family.

The simplest way to leave the balance of a retirement account to Temple after your lifetime is to list Temple Emanu-El as the beneficiary on the beneficiary form provided by your plan administrator.

The Gift of Tangible Personal Property
Many items of tangible personal property make suitable charitable gifts. The available tax deduction depends on whether or not Temple will use the property in a way that is related to its tax exempt purpose. Related use property is deductible at the full fair market value. The deduction for non-related use personal property is limited to the lesser of fair market value or the donor?s tax basis in the property.

The Gift of Real Estate
If you've owned your home or other real estate for a long time, no doubt that it has increased in value significantly. When you make an outright gift of real property held for more than one year, you obtain an income tax charitable deduction equal to the property?s full fair market value. This deduction lets you reduce the cost of making the gift and frees cash that otherwise would have been used to pay property taxes.

By donating the property to Temple you avoid capital gains tax on the property?s appreciation. Furthermore, the transfer is not subject to the gift tax and the gift reduces your taxable estate.

Your deduction for a gift of appreciated real estate in any year is generally limited to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income, with a five-year carryover of the unused deduction.

For real estate you've held only short term, your charitable deduction is limited to the property?s cost basis, but there's still no tax on the appreciation. The deduction may be claimed up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income, again with a five-year carryover for any excess value.

Your gift is usually effective when a properly executed deed under state law, suitable for recording, is delivered to Temple. The amount of real estate (if more than $5000) must be substantiated by a qualified appraisal of its fair market value.

The Gift of Life Insurance
You can fund a large gift at modest current costs by purchasing a life insurance policy and specifying the Temple as the beneficiary. Insurance premiums and cash surrender values can be made tax-deductible and the resulting gift can offset future estate tax obligations.

You may also own a life insurance policy that has a substantial cash surrender value, yet the original purpose for the protection may no longer apply. This policy can be a sort of hidden asset, available to be used for your philanthropic purposes. You can donate a life insurance policy to Temple or simply name the Temple as beneficiary. For the gift of a paid-up policy, you will receive an income tax deduction equal to the lesser of the cash value of the policy or the total premiums paid. The charitable deduction is reduced by any outstanding balance of a policy loan, which may also be considered additional taxable income.

To learn more or for specific questions, please email: endowment@templeemanuelsd.org