*Wills & Living Trusts

A bequest is a gift made through a will or trust and is an easy, practical way to make a financial contribution to PhilaLandmarks without affecting your current finances. A bequest may be made for a specific dollar amount or piece of property, for a percentage of your estate, or for part or all of what remains of the estate after other bequests are carried out.

Wills are of course essential and ensure you decide what happens to your property after your death. Adding a living trust to your estate planning for any portion of your assets helps you control those assets while you're still alive and helps heirs by avoiding delays or probate court after your death. Because you can specify the terms of a trust precisely, you can control when and to whom distributions may be made, to your children and any favorites charities.

Laws change / vary by state so you should work with a financial adviser or attorney who specializes in estate law.

*Beneficiary Designations

Beneficiary designations are easy and flexible. And they don’t require you to commit to making a gift in your will or estate. Beneficiary designations can be made by using IRAs and Retirement Plans; Life Insurance policies and Annuities.

To name PhilaLandmarks as a beneficiary:

1. Contact your retirement plan administrator, bank or financial institution for a change-of-beneficiary form.

2. Decide what percentage you would like us to receive and name us, along with the percentage you chose, on the beneficiary form.

3. Return the form to your financial institution.

Laws change / vary by state so you should work with a financial adviser or attorney who specializes in estate law.

*Charitable Remainder Trusts

If you have built a sizable estate and are looking for ways to receive both tax benefits and ongoing income payments, you may want to consider a charitable remainder trust (CRT).

Benefits of a charitable remainder trust include:

• Potential for a partial charitable income tax deduction

• Potential for increased income

• Up-front capital gains tax avoidance

There are two ways to receive payments with CRT’s:

An Annuity Trust pays you, each year, the same dollar amount you choose at the start. Your payments stay the same, regardless of fluctuations in trust investments.

A Unitrust pays you a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. The amount of your payments is redetermined annually. If the value of the trust increases, so do your payments. If the value decreases, however, so will your payments.

Laws change / vary by state so you should work with a financial adviser or attorney who specializes in estate law.

*Retirement Assets

Donors aged 70 ½ or older may contribute up to $100,000 to charity from their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). Such contributions may also qualify as required minimum distributions.

Ask your financial or tax advisor if this makes sense for your situation and needs. Laws change and vary by state so you should work with a financial adviser and an attorney that specializes in estate law.

*Real Estate

The gift of a home or other property is a unique and meaningful way to support PhilaLandmarks. You can enjoy the satisfaction of making such a gift during your lifetime—without affecting your current lifestyle—by a special arrangement called a retained life estate.

And a gift of real estate also helps you. When you give appreciated property you have held longer than one year, you qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction. This eliminates capital gains tax. And you no longer have to deal with that property's maintenance costs, property taxes or insurance.

Real estate can also be a valuable asset when used to fund either a charitable remainder trust or a charitable lead trust.

Laws change and vary by state so you should work with a financial adviser and an attorney specializing in estate law.

*Memorial & Tribute Gifts

If you have a loved one who is a history lover or has been impacted by PhilaLandmarks, establishing a memorial or tribute gift is a meaningful way to honor them while supporting the work of our mission. Your gift will be a lasting tribute to your loved one and make a difference in the lives of those we serve.

For example, if you decided to make a gift to PhilaLandmarks in your father's name using appreciated securities such as stocks or mutual funds, your father's legacy will live on at PhilaLandmarks and you will also received a federal income tax deduction and eliminate a capital gains tax on the securities. And depending on the size of your gift, you may also receive recognition at one of our houses.

Laws change and vary by state so you should work with a financial adviser and an attorney specializing in estate law.

Contact Us

Contact us for additional information on bequests or to ask questions or make an appointment to talk more about the different options and needs available for including PhilaLandmarks in your will or estate.

Letter of Intent

Please complete our Letter of Intent Form below, if you are considering including us in your estate plan or making a donation. Or if you have already done, please be sure you have included the following:

Legal Name: The Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks
Address: 321 S. 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Letter of Intent Form Printable PDF

Seek the Help of Advisors

Consult your financial, accounting and legal advisors who specialize in estate planning for details on how each of these options might best suits your needs. Information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice.

A copy of our most recently filed PhilaLandmarks Financial Report is available from the Charities Registry on the PA State Attorney General’s website.