Legacy Society, Summer 2012 Newsletter

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HABITAT FOR HUMANITY GREATER SAN FRANCISCO INC 645 HARRISON ST STE 201 SAN FRANCISCO CA 94107-3624

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Summer 2012

A Bold Vision—and an Invitation To Join Our Legacy Society

CONTACT us at (415) 625-1015 or kleja@habitatgsf.org to learn how we can put your generous gifts to good use.

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VISIT www.habitatgsf.org for more information about the many ways you can support Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco.

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RETURN the attached reply card for a FREE copy of A Personal Record: Estate Planning You Can Do at Home.

A Personal Reco rd Estate Planning You Can Do at Hom e

Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco is blessed to have very generous and loyal investors like you. Our supporters have demonstrated a personal commitment to ending the cycle of poverty through building safe, decent and affordable ownership housing since our founding in 1989. Today, we hope you will consider a different type of gift—a special gift to Habitat Greater San Francisco through your estate plans.

Steps You Can Take Right Now

Your will reflects the time when it was created. Many people plan to update their wills but often fail to do it. You can always change your will by adding a codicil (an amendment), but how do you know when to change it? Here are some circumstances that make it vital to update your will: • You want to name a different personal representative, trustee or guardian.

• Your estate has increased or decreased significantly.

• Your situation or a beneficiary’s situation has changed. Families change because of marriage, divorce, birth, adoption and death.

• You want to include a charitable gift in your will. If you wish to remember Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco in your will, consider leaving us a percentage of your estate.

In 15 Minutes Or Less…

When Should I Update My Will?

645 Harrison Street, Suite 201 San Francisco, CA 94107

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Future

In recent years, we have found that many of our loyal donors are considering ways to perpetuate their giving beyond their lifetime. In response to this, we are proud to introduce this special newsletter, Building the Future, which will focus on the variety of ways you can help the cause you care most about through charitable estate and gift planning. Habitat Greater San Francisco is pleased to invite you to join the Legacy Society today.

It is apparent that the work to eliminate poverty housing will continue beyond our lifetimes. That is why we want to encourage you to join the Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco Legacy Society and include Habitat Greater San Francisco in your estate plans, which ensures that your lifetime support of our mission can continue far into the future.

My wife, Kelley, and I have committed to preserving affordable housing by including Habitat Greater San Francisco in our estate plans. As you read this newsletter please consider the ways in which you can join my family, and many more, to provide a “hand-up” to low-income families for years to come.

With gratitude,

What’s Inside: Phillip Kilbridge Executive Director P.S. If you have already generously included Habitat in your estate plans—thank you!

We are honored by your generosity.

• Our 2020 Vision Plan • The Many Ways You Can Make a Lasting Difference • When Should I Update My Will?

Discover How to Control The Future of Your Assets

The Many Ways You Can Make a Lasting Difference Find the Option That Works for You

As the housing industry begins to shake off the worst economic conditions in decades, Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco is emerging as a visionary leader with a bold plan to revitalize local neighborhoods and bring stability to hundreds of local families living in Marin, San Francisco and the Peninsula.

Habitat Greater San Francisco is responding with an ambitious 2020 Vision Plan that will achieve the following in the next eight years alone, positioning the organization for success well into the future: • Land acquisition and green construction of 400 new Habitat homes. Multi-family and condominium homes for and with qualifying families.

• Renovation of an additional 200 homes in Habitat communities.

Physical rehabilitation and safety improvements of blighted properties in neighborhoods hit hardest by the foreclosure crisis.

• Revitalization of 50 neighborhood facilities. Upgrade of parks, schools and community centers to benefit tens of thousands of local community members.

Your support is important to us and continues to make our work possible.

❏ Please send me A Personal Record: Estate Planning You Can Do at Home.

If you have any questions about opportunities for giving to Habitat Greater San Francisco, or the benefits you can receive for doing so, contact us today at (415) 625-1015 or kleja@habitatgsf.org.

A Personal Rec ord Estate Planning You Can Do at Home

❏ I’ve included Habitat Greater San Francisco in my estate plans.

Our Mission Statement Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco partners with working families and engages the community to build affordable ownership housing. An independently funded affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, Habitat Greater San Francisco was founded in 1989 to provide a solution to our community’s need for decent and affordable housing.

The organization builds simple houses through volunteer labor, the “sweat equity” of partner families, and community investment of money and materials. The program offers a hand up, not a handout for families with low incomes.

To qualify for a Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco home, families must: • Complete at least 500 hours of “sweat equity” to build their own home; • Qualify for an interest-free mortgage; • And participate in a homeownership education program.

© The Stelter Company. The information in this publication is not intended as legal advice. For legal advice, please consult an attorney. Figures cited in examples are for hypothetical purposes only and are subject to change. References to estate and income taxes include federal taxes only. State income/estate taxes or state law may impact your results.

❏ I’d like more information about estate and gift planning.

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❏ I have a question. Please contact me by: ❏ phone; best time to call: __________ a.m./p.m. ❏ email.

Thank you for supporting our important mission!

Name—Please print.

