Did you know? You can transfer funds directly from your IRA to support the League of Women Voters Orange County. This is called a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). QCD rules allow you to transfer tax free up to $100,000 of your individual annual required minimum distribution (RMD) to qualified charitable organizations, like LWVOC. Check with your IRA administrator for instructions. Please consider taking advantage of this tax saving strategy to support our shared mission and work.

Here’s how it works: 

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● You can transfer funds tax free directly from your IRA to LWVOC as a part of your annual Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)* from your IRA as early as 70 ½. Federal rules require that you begin the annual RMD by no later than the age of 72.

● An individual may give up to a total of $100,000 per year; a married couple may give up to $200,000. 

● Your gift must be transferred directly from your IRA account to League of Women Voters Orange County, Florida. 

● You pay no income taxes on the QCD. This means that the gift generates neither taxable income nor a tax deduction, so you can benefit even if you don’t itemize deductions. 

● Since the gift doesn’t count as income, it may potentially reduce your annual income level. This could help lower Medicare premiums and decrease the amount of Social Security that is subject to tax. * 

With a planned gift, you will help to ensure that the work of our organization endures for many years to come.

If you wish to name the LWVOC in your will or estate plan, we should be named as:

The League of Women Voters of Orange County, a nonprofit organization (EIN: 59-6178316),

located at PO Box 1901, Winter Park, Fla. 32790

How Planned Gifts Work

• Estate Planning:
• Planned gifts are made as part of a donor's overall estate plan, often with the assistance of an attorney or financial advisor to ensure tax efficiency and the desired outcomes. 
• Timing:
• Most planned gifts are "deferred," meaning they are not realized until after the donor's death. However, some planned gifts can provide immediate benefits to the donor. 
• Asset Types:
• Donors can contribute a wide range of assets, including cash, securities (like stock), real estate, life insurance policies, and retirement accounts. 

Common Types of Planned Gifts

• Bequests:
• This is the most common type of planned gift, where a donor leaves a specific amount of money, property, or a percentage of their estate to a charity in their will or living trust. 
• Retirement Assets:
• Donating unused assets from IRAs or 401(k)s can be a tax-smart way to give, as named charities are often exempt from income and estate taxes on these distributions. 
• Life Insurance Policies:
• A donor can name a nonprofit as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy, potentially creating a large legacy gift for a relatively small ongoing cost. 
• Charitable Trusts:
• These are complex arrangements where assets are transferred to a trust, which then provides income or other financial benefits to the donor (or another beneficiary) for a period, with the remainder going to the charity. 
• Gifts of Appreciated Stock or Real Estate:
• Donating appreciated assets can provide tax benefits, as the donor may avoid capital gains taxes and receive a deduction for the fair market value of the asset. 

Benefits of Planned Gifts

• Financial Advantages:
• Donors may benefit from income tax deductions, avoid capital gains taxes, and potentially reduce estate taxes. 
• Income Opportunities:
• Some planned gifts, like charitable gift annuities and trusts, can provide a fixed stream of income to the donor during their lifetime. 
• Significant Impact:
• Planned giving provides nonprofits with stable, long-term funding, helping to secure their future and support their mission. 

DAFs have become popular in part because of their versatility; allowing donors to give when, what, how, and where is most favorable for them. There are many reasons why donors choose a donor-advised fund as a philanthropic giving vehicle. Charitable giving with a donor-advised fund can be a tax-efficient way to build a charitable legacy. Benefits of a donor-advised fund include:

Contributions via DAFs help donors maximize tax benefits.

Donors can contribute immediately, build a philanthropic strategy and recommend grants when ready.

Charitable assets may grow over time, making more charitable dollars available to nonprofits.

DAFs provide streamlined grantmaking, helping philanthropic dollars reach nonprofits quickly and efficiently.

DAF sponsors handle all due diligence and reporting, simplifying organization and administration.

DAFs can be used to facilitate a charitable legacy, dovetailing conveniently with estate planning.

Donors can choose how they are acknowledged and what personal information they wish to share when making grants from their DAFs.

DAFs can be useful in the development of donors’ philanthropic vision, strategy and philosophy.

DAFs can accept as contributions a wide range of assets such as cash, stock, cryptocurrency and real estate.

Donors can support international charities and NGOs and still being eligible to claim a federal tax deduction.

