Why Make a Planned Gift to the NYC Chapter?
About the Lawry Circle
Benefits of Membership
How to join the Lawry Circle
National MS Society Charitable Gift Annuities & Pooled Income Fund
Charitable Remainder Trust
A Gift of Life Insurance
WHY MAKE A PLANNED GIFT TO THE CHAPTER?
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society works tirelessly to prevent, treat and cure MS. You can be assured that all New York City, Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Orange and Sullivan county residents living with MS will always have a place to turn for the support they need thanks to planned gifts to the New York City - Southern New York Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society through membership in the Lawry Circle.
To learn more about planned giving to the National MS Society, click here.
THE LAWRY CIRCLE
The Lawry Circle is a group of generous and caring individuals who have included a gift for the New York City - Southern New York Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in their estate plans. This includes people who have bequests in their wills for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, as well as those who participate in our Pooled Income Fund and Charitable Gift Annuity programs - gifts that provide them and their loved ones with income for life before a gift passes to the Society. It also includes those who have made the Society the beneficiary of a life insurance policy or of an IRA or other retirement plan funds.
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
The most meaningful benefit of belonging to the Lawry Circle for most people is the feeling of personal satisfaction they enjoy when they have taken steps to help assure future financial support toward a world free of MS.
For many, the substantial tax benefits allowed by the IRS for such commitments are also important and allow our benefactors to give much more than would otherwise be possible. When members leave bequests to the MS Society in their wills, their estates pay no estate taxes on the amounts passing to us. For those who support us via the Pooled Income Fund, Charitable Gift Annuity, or other type of irrevocable life-income plan, there are current income tax charitable deductions available as well as the avoidance of long-term capital gains taxes.
Members are also invited to special lectures, tours of research laboratories, seminars and receptions.
HOW TO JOIN THE LAWRY CIRCLE
There are many ways you might wish to consider joining this important group of supporters of our work:
Bequest in your will
There is no minimum amount required to be a member of the Lawry Circle. All bequests are important to us regardless of size, and are gratefully received. To make a bequest commitment, simply ask your attorney to revise your current will to include one of the following:
A bequest of a specific amount
I hereby give and bequeath to the New York City - Southern New York Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for the amount of $_____ to be used for its general purposes.
A bequest of a percentage of your estate
I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to the New York City - Southern New York Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society ___% of my estate to be used for its general purposes.
A bequest of whatever remains after all other bequests have been made
I hereby give, devise and bequeath to the New York City - Southern New York Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society my residuary estate (or ___% of my residuary estate) to be used for its general purposes.
A bequest only if certain other beneficiaries predecease you
In the event that ________________________ is not living at the time of my death, or declines to accept the bequest I am making to him/her, I wish his/her bequest to pass to the New York City - Southern New York Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to be used for its general purposes.
Please be sure to also include our address:
The National MS Society- New York City - Southern New York Chapter
733 Third Ave., Third Floor
New York, NY 10017
CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY
For those who prefer a fixed payout from a charitable life-income plan, the Charitable Gift Annuity or Deferred Payment Gift Annuity are popular ways of supporting our future. Gift Annuity rates range from 5.5% to 11.5% depending on the age of the income recipient. If two people are receiving the lifetime payments, the rates are a bit lower. The same amount is paid to the income recipients each and every year for as long as they live. The Deferred Payment Gift Annuity enables one to make a gift now, and defer receiving the income until a later date - at retirement for example. This increases the payout as well as the immediate income tax deduction that is allowed for such gifts. Income beneficiaries must be at least 50 years of age when payments are to begin. For income beneficiaries between the ages of 50 and 60, the minimum gift amount is $10,000. For those beneficiaries who are 60 or older when the payments begin, the minimum gift amount is $5,000.
POOLED INCOME FUND
If you would like to make a future gift to the Chapter, but would like to retain the right to receive income, consider our Pooled Income Fund. The PIF makes quarterly income payments to participants for their lifetime. Currently our PIF is paying a 5% return to participants. That is no guarantee of future payments and the PIF pays a variable income from year to year, but it is our objective to have the Fund invested to provide a modest income to our supporters while still providing an opportunity for future growth of the Fund. Donors to the PIF enjoy income, capital gains and estate tax benefits. A minimum gift of $5,000 or $10,000, depending on the age of the person who will receive the income is required. You must be 50 years of age or older to make a gift to our fund.
CHARITABLE REMAINDER TRUSTS
You may also wish to consider establishing your own individual charitable trust that would benefit you and your family first, and then provide support to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Your own Charitable Remainder Unitrust or Annuity Trust could provide you with the flexibility your planning needs require making it possible for you to be a more generous philanthropist without sacrificing personal and family goals.
A GIFT OF LIFE INSURANCE
Either an old policy you no longer need, or a new one taken out especially for this purpose, might make a great gift for the fight against MS. To make the New York City - Southern New York Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society the beneficiary of an existing policy, you simply need to complete a change of beneficiary form. To give the policy itself to us, ask for an assignment of ownership form from the insurance company and fill it out. Please let us know in advance of doing either. A new policy can be assigned to the New York City - Southern New York Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society after you make the first premium payment. In some cases, there can be significant income and estate tax advantages for making a gift in this way.
For more information about planning a gift to the New York City - Southern New York Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, please contact Lisa Jakobsberg, Executive Vice President of Development at lisa.jakobsberg@nmss.org or 212-453-3267.