PLANNED GIVING
The Sasser Society: A legacy of care and commitment
Planned giving through the Sasser Society
Planned giving plays a key role in Avenues’ commitment to long-term care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, supporting independence and dignity at every stage of life. The Sasser Society, named to honor the Sasser family and their muli-generational commitment to our mission, includes individuals and families who have included Avenues as a beneficiary in their will, ensuring future support for the people we serve.
What does it mean to be a member of the Sasser Society?
Members of the Sasser Society are individuals who have made a long-term commitment to Avenues through a provision in their estate plans. For many, it’s an opportunity for charitable giving they may not be able to make during their lifetime. A planned gift helps ensure long-term support and care for the people of Avenues.
Planned gifts may take many forms, including:
Bequest
A bequest is the simplest type of planned gift, and one of the easiest to implement. Included in a will or trust, a donor leaves specific assets (fine art, estate jewelry), specific dollar amounts, or a percentage of an asset. Avenues can be made a beneficiary designation in your IRA or other retirement plan, life insurance policy, and bank or brokerage account.
Gift Annuity
A charitable gift annuity (CGA) is a contract between a donor and Avenues. A donor gives cash or appreciated property to Avenues. In exchange, Avenues makes guaranteed fixed payments for the lifetime(s) of one or two individuals.
Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT)
A donor transfers cash or appreciated property to the CRT. The CRT is a tax-exempt trust that can sell the appreciated property without paying capital gains tax.
Charitable Lead Trust (CLT)
A donor contributes property or cash to a trust that will make distributions to Avenues for a specified term and ultimately distribute the property to the donor’s family or return it to the donor. Unlike a charitable remainder trust, a CLT is a taxable trust. Each year the CLT will report its income and then take a deduction for the amount that it distributes to Avenues; any excess is subject to tax.
Life Estate Reserved
Avenues accepts a gift of property and the donor retains the right to use the property for his or her lifetime.
The Sasser family’s impact
The Sasser family’s philanthropy has been making a difference at Avenues since the late 1950s, when Doris and Robert Sasser started the planned giving program. In 1991, Avenues received a transformational gift from the estate of Robert Sasser, and later another organization-changing bequest from Doris Sasser’s estate. The Sasser family’s commitment has inspired many other gifts, and they are still an active part of the Avenues community.
A gift that lives on
Becoming a member of the Sasser Society starts with a conversation. We’d love the opportunity to discuss planned giving options that align with your goals and values.