Annual unrestricted and program-restricted gifts are critical to the work of Living Classrooms. However, you can help to ensure the future of Living Classrooms by considering adding Living Classrooms into your estate plans. There are many ways to include Living Classrooms in your estate plans including bequests, beneficiary designations, trusts, memorials and tribute gifts, IRA charitable rollovers, and more. These avenues give us the ability to strategically expand on the work we have done and plan for a promising future, even in periods of uncertainty.

  • If you are 70.5 years or older, an IRA charitable rollover is a great way to support Living Classrooms mission and reduce your taxable income.

    Benefits:

    • Reduce your taxable income; transfer up to $108,000 from your IRA with no income tax.

    • Can help satisfy your required minimum distribution when you turn 73.

    • Help support Living Classrooms programs with a gift we can use immediately.

  • A charitable remainder annuity trust pays you a chosen yearly amount for a chosen duration. When the duration of the trust ends the remaining amount in the trust is given to Living Classrooms as a lump sum. You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction (If you itemize your tax return).

  • Donor Advised Funds (DAF) help support Living Classrooms Mission while allowing you to maintain control over the administration of your contributions.

    Benefits:

    • Cash contributions may receive up to a 60% tax deduction.

    • Appreciated securities may receive up to a 30% tax deduction.

    • Donors to the fund can contribute cash, stock shares, traded assets, cryptocurrency, and private company stock.

    • All donations are immediately eligible for tax deductions.

    • You can grow your donation tax free.

Leave Your Legacy

What to Give

  • Leave a legacy by including Living Classrooms Foundation in your will or estate plan. You can designate an amount, percentage, or specific property to Living Classrooms to help support our programs. These designations ensure the longevity of Living Classrooms programs which are crucial to communities across Baltimore and Washington, DC.

    When making a bequest:

    • Your assets remain accessible to you during your lifetime.

    • You do not need to rewrite your will, just add a simple codicil (example at right) to include your bequest.

    • You will be welcomed into the Living Classrooms 1985 Legacy Circle.

  • A charitable lead trust pays Living Classrooms a chosen yearly amount for a chosen duration. When the duration of the trust ends the remaining amount in the trust is given to you or another beneficiary as a lump sum. Charitable lead trusts provide the beneficiary with tax benefits such as income tax deductions, savings on estate and gift taxes, and reducing tax liability at the end of the chosen duration.

  • Gifting closely held stocks gives you the opportunity to maximize their value. By donating stocks, you can avoid paying capital gains tax and receive a charitable income tax deduction. Living Classrooms will receive the full proceeds, meaning your contribution can go further in supporting our programs.

  • You can name Living Classrooms Foundation as a beneficiary of assets such as retirement, life insurance, brokerage accounts, and more. When your designation is due, it will be directly sent to Living Classrooms to help support our programs. These assets are highly taxed, by donating them you are avoiding leaving a large tax bill to your heirs.

  • If you have a loved one who has been impacted by Living Classrooms’ work, a memorial or tribute gift is a great way to honor them and help support our mission and programs. Your gift will allow Living Classrooms to continue uplifting community and inspiring individuals to achieve their potential.

  • Gifting cryptocurrency gives you the opportunity to maximize their value. By donating cryptocurrency, you can avoid paying capital gains tax and potentially receive a charitable deduction (If you itemize your deductions on your tax return). Eliminating the capital gains tax through donation increases the amount received by Living Classrooms by up to 20%.


For more information about making Living Classrooms a beneficiary of your estate plans, contact the Development Office at development@livingclassrooms.org or (410) 685-0295.

Any action affecting your overall estate planning should be discussed with your financial advisor.