Buckelew Programs

We greatly appreciate your interest in supporting Buckelew Programs.

With four decades of success in working with individuals who have a mental illness, Buckelew Programs has gained a reputation for meeting the needs of our clients and their families in a holistic and caring way. Buckelew Programs serves hundreds of clients in the North Bay through its affordable housing, employment services and recovery support services.

We are only able to provide these services with financial support from donors like you.

Make a Gift by Check
Your donation is tax deductible (Tax ID# 23-7088977) and can be made payable to Buckelew Programs.

The mailing address is:
Buckelew Programs
900 Fifth Avenue Suite 150
San Rafael, CA 94901

Please include your name, address, telephone number and email address with your check. We will issue you an official acknowledgement letter as soon as your gift is received.

Give a Gift of Securities
Gifts of securities offer significant tax advantages, and are easy to transact.

Buckelew Endowment Fund
We have established the Buckelew Endowment Fund to which generous donors have already contributed. For more details about the purpose and parameters of the endowment CLICK here.

Matching Gifts
Many companies have matching-gift programs that allow you to make en even greater impact with your donation.  Contact your employer’s Human Resources Department to inquire if they have a matching program and to obtain the necessary documents or click on the link below.

If interested in making a planned gift or including Buckelew Programs in your will, please email jodyb@buckelew.org

• Bequests
• Gifts with Life Income
• Retirement Funds and Insurance Policies

Bequests

Bequests: Gifts Made Through Your Living Will or Trust
You can join supporters who have made the thoughtful decision to support Buckelew Programs (BP) through their estate plans.  Making these plans means that the services and programs that you have supported in your lifetime will continue to touch the thousands of people with mental illness for years to come.  It means you have a choice as to how your assets will be used, well into the future. 

Naming Buckelew Programs in Your Will:
You can make a gift to BP in your will by designating a specific dollar amount, a percentage of the estate, or a percentage of the remaining part of the estate (residual) after other distributions are made.  You can make this decision at any time.  If you do not have a will written yet, or have not reviewed it lately, these are excellent reasons to create or modify your will and discuss this potential sample language with your attorney:

“I give, bequeath, and devise (all or ____ percent of) the rest, residue and remainder of the property, both real and personal, wherever situated, which I may own or be entitled to at my death, to Buckelew Programs to be used for its general purposes.”

Gifts with Life Income

Gifts That Give Income for Life
Buckelew Programs (BP) offers a comprehensive planned giving program. Our staff works with donors and their advisors on many special ways of giving. If you would benefit from: payments for the rest of your life, an income tax deduction, and a reduction in capital gains tax and, if you would like to make a gift that will create a legacy for the future of BP, please review the gift options below.

Charitable Gift Annuity
A charitable gift annuity is a special giving arrangement where in return for an irrevocable gift of $10,000 or more, BP provides guaranteed, fixed payments to you and/or another person for the rest of your lives. The rate of your payments is based on your age when the gift is made and will not change. A portion of your annuity payments may be tax-free, depending on the specifics of the gift. A charitable gift annuity also entitles you to a partial income tax charitable deduction and may provide capital gains and estate tax benefits. After your lifetime, the remainder of your gift will support the work of BP.

Example:

Donor: One person, age 75
Amount of Gift: $20,000
Annuity Rate: 7.1%
Annual Annuity Payments: $1,420/year for the rest of her lifetime
Income tax charitable deduction: approximately $9,498.40

Figures are based on a gift made in July 2006. BP uses the annuity rates adopted by the American Council on Gift Annuities.

Charitable Remainder Trust
To be part of the BP Charitable Remainder Trust Program, you would make an irrevocable gift of $100,000 or more to establish a distinct trust fund in your name. All donors qualify for an income tax charitable deduction. If you make your gift with appreciated securities, you avoid the capital gains tax on long-term appreciation. With a charitable remainder unitrust, your payment rate is fixed at 5% or more, but the amount fluctuates based on the value of the trust each year. With a charitable remainder annuity trust, your payment amount is fixed at 5% or more and does not fluctuate through time. In both trusts, the income is taxed as ordinary income to you. Most importantly, you have established a legacy for Buckelew Programs.

Charitable remainder trusts may be customized to meet your personal and family objectives, particularly if you want to provide for a friend or family member during or after your life.

Example:

Donor: Two people, age 65
Amount of Gift: $100,000
Income Tax Charitable Deduction: approximately $35,397
Type of Gift: Appreciated stock- bi-pass capital gains
Payment Rate: 5%

First Year's Income: $5,000 in year one. For subsequent years, income is based on an annual revaluation, and income can increase or decrease.

The BP staff can prepare personalized, confidential gift examples for you. If you would like more information, please contact the Development Office.

Pooled Income Fund
To participate in the BP Pooled Income Fund, you would make an irrevocable gift of $5,000 or more, in return for shares in the fund. Your gift and that of others is invested in the Pooled Income Fund for the duration of your life. You will receive the income earned by the fund in proportion to the number of shares you own. All donors qualify for an income tax charitable deduction. If you make your gift with appreciated securities, you avoid the capital gains tax. Your annual income will fluctuate based on the fund performance. The income is taxed as ordinary income to you. Most importantly, you have established a legacy for BP.

Example:

Donor: One person, age 60
Amount of Gift: $10,000
Income Tax Charitable Deduction: approximately $5,178.30
Payment Rate: Variable, based on earnings

First Year's Income: $350 estimated, income can increase (or decrease) in future years.

Our staff can prepare personalized, confidential gift examples for you. If you would like more information, please contact the Development Office.

The information above is for general purposes only and is not intended as legal or financial advice. Buckelew Programs recommends that each person considering a planned gift consult with her or his own legal or financial advisor

Retirement Funds and Insurance Policies

Ways to Leave a Bequest Without a Will or Trust
Many charitable people wish to create a legacy for Buckelew Programs (BP) but have no interest in writing a will or a trust. (These options can still be considered if one does have a will or a trust.)  There are three ways that this can be achieved:              

• name BP as a beneficiary of a retirement fund,              
• name BP as a beneficiary of an insurance policy, or 
• name BP as successor to your bank or investment account

Retirement Funds
You can create a legacy by naming BP as a beneficiary or contingent beneficiary of an IRA, 401(k) Keogh account, or other retirement plan.  When a retirement account is left to a charity, the organization does not pay the income tax otherwise due if left to a friend or family member.  For very high net worth individuals, assets in these accounts may also be subject to taxes.  You can make such a gift by completing a change of beneficiary form.  There should be no fees involved, and it does not require any work on the part of an accountant or attorney.

Insurance Policies
Life insurance may be used to create a legacy by naming BP as a beneficiary or contingent beneficiary of the policy.  This requires that you complete a change of beneficiary form with the insurance company.  You do not have to work with an attorney or accountant, nor are any fees involved to arrange such a gift.  If you name BP as a beneficiary, you can change your mind at any time by updating the change of beneficiary form.

Bank or Investment Accounts
You may name BP as successor to your bank or investment account in most states. The arrangement is known as Transfer-on-Death/Payable-on-Death or TOD/POD.  This requires that you complete a form directly with your financial institution.  You do not have to work with an attorney or accountant, nor are any fees involved to arrange such a gift. TOD/POD gifts are completely revocable as you can change your mind at any time by filling out a new form.