Telephone

Email

Address

City, State

ZIP

We respect your privacy! Information collected here will be kept strictly confidential. It will not be sold, rented, loaned or otherwise disclosed, and it will not be used in ways to which you have not consented.

Photo credit: Shawn Clark

Our 2020 Vision Plan

This generosity is often a thank-you for assistance received in the past, an expression of compassion for a mission that touched someone’s heart or the result of witnessing the inspiring story of someone in need.

Your options for giving are almost as abundant as your reasons for giving. Here are just a few of the ways you can support our mission to help people in need of hope well into the future.

• Donate cash today: You can give a little every year or one lump sum to help us provide operational necessities.

• Include us in your will: Cash or property that you designate in your

will can help future generations.

• Establish a charitable gift annuity: When you donate cash or marketable securities, which in turn provide you with fixed payments for life, you truly give and receive.

• Donate life insurance: You can easily support our mission by naming us as a beneficiary on a policy you already own.

• Consider your retirement plan assets: By making a simple designation on your beneficiary designation form, you can save your loved ones from a heavy tax burden.

• Give property: If you have a house or another piece of property you no longer want to manage, you can use it to help us continue our important work.

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As you grow older, you begin to realize many of the good things in this world are a result of people opening their hearts.

“ When I was drafting my will, I thought, ‘I want to make a profound impact on a cause that I care deeply about.’ I included a bequest to Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco because I’ve witnessed the effect this program has on the lives of partner families and the volunteers who work beside them.”

—Mara Feeney, former Habitat board member

status. If you’re married, you can give the bulk of your money to your spouse, either outright or in a trust, and also make plans in the event your spouse does not survive you.

If you have children, you can give your money to them in equal or unequal shares, or you can create a trust for their benefit.

If you’re single, you may have children or grandchildren to think about or nieces or nephews you would like to remember. You may also want part of your estate to go to parents, brothers or sisters.

■C haritable bequests. A gift to us can take many forms, including a specific amount of money, a particular asset or a percentage of your estate.

■S pecial assets. Do you have jewelry, art objects or other prized possessions you would like to give to someone who would enjoy having them? Then say so in your will.

■P ower of appointment. If your late spouse or parent created any trusts for your lifetime benefit, you may have the right to dispose of part or all of the remainder, provided you refer specifically to this power in your own will.

■M arital

Meet With an Estate Planning Attorney.

Once you have completed the inside chart and the disposition list at right, you are ready to meet with your attorney for important counsel and the drafting of necessary documents.

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Disposition of Estate 1. To spouse Descriptions of assets _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ 2. To other beneficiaries (besides spouse) Descriptions of assets/names and relationships of beneficiaries _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ 3. To a contingent beneficiary if the above beneficiaries do not survive you Description of asset/name and relationship of beneficiary _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ 4. To charitable organizations Descriptions of assets or dollar amounts/names and addresses of charitable organizations _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ 5. Residue of estate Names and addresses of charitable organizations and other beneficiaries; percentages allocated _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ E printed on recycled paper The information in this publication is not intended as legal advice. For legal advice, please consult an attorney. Figures cited in examples are for hypothetical purposes only and are subject to change. References to estate and income taxes include federal taxes only. State income/estate taxes or state law may impact your results.

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645 Harrison Street, Suite 201 San Francisco, CA 94107 Kristine Leja Senior Director of Development (415) 625-1015 kleja@habitatgsf.org www.habitatgsf.org

A Personal Record Estate Planning You Can Do at Home

Organizing Your Estate Plans

An Easy 3-Step Guide When estate planning is mentioned, most people think of a will. A will ensures that your wishes are carried out after your lifetime. But a good estate plan can include various instruments that benefit you and the people and causes you care about most, today as well as after your lifetime.

How Much Are You Really Worth?

Fortunately, most people find they have much more in their estate than they thought when they account for savings, employer and personal life insurance, retirement plan benefits, and perhaps even a future inheritance. To get your planning started, begin with the following three steps.

Owned by you alone Assets

Owned by your spouse

Owned jointly (or in community)

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$

$

$

$

$

Total liabilities

$

$

$

NET ESTATE (subtract total liabilities from total assets)

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$

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Residence Other real estate Bank accounts, certificates of deposit, money market funds Stocks, bonds, mutual funds

Make an Inventory of Your Assets.

This will help you estimate your estate’s exposure to taxes. If you are married, be sure to include your spouse’s assets and all jointly owned or community property. Use the current market value for everything you own and the face value (not cash value) for any life insurance.

The chart at right is an easy way to list your figures.

Don’t strive for exact amounts; round numbers will do.

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By completing a solid estate plan today, you’re creating a road map for your loved ones to follow later, when they need it most.

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Closely held business interests Partnership ventures Notes, mortgages owed to you Retirement funds Life insurance face value Furniture, jewelry, collections, etc.

Automobiles, boats, etc.

Annuities, revocable trusts Other assets Total assets

Decide Where You Want Your Property to Go. Once you’ve made an inventory of your property, you’re ready to decide where you want it to go. See Pages 6–7 for a list of things you should consider first and a form to help you organize your plans.

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Liabilities Mortgages Loans, installment debts Current bills Taxes owed All other liabilities