Sponsors are vital to our work to empower voters by providing timely information for the benefit of non-partisan civic engagement in our community.

To further explore how becoming a Hot Topics Sponsor can align with your business goals, please contact Lee Rambeau Kemp @ fund@lwvoc.org

A range of sponsorship levels are available.

How will my gift be used?

Together we can ensure our elections are free, fair, and accessible, and fight to reduce the influence of money in our elections. Your gift will help fulfill all our goals which include the following ongoing priorities.

• Counter disinformation and misinformation by sharing accurate information about voting laws, how to register and vote, and how to maintain active voter status.
• Disseminate nonpartisan information about candidates for public office.
• Take and promote positions on local and state amendments and referendums.
• Invest in voter registration and voter turnout programs using traditional and social media communications to reach Orange County residents.
• Promote fair districts.
• Advocate to protect Florida’s fragile environment and for renewable energy.
• Advocate to expand access to affordable housing, healthcare, public education, and public transit.
• Advocate for women’s reproductive freedom.
• Prevent gun violence by working to reform gun laws to ban assault weapons, conduct universal background checks, and promote safe gun storage.

What happened to the membership categories that included a donation?

LWV US now manages all memberships so every Leaguer joins at all three League levels: national, state, and local. While you can donate to LWVOC on the national site, it is cumbersome for us to track. Plus there aren’t recurring or Giving Society opportunities. Please make your gifts to LWVOC here on our website. We encourage you to ‘give where you

live’! And, thank you!

What is the difference between a gift to the LWVOC Fund and Giving Society?

Both types of gifts go directly to LWVOC for our mission to empower voters and defend democracy. The Giving Society is a pledge program, whereby you commit to give annually for five years to help us better predict our future income for planning and expanding our League work.

You can make your annual Giving Society gift recurring with monthly or quarterly payments for five years. Be sure to log in to donate, as only members can use the recurring gifts option.

I’d like to join the Giving Society, but what if I decide later that I can’t afford the same level of giving, or what if I want to increase my pledge?

We greatly appreciate our Giving Society members, but we understand that circumstances change. You can revise your pledge up or down, or even cancel in subsequent years. Contact Lee Rambeau Kemp for more information.

Will I automatically be charged each year for my five-year Giving Society gift?

No, our website platform does not have automatic annual giving and payment at this time. Meantime, you will receive reminder emails each year to make your Giving Society payment. Members who choose Recurring Giving Society donations can set up automatic monthly or quarterly payments for five years, but five-year annual payments are not

an option.

Can non-members donate to LWVOC?

Absolutely! We encourage donations from anyone who wants to support the work of LWVOC. However, only members can make recurring gifts online.

Do I need to log in to donate?

We encourage members to log in before making payment for more stream-lined accounting that credits you for your gifts. Only members who log in can set up recurring gifts.

What are recurring gifts?

Recurring gifts allow LWVOC to better plan future income for budgeting purposes. Those who make recurring gifts are our ‘sustainers’. You can set up recurring gifts on a monthly or quarterly basis.

Why can’t non-members make recurring gifts online?

The LWVOC website platform only keeps credit card information on file for members, which is necessary for automatic recurring payments monthly or quarterly.

Is my credit card information secure?

Yes, our website has secure socket layer protection. But you can choose to make your payments each time without recalling saved credit card information.

Can individuals be Hot Topics Sponsors, or only businesses and organizations?

Yes, individuals can be Hot Topics sponsors. Or, you might like to join with a few friends to form a coalition to make a bigger gift for greater impact.

Plus you will get reserved seats and special recognition at Hot Topics, depending on the size of your sponsorship gift.

How does an employer match work?

Many employers will match employee gifts to eligible nonprofit organizations. It's an easy way to double your contribution to our

League. Contact your employer's HR or community giving department to find out if they have a matching gift program.

Is my gift tax deductible?

LWVOC is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and your gift is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. To claim a gift as a deduction on your taxes, please keep your email gift receipt as your official record.

The receipt is sent to you upon successful completion of your donation.

How do I obtain a copy of your official registration and financial

information?

A copy of the official registration and financial information for LWVOC, a Florida based nonprofit organization (Registration No. CH26900) may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll free 1-800-435-7352 within the state or visiting their website at fdacs.gov/CONSUMERSERVCES. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state.