One way an individual can support The Arc is to keep us in mind when making out your will or other estate planning document. Nearly all Americans give to charities in their lifetime but only eight percent do so in their wills. Without a will, the government will decide how your assets will be distributed! With a will in place you can be assured that your wishes (and those of your family) will be followed. In addition to wills, charitable remainder trusts can be important estate planning vehicles. These trusts can be used while you are alive to protect assets from taxes and create income for you and your family members.

The following is a list of frequently asked questions about leaving a gift to a charitable organization like The Arc.

Q. Do I have to include my wish to leave a gift to specific organization like The Arc in my will?

Yes, to be certain that your wishes are followed you should specifically outline your intentions in your will. The will makes it easier for your family and the courts to do exactly what you want done as far as distributing your assets are concerned.

Q. Do I have to have a big estate in order to leave a gift?

No! Even a small bequest can make a big difference to the people The Arc serves — a difference that can last a long, long time! "Estate" is simply a word used to describe any property, money, or belongings that you may have at the time of your death. Anyone can arrange to leave a legacy by giving a charitable gift in their will or other estate planning document.

Q. How do I leave a gift in memory of a person or for a specific purpose?

A memorial gift is a wonderful way to recognize someone who has made a difference in your life. This type of gift or a gift for a specific use can be arranged for in your will in the same way you would leave a personal gift from your estate. You just need to be specific about who you wish to honor or what you would like your gift used for.

Q. Do I tell the charity about the gift?

This is up to you. Charities often like to know about estate donations in advance simply so they can thank you and recognize your generosity. This is obviously a personal choice however and one that is strictly up to you.

Q. What about Charitable Remainder Trusts?

These Trusts can be great estate planning tools as they can have significant tax benefits for the donor and his or her family. They can also provide current income for the donor for the rest of his or her life.

There are two basic types of Charitable Remainder Trusts, the "unitrust" and the "annuity trust." The unitrust provides payments to the donor based on the value of the assets in the trust on an annual basis. The annuity trust pays a fixed amount of income to the donor each year regardless of the trust's value. In both instances, the remainder of the trust goes to the nonprofit upon the donor's death.

Q. How do I get started on my estate planning?

Contact your tax professional. This might be your attorney, accountant, or financial planner. You can also contact The Arc's Executive Director, Mike Sweeney, at 209-267-5978 (extension 24) to learn more about how you can support The Arc via estate planning. (Mike's email address is msweeney@volcano.net).

We wish you well in your estate planning efforts. If you choose to support The Arc of Amador and Calaveras in this manner, we want you to know that we will put your gift to use by providing direct services to people with developmental disabilities. By direct service we mean that we will provide transportation to people; we will help them to get jobs; we will help them to find safe places to live; and we will support them in becoming a part of their community in positive ways. Thank you!