Plan Your Legacy

Founded in 1946 as Meals for Millions, Freedom from Hunger has more than six decades of proven success in helping families end their own hunger. By contacting us to plan your gift today, you will ensure that families around the world - for generations to come - will have their chance to help themselves. Contact us now by e-mail or telephone Chris Dodson at (530) 758-6200 ext. 1042 or (800) 708-2555.

Commonly Asked Questions

1. What are the three kinds of gifts I can give to Freedom from Hunger?

Generally speaking, during your lifetime you can make an outright gift of cash, stock, real estate, personal property.

Upon your death you can make a gift through your Will or revocable Trust, or through a distribution from a retirement plan or life insurance policy.

You also have the option of making a gift that returns lifetime payments to you, your spouse, or other individuals, such as a pooled income fund or charitable remainder trust.

2. What sort of assets can I use to make a gift?

Almost anything: cash, stock, the balance in your retirement account. Some, such as real estate, business interests, and artwork, are more complicated to administer, so they must be reviewed before we can accept them.

3. What tax deduction will I receive for my gift?

It depends on the form your gift takes:

  • Outright gifts to Freedom from Hunger generate a full income-tax charitable deduction. Outright gifts are deductible at fair market value, with no recognition of capital gains - a great tax benefit!
  • Gifts of personal property, like art, books and collectibles, are fully deductible so long as they are relevant to our mission. We can advise you on this.
  • Bequests do not generate a lifetime income tax deduction. They are exempt from estate tax, however.
  • Similarly, life insurance distributions to Freedom from Hunger are not income-tax deductible, but are exempt from estate tax.
  • A lifetime gift of an insurance policy to Freedom from Hunger generates a deduction for the value of the policy. If you give a policy with premiums still owing, you may also deduct annual gifts that offset our premium payments (for more details on this, see Question 5 below).
  • The charitable deduction for a gift that makes payments to you, such as a pooled income fund or a charitable remainder trust, is the fair market value of the gift asset minus the present value of the income interest you retain.

4. Can Freedom from Hunger serve as the Executor of my estate?

No. State law, the limitations of our corporate powers, and our internal policies prevent us from taking such a role in your affairs.

5. I want to set up a life insurance policy, name Freedom from Hunger as beneficiary, but retain ownership of the policy. Can I deduct the premium payments I make?

No. The IRS would not consider that a "completed gift" — they'd say that, as the owner of the policy, you could change the beneficiary designation to a friend or family member. Freedom from Hunger must be made the irrevocable owner of the policy for gifts offsetting premium payments to be deductible.

6. I'd like to donate a painting. Will you determine its value for my income tax deduction?

No, we can't. The IRS requires that donors of artwork and collectibles secure an independent appraisal of the items to establish fair market value. The appraisal has to be related to the gift and an insurance appraisal won't suffice. We can assist you on this.

7. If I create a bequest or life-income gift, will Freedom from Hunger continue to ask me for annual contributions?

We would like to, unless you tell us not to, because the commitments address two different needs. Your planned gift is a significant addition to our long-term financial strength — our ability to meet the challenges and opportunities the future will bring. The obligations and expenses that we encounter today, however, are met through your annual gift. We are very grateful that you want Freedom from Hunger to succeed both today and in the future.




 


Freedom from Hunger
Attention: Chris Dodson
1644 DaVinci Court
Davis, CA 95618
(530) 758-6200 ext. 1042
(800) 708-2555
Contact us now