Planned Giving

Planned giving is a method of supporting non-profits and charities that enables philanthropic individuals or donors to make larger gifts than they could make from their income. While some planned gifts provide a life-long income to the donor, others use estate and tax planning techniques to provide for charity and other heirs in ways that maximize the gift and/or minimize its impact on the donor's estate.

Planned Giving Offers Flexibility

Planned giving gives you the flexibility to determine how you want to support the Carolina Raptor Center’s vibrant future. You can make an unrestricted gift or underwrite one of our existing program areas—avian medicine, STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) education, or raptor food to name a few.

Whether a donor uses cash, appreciated securities/stock, real estate, artwork, partnership interests, personal property, life insurance, a retirement plan, etc., the benefits of funding a planned gift can make this type of charitable giving very attractive to both donor and charity.

How should I give?

Here is an outline of some of the most common types of planned gifts. You should consult a tax/legal professional to determine which vehicle will help meet your individual needs.

Gift Type

Your Goal

Your Benefits

Bequests

Defer a gift until after your lifetime

-Estate tax exemption
-Control of asset for your lifetime

Retirement Assets
IRAs, 401(k)s, Keoghs, 403(b)s

Avoid the twofold taxation on IRAs or other employee benefits

-Removes tax from the most highly taxed asset, leaving more for family
-Avoids income and estate tax

Charitable Remainder Trusts
CRUTs, CRATs

Give low-basis investments, receive a steady income and tax deduction, and avoiding capital gains

-Income for life—fixed or variable based on trust type
-Immediate income tax deduction

Charitable Lead Trusts

Reduce gift and estate taxes on assets you pass to children or grandchildren

-Reduces your taxable estate
-Property remains in family, often with reduced gift taxes

Join the Golden Eagle Society

The Golden Eagle Society is a major donor initiative for friends of The Raptor Center (RC) that look to leave their legacy by supporting our efforts to conserve raptors through education outreach, research, and rehabilitation. By letting us know that you have made a planned gift to the RC, you will join the growing flock that is The Golden Eagle Society!

Over the past few years, planned gifts—like bequests and beneficiary designations of retirement assets—have become an increasingly important source of support, guaranteeing that the organization will have robust resources to conserve precious birds of prey into the future. In response to increased demand, we created The Golden Eagle Society to recognize members who have included the Raptor Center in their estate plans. Despite popular belief, you do not have to be wealthy to make a planned gift—you can give cash, real property, retirement assets and insurance policies.

In addition to ensuring the future stability of the Carolina Raptor Center, you will receive the following member benefits:

  • Special recognition in the Eagle Aviary on the Raptor Trail
  • Commemorative brick on the Raptor Trail
  • Golden Eagle Society lapel pin
  • Invitations to all major donor events

For more information, or to join the Golden Eagle Society today, email us today to learn more.