Planned Giving: Become a COPD Foundation Founders Legacy Society Member and Create a Lasting Gift

Through the COPD Foundation Founders Legacy Society, we honor those who built the COPD Foundation and generous donors who enable our research, education, and advocacy to continue for years to come. You're invited to become a member of the Founders Legacy Society and establish your own legacy, while positively impacting generations of people affected by chronic lung disease.

Ways to Support the Foundation Through Planned Giving

No matter which planned giving option you choose, your gift will:

Here are some giving options through the COPD Foundation. Your financial advisor or lawyer can help you choose the best option for you and your family.

Bequests (Gifts by Will)

A bequest to the Foundation is usually a specific gift such as a fixed dollar amount, real estate, or art, or a bequest may be a non‐specific gift such as “all my personal possessions.” A bequest can also be the remainder of your estate after all debts, expenses, and obligations have been paid, known as a residuary gift. You can choose to provide a percentage of your estate or a specific dollar amount.

Charitable Remainder Trusts

A Charitable Remainder Trust provides significant long-term support for the Foundation and allows you or other beneficiaries to receive lifetime income, or for a defined period of years, at which point the balance or remainder goes to the COPD Foundation and any other beneficiaries. Examples include: a fixed percentage annually (unitrust), the actual income from trust (income-only unitrust), or a pre-determined fixed amount annually (annuity trust).

Charitable Lead Trusts

With a Charitable Lead Trust, the income from the trust flows to the COPD Foundation for a fixed period. At the end of that period, the asset returns to you or another specified beneficiary. You can designate different income payout arrangements like charitable remainder trusts (fixed %, fixed amount, or actual income.).

IRA Charitable Rollover

Individuals 70.5 years and older can make gifts directly to the COPD Foundation from a traditional or Roth IRA completely free of federal income tax up to $100,000 per person, per year. Giving to the Foundation in this way can be beneficial, especially if increases in income from withdrawals cause more of your Social Security benefits to be taxed. Additionally, your charitable IRA gift may count toward your required minimum withdrawal.

Gifts of Life Insurance

When your life insurance policy no longer benefits a phase of your life - like your children's education or paying off a mortgage - you can use the remaining value in these policies for charitable gifts. Or, if you own a fully paid existing life insurance policy that you no longer need, you can donate it to the COPD Foundation and receive an income tax charitable deduction.