Help keep the Legacy alive!
THE Legacy
In 1974 a group of women, now known as our Founding Mothers, started talking about the concept of a Women’s Center promoting the philosophy of “women helping women.”
While working to bring the Women’s Center to fruition, they started to notice that their phone number was often used as a lifeline for domestic violence victims.
In 1976 the urgency and critical nature of domestic abuse prompted the Founding Mothers to set their sights on a shelter for the women and children reaching out to them. After many years of looking, they were able to find a building in Norristown and in 1980 Laurel House was born.
The name “Laurel House” was selected because the Laurel is the state flower of Pennsylvania, and the word also signifies “victory”. In 1981, Laurel House was incorporated as a 501c-3 and approved as a member organization of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV).
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM OUR SURVIVORS
I am currently one of the lucky ones and my daughter got away from her abuser, but I would have never gotten through this without your program. I was amazed by the support I received. My counselor was so amazing and I know she is retired, but she taught me how to help my daughter in the best way possible. Thank you so much for your program.
After encouragement of a co-worker, I talked to Laurel House and began to tell my story and step out of some of the shadows. Your organization, with its dedicated volunteers and compassionate staff, became a lifeline during one of the most challenging periods of my life. Your commitment to helping those of us in need, without a hint of judgement, has made an indelible impact on my healing process, and I wanted to extend my heartfelt thanks.
FROM A SURVIVOR SUPPORT GROUP ATTENDEE
WHAT IS A PLANNED GIFT?
A Planned Gift is when a donor or potential donor creates a financial or estate plan in which they formally decide to give something of value to an organization during their lifetime or at death. Planned gifts are typically structured to provide financial benefits to both the donor and the charity, often through tax advantages and income streams.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO KEEP THE LEGACY ALIVE?
Make a
Planned
Gift to Laurel House and become a member of the Laurel House 1980 Legacy Society
Will or Estate Plan Bequests
Bequest Through Your Will or Revocable Trust
You can name a charitable organization as a beneficiary of your Will or Revocable Trust through a charitable bequest. This bequest can be a defined dollar amount or percentage of your estate and would be outlined in your estate documents. It is important to alert us of your charitable bequest so that we will be on the alert to look for your gift. In addition, informing us of your bequest plan allows us to sincerely thank you for your gift. Please note that these gifts are revocable, and you are not bound to continue with the charitable designation should your circumstances change.
Life Insurance Beneficiary Designations
You can name Laurel House as a/the beneficiary of your life insurance policy but retain ownership of the policy itself OR you can name Laurel House as the owner and beneficiary of your life insurance policy. If you name Laurel House as the owner and beneficiary, Laurel House will either elect to cash in the policy immediately to support the agency or keep the policy and put the proceeds to use at a future date. You may also take out a new policy and name Laurel House as the beneficiary of that policy.
Retirement Plan Beneficiary Designations
Retirement plans (such as IRAs, 401(k)s, and other qualified plans) provide a very simple way to make a future charitable gift. On your plan’s beneficiary designation form, you simply indicate the amount or percentage you would like to leave to Laurel House. The funds you designate to Laurel House will be distributed directly to the agency tax-free and outside your estate. Retirement plans are ideal to transfer to a charity such as Laurel House because of the tax burden they may carry if paid to non-charitable beneficiaries, including your child.
TAX EFFICIENT GIFTS THAT DONORS CAN GIVE NOW
Donor-Advised Fund Distribution
A donor-advised fund, or DAF, is like a charitable investment account for the sole purpose of supporting charitable organizations you care about. When you contribute cash, securities, or other assets to a donor-advised fund, you are generally eligible to take an immediate tax deduction. Then those funds can be invested for tax-free growth, and you can recommend grants to any eligible IRS-qualified public charity such as Laurel House.
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)
A distribution from an IRA made directly to Laurel House (not through a donoradvised fund and the donor must be over the age of 70 ½). This allows individuals to utilize their IRAs for their charitable giving objectives during their lifetime. QCDs can be a tax-efficient charitable giving strategy for individuals that must take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) since charitable gifts made from the IRA are excluded from the individual’s taxable income and satisfy a portion or 100% of an individual’s RMD (depending on the QCD and RMD amount).
Gift of Appreciated Stock
Rather than selling a stock that has gone up in value and incurring a gain or gifting the stock to a loved one who will then pay taxes on the gain, shares can be gifted directly to Laurel House. Laurel House can then sell the stock for the fair market value. The donor will get that amount as a charitable deduction for federal income purposes.
What is the Financial Benefit of the Planned Gift to the Donor?
Contributions/Gifts may provide a current income tax deduction, may avoid capital gains tax, and may reduce the amount of taxes owed by your estate. In contrast to cash, the full market value of contributions of appreciated property, like securities or real estate, may be considered a charitable deduction for tax purposes, and capital gains tax may be avoided on the transfer.
THE LAUREL HOUSE 1980 LEGACY SOCIETY
Do you have Laurel House in your will or estate plan already? If you have not shared your plans with us yet, we would like to thank you and welcome you to the 1980 Legacy Society.
We welcome our friends and family members who commit to our future support through a bequest, beneficiary designation or other planned gift. The 1980 Legacy Society benefits include: Membership Benefits
• Invitations to Special Events
• Listing on Website and Publications
• Legacy Certificate and Pin
Please contact the Laurel House Development Office at (610) 277-1860 or via email at development@laurel-house.org or visit our website at www.laurel-house.org. We will be pleased to provide more information.
Laurel House is a not-for-profit, tax exempt, charitable organizing as defined under the Internal Revenue Services code section 501(c)3. Tax Exemption Entity ID: 23-2172743. The official registration and financial information of Laurel House may be obtained from the PA Department of State by calling toll free within Pennsylvania 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.