Charitable Remainder Trusts

Susan and Fred know what hard work is all about. And they have the rewards as a result.

Susan: "I think of myself as one of the lucky ones. A lot of my friends were pure urban kids. They didn't really know about nature and trees until they went away to school or later in life when they moved out of the city.

I grew up outside of the city and had the opportunity to learn about the environment and it led to my career. Did it make a difference? Only in every aspect of my life!

Urban children planting a tree

Fred: "We know how important sustaining our environment is, and we know how difficult it is for them to maintain their facilities, get their message out, and get volunteers trained and organized."

Susan: "We benefited because they had been supported by others before us - but now we can give back. And what a joy it is to know that when we no longer need it, part of it is going to someone who does. It's awesome - we are changing lives!"

Fred: "That's why Susan and I made the decision. Not only will the trust provide income to us throughout our lifetimes, but we have peace of mind knowing that the remainder will benefit an organization that's doing really good work."

There are two different types of charitable remainder trusts.

A charitable remainder unitrust (see example) is a popular way to achieve tax benefits as well as a fixed annual percentage on the value of the assets in the trust. The assets are revalued annually and, if the trust value changes, the payment to the beneficiary(ies) changes.

A charitable remainder annuity trust is set up to pay a fixed rate of return based on the initial valuation at the time the property is placed in the trust. The trust assets are never revalued.

Some additional information on charitable remainder trusts is also available. Charitable Remainder Trusts provide a good degree of flexibility that is valuable in charitable gift planning. For example, a variation on remainder trusts can be an effective way to make gifts of real estate. A graphic example of a charitable remainder trust is available.

Susan and Fred are happy that they have made a difference; a difference that will have a profound impact on the lives of others.