Design Your Gifts for Maximum Benefit

Below is a list of gift ideas, options and benefits that can make the most of your support for Chicago Zoological Society while maximizing your tax and financial rewards.  Select your objective(s), then check the option(s) that fit your situation.  Click the "Compare Options" button for a summary of your gift opportunities. We encourage you, of course, to call our office with any questions.

Your gift
objective is to:

Your options include:

Your benefits usually include:
 

Make a gift this year

 

Gifts by check or credit card

 

Maximum deductibility
 

 

Gifts of appreciated securities

 

Enhanced deductions plus capital gains tax avoidance
 

 

Gifts of appreciated real estate

 

Enhanced deductions plus capital gains tax avoidance
 

 

Gifts of a fraction or percentage of property

 

Partial deductions plus capital gains tax avoidance
 

 

Gifts of a share of your business

 

Large deductions plus capital gains tax avoidance and continued control of your business
 

 

Gifts of unneeded life insurance policies

 

Charitable deduction for policy's value; future premiums deductible
 

Make a gift this year but retain lifetime income

 

Charitable gift annuities

 

Fixed payments for life, for you and/or another recipient, plus deductions and other tax benefits
 

 

Charitable remainder annuity trusts

 

Fixed payments for life for you and/or others, plus a current deduction
 

 

Charitable remainder unitrusts

 

Variable lifetime payments for you and/or others, with extra planning flexibility in achieving your goals
 

Make a gift this year of a personal residence or farmland while retaining lifetime use

 

Gifts of "remainder interests" in property

 

Charitable deduction this year plus future federal estate tax savings
 

Make a gift this year that helps build your retirement nest egg

 

Deferred charitable gift annuities or "flip" unitrusts

 

Current charitable deductions, with large payments starting in a future year
 

Make a gift this year that pays income to charities for a limited number of years

 

Charitable lead trusts

 

Reduced gift taxes, estate taxes and/or income taxes; trust assets eventually return to you or family members
 

Make an important gift after death

 

Bequests from wills or living trusts

 

Control of all your resources during life; potential "death tax" savings plus income tax savings if you leave "tax-burdened assets"
 

 

Beneficiary designations on financial accounts

 

Control of financial resources during life; potential "death tax" savings
 

 

Beneficiary designations on life insurance

 

Financial security from policy during life; potential "death tax" savings
 

 

Beneficiary designations on IRAs or other retirement accounts

 

Future income tax and estate tax savings; lifetime use of accounts
 

 

Bequests for charitable gift annuities or charitable remainder trusts

 

Lifetime income for a surviving spouse or other heirs; potential estate tax savings
 

 

Charitable lead trusts that pay income to charities after death

 

Large estate tax savings; heirs later receive all trust assets