Charitable giving can support the organizations and causes that matter to you while becoming a meaningful part of your long-term estate plan.
Gifts may be made during your lifetime or after your death through a will, trust, beneficiary designation, or other planned-giving strategy. The right approach depends on your charitable goals, assets, family needs, and financial circumstances.
Our Colorado charitable giving attorneys help clients evaluate their options and coordinate charitable gifts with their broader estate plans.
Schedule a consultation with Mason Law & Planning Group to discuss your charitable giving goals.
A charitable gift should reflect both your values and your broader planning goals. Some clients wish to make an immediate contribution, while others prefer to provide for family members first and leave a future gift to charity.
Charitable planning can involve cash, investments, real estate, business interests, or other property. The structure and timing of a gift may affect control of the property, benefits available to family members, and potential tax treatment.
Coordinating charitable gifts with your will, trusts, and beneficiary designations helps ensure that your intentions are documented clearly and work alongside the rest of your estate plan.
An attorney can help you select a giving method that supports your goals and coordinates with the rest of your estate plan. Charitable planning may be appropriate when:
Build a complete plan around your will, assets, and family goals.
Use a trust to manage assets, support loved ones, and avoid unnecessary probate.
Get professional guidance after a loved one passes away or when estate administration is needed.
Plan ahead to protect property, wealth, and future generations.
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A charity may be included in a will, trust, or beneficiary designation. You may leave a specific amount, a particular asset, a percentage of your estate, or the remaining balance after other gifts have been distributed.
Yes. An estate plan can provide for both family members and charitable organizations. The appropriate structure depends on your assets, priorities, and how you want each beneficiary to receive property.
A charitable trust is an irrevocable trust designed to benefit charitable and, in some cases, noncharitable beneficiaries. Different structures provide benefits at different times and involve specific legal, administrative, and tax requirements.
Charitable gifts may include cash, investments, real estate, business interests, and other property. The organization must be able to accept the asset, and additional valuation or reporting requirements may apply to certain noncash gifts.
Some gifts to qualified charitable organizations may qualify for an income, gift, or estate tax deduction. Eligibility and deduction limits depend on the recipient, donated property, timing, documentation, and the donor’s tax circumstances.
