considering your planned gift
Planned giving allows donors to invest in the future of the community they love, and Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky is uniquely positioned to assist you. Review the information below as you consider establishing your gift and contact us with any questions about how we can help you strategically accomplish your future financial and charitable objectives.
Who can make a planned gift?
Anyone with a desire to give can make a planned gift. Generally, donors give assets like IRAs, securities, real estate, insurance benefits, and cash. Many are surprised to learn how easy it is to create a lasting legacy that can preserve the family name, honor loved ones, support a favorite nonprofit, minimize tax burdens and/or support the community they call home. Bequests to Horizon Community Funds are exempt from estate taxes.
What good work can I do with my planned gift?
You can support the arts, enrich education for our youth, protect the environment, provide food, clothing and shelter, or foster economic development. The options are limitless as long as the purpose is charitable in nature. Often donors find it most satisfying to provide a gift with flexibility. By making an unrestricted or field of interest gift, you ensure that your gift will provide the maximum benefit to the community. It will be used to respond to the prevalent needs of the community generation after generation. Your planned gift can be directed to any of Horizon Community Funds’ existing funds or, with a bequest or gift of at least $25,000 ($50,000 for scholarship funds), a new named fund can be established.
How will the proceeds of my fund be used to benefit the community?
Horizon Community Funds will invest the principal of your gift and make grants from the earnings annually. If your gift creates unrestricted capacity, Horizon Community Funds will use the annual distribution to make impact grants that align with pressing needs or compelling opportunities. Funds for specific nonprofits will be distributed directly to the agencies each year.
When should I include the gift in my estate plan?
Anytime you are drafting or changing your will or estate plan, you may want to consider charitable legacy gifts. Your financial or legal advisor can provide professional guidance related to your specific estate, beneficiaries, income goals, taxes, and other considerations.
How do I plan an estate gift?
Call your financial advisor, estate planner, or Horizon Community Funds staff. We provide confidential philanthropic services to prospective donors and their professional advisors, without pressure or obligation. Giving a planned gift is simple:
You include a bequest or planned gift to Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky in your will and notify us.
Upon your death, we establish a fund in the name you have chosen or direct your gift to the Horizon Community Funds fund that you have recommended.
How do I notify Horizon Community Funds of my planned gift?
The process is very simple. Once you have made provisions for naming Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky as a beneficiary, please complete a Statement of Intent that clarifies your commitment and communicates your wishes. Some donors also work with us to prepare a memorandum of understanding. While it is not required, it does allow you to further clarify your intent for your planned gift. As an additional alternative, some donors decide to establish a fund during their lifetime. It allows them to begin seeing the impact of their giving and serves as the repository of their future planned gift.
Contact us to learn more about how we can help support you with your charitable legacy.
Nancy Grayson, President
ngrayson@horizonfunds.org
859.757.1552