Your Giving

Many people choose to leave charitable assets or gifts to The Denver Foundation through their estates. In fact, the bulk of the Foundation's Community Endowment Fund was created by generous donors who sought to support the Metro Denver community in perpetuity.

We encourage you to work with your legal or financial advisor as you consider these options. Our Philanthropic Services Group is experienced in the use of testamentary gift options. If you or your advisor has questions about estate gifts, please call us at 303.300.1790.

Bequests

You can establish a fund or leave a gift to The Denver Foundation's Community Endowment in your will or trust. Your gift can be used to accomplish almost any charitable goal. Many donors choose to create a family legacy by establishing a donor-advised fund; this option allows children or grandchildren to remain involved in grantmaking in the family name.

For sample bequest language, click here.

Pension Plan Beneficiaries

A retirement plan is one of the best types of assets to transfer to a charity. Most assets an heir inherits are free from income tax. However, an heir will pay income tax on disbursements from a decedent's retirement plan such as a profit sharing plan, Section 401(k) plan or IRA. If you are going to make a charitable bequest, it is usually better to transfer the taxable assets subject to income tax to a tax-exempt charity - such as The Denver Foundation - and to transfer the assets not subject to income tax to heirs.

Community Legacy Society

The Denver Foundation has a Community Legacy Society to honor individuals who have named The Denver Foundation in their will or estate plan.

Sometimes people leave a bequest to the Foundation without our knowledge and we only learn of the gift after the donor's lifetime. We value the opportunity to thank donors now and show our appreciation for their generosity.

There are absolutely no obligations of society members, but there are benefits. Society members may choose to be anonymous or to receive special recognition in our publications and invitations to annual Society activities. We even have a special recognition category for individuals whose gift benefits our Community Endowment Fund.

Enrollment in this society is simply a matter of advising us that you have created a planned gift, of any type or size, to The Denver Foundation. We hope you will give us the opportunity to honor your visionary giving, or to assist you and your advisors as you prepare to invest in the community even after your own lifetime.

Join the 200+ people who have already become members! For more information, call the Philanthropic Services Group at 303.300.1790.