One of the most common ways to give to Bentley is to make a gift of cash by writing a check or using a credit card. An outright gift of cash has an immediate impact at Bentley and is tax-deductible. A gift of cash also may be set up to provide income for life.

If you have owned appreciated securities for more than one year, an outright gift of those securities is one of the most tax-advantaged ways to make a gift, because it creates two tax benefits – an income tax charitable deduction and an elimination of capital gains tax. A gift of securities also may be set up to provide income for life.

If you are 70½ or older, and plan to make a gift to a charitable organization such as Bentley, you may find that using your IRA to make a “Qualified Charitable Distribution,” or QCD, can be a more attractive option than writing a check or using a credit card.

We can help you find an excellent way to make a tax-smart gift with your retirement plan assets. You might decide to make a current gift with an IRA charitable rollover or make Bentley a beneficiary of all or part of your plan’s remaining assets. You can even use those remaining assets to create a life income plan for a loved one.

Real estate gifts may be made to Bentley in a variety of ways, preserving your cash assets and providing income, capital gains and possibly estate tax advantages. The real estate gift that’s right for you may give you income for life, a lump sum or the use of your home for the rest of your life.

If you have life insurance that you no longer need, you actually have a valuable asset for making a charitable gift. A gift of life insurance is an easy way for you to provide generous current or future support to Bentley. You can give your paid-up policy, or keep your policy and make your gift later by naming Bentley a beneficiary.