Why do people like making planned gifts?
Planned gifts (most commonly a donation made in your will or trust) cost nothing today and allow you to make an incredible impact, which is why so many people choose to make them. And through December 31, 2024, if you pledge to leave $100,000 or 5% of your estate (whatever 5% amounts to, even if it’s just $5,000), anonymous donors will donate $20,000 to your local community in Garfield, Columbia, Walla Walla, or Umatilla Counties.
Photo credit: Greg Lehman
Popular gifts for the future
See what types of gifts many people choose to make. If you pledge take make one of these gifts in an amount equal to $100,000 or 5% of your estate (whatever the amount), donors will contribute $20,000 to your community today!
Gifts in a will or trust
Donations in your will or trust are (by far) the most popular type of planned gift. Learn more, or get help starting your will or trust – for free!
Beneficiary designations
Gifting assets not covered by your will — like 401(k) or IRA accounts — may help your heirs avoid unwanted taxes, even if you’re below the estate tax threshold.
Popular gifts for today
Many people love these donation options because they fit with their personal circumstances and financial goals. If you make these types of gifts to your local community through a Forever Fund in 2024, donors will add 50% to your donation. For example, if you donate $50,000 worth of stock to the Walla Walla County Forever Fund now, anonymous donors will add another $25,000 to that Fund.
Gifts that pay you back
Give assets while providing yourself or others with income for a period of time or distributions at a later date.
Stocks and securities
Many people love donating stock or mutual funds because it may help them avoid paying capital gains taxes.
Donor Advised Funds
Easily recommend grants to Blue Mountain Community Foundation for tax-efficient giving.
Cryptocurrency
Donate Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more to save on taxes and make a big impact.
Qualified Charitable Distributions
Use your IRA to make tax-free gifts that benefit you and our mission.
Please let us know if you’ve already included us in your estate plans!
Letting us know is incredibly helpful to our team and helps to make sure your gift is used the way you want it to be.
Your Bequest Will Help Your Community Forever
The Raise the Blues and Raise Up Umatilla Campaigns are building community endowment funds that will help your community thrive forever. Bequests – gifts made from your estate when you die – will be placed in funds that make grants or scholarships to support your local community’s highest needs, forever. Please pay forward the gifts your community gave you by donating 5% or more of your estate.
Photo credit: Greg Lehman
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a document that includes frequently asked questions about Raise the Blues and Raise Up Umatilla County: Raise-the-Blues-FAQs-2024-0505.pdf
Yes! Gifts of any size are deeply appreciated. Many people choose to leave a percentage of their estate, which scales up or down with your estate size. If you pledge to leave $100,000 or 5% of your estate to support your community through a Forever Fund, anonymous donors will add $20,000 to that Fund this year. This is true even if everything you own is valued at only $50,000 so that 5% of your estate is $2,500. That amount will still create a $20,000 gift for your community today!
Yes! Knowing in advance about your intentions is quite helpful to our staff, but you are always welcome to not share your gift.
We’ve partnered with FreeWill to help you make a will or trust at no cost to you. You can use this to complete your plans, or you may choose to use the same tools to get your affairs in order before visiting an attorney (who is likely to have a fee associated with finalizing your plans). If you have a complicated estate, you should hire an attorney.
If you have any questions about your estate and what planned giving or charitable giving tools might work well for you, feel free to contact Blue Mountain Community Foundation’s CEO, Kol Medina. He is an attorney who can talk to you about this, confidentially and with no charge.
Yes. You are always free to revise or update your estate plans.
Yes! FreeWill will never share your personal information without your permission.
We’re here to help you meet your goals!
Our team would be happy to speak with you in confidence about your giving goals, with no obligation.
Already included us in your estate plan? Let us know