Ways to Make a Legacy Gift to AFJ

Your legacy gift to the Alliance of Families for Justice makes it possible to continue to fulfill our mission to support families of incarcerated people and people who are justice-involved, empower them as advocates and enable them to marshal their voting power to achieve systemic change.

MORE ABOUT OUR WORK

The mission of the Alliance of Families for Justice is to support, empower and mobilize families with incarcerated loved ones and justice-involved individuals so that they can marshal their collective power and catalyze systemic change. Our vision is a politically and personally empowered network of united families who have healed from the trauma they have endured, and transformed their pain into power. 

At AFJ, wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, grandfathers, daughters, aunts, uncles, and sons find comfort and an empathetic ear. The Alliance of Families for Justice community is an oasis for the entire family unit. They no longer have to hide or pretend that the person they love isn’t in prison. By providing support, AFJ tills the fertile soil where the seeds of hope and rejuvenation can sprout. In this way, the receptivity for empowerment is created, nurtured and optimized. Once empowered, family members can advocate on their own behalf and mobilize others to do the same, transforming pain into power and catalyzing widespread structural change of the very systems that created their pain in the first place.

About Bequests

You may be looking for a way to make a personally significant gift to help further our mission. A bequest is a gift made through your will or trust. It is one of the most popular and flexible ways that you can support the Alliance of Families for Justice’s work beyond your lifetime.

What are the benefits of making a bequest?

1. You leave a lasting legacy.

2. You lessen the burden of taxes on your family

3. You may receive estate tax savings

How do I make a bequest?

A bequest is one of the easiest gifts to make. With the help of an advisor, you can include language in your will or trust specifying a gift be made to family, friends and/or the Alliance of Families for Justice as part of your estate plan. We appreciate your consideration of this option.

What are my options?

A bequest can be made in several ways:

1. You can gift a specific dollar amount or asset

2. You can gift a percentage of your estate

3. You can gift from the balance or residue of your estate

4. You can make a beneficiary designation of certain assets

— Danny Glover, AFJ board member, actor, civil rights activist and champion for justice

Sample Bequest Language

We suggest the following language for a bequest to the Alliance of Families for Justice. Such a bequest is not deductible for purposes of federal estate tax, but it can be used most flexibly by AFJ. 

I give to the The Alliance of Families for Justice, Inc., a New York State nonprofit corporation that is recognized as exempt from tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, with its principal offices at 8 West 126th Street, Floor 3, New York, New York, 10027, [all (or ____ percent) of my residuary estate] or [the sum of $_______ ] to be used for its general purposes.

*This is sample suggested language and is not legal or financial advice. Please note that prospective donors are advised to seek legal and/or tax counsel regarding any and all aspects of a proposed gift, whether by bequest, trust agreement, contract, or outright gift. Prospective donors are advised to consult with their attorney or accountant on matters related to the tax implications and estate planning aspects of a planned gift agreement. AFJ consults with legal counsel in all matters pertaining to its giving program and consults counsel when executing agreements, contracts, trusts or legal documents. In no case is AFJ’s attorney also the attorney for the donor.

Additional Ways to Make a Legacy Gift to AFJ

Beneficiary Designation Gifts

You can designate the Alliance of Families for Justice as a beneficiary of a retirement, investment or bank account or your life insurance policy. Donating part or all of your unused retirement assets such as a gift from your IRA, 401(k), 403(b), pension or other tax-deferred plan is an excellent way to make a gift to our organization.

If you have already designated us as a beneficiary of an asset or as part of your estate plan, please let us know. We would like to recognize and thank you and your family for your gift.

A beneficiary designation gift is a simple and affordable way to make a gift to support the Alliance of Families for Justice. 

A gift of your life insurance policy is an excellent way to continue to fuel AFJ’s mission for the future. If you have a life insurance policy that has outlasted its original purpose, consider making a gift of your insurance policy. For example, you may have purchased a policy to provide for minor children and they are now financially independent adults.

Benefits of a beneficiary designation gift

• Support the social change and social justice causes that you deeply care about

• Continue to use your account as long as you need to

• Simplify your planning and avoid expensive legal fees

• Reduce the burden of taxes on your family

• Receive an estate tax charitable deduction

How a beneficiary designation gift works

1. To make your gift, contact the person who helps you with your account or insurance policy, such as your broker, banker or insurance agent.

2. Ask them to send you a new beneficiary designation form.

3. Complete the form, sign it and mail it back to your broker, banker or agent.

4. When you no longer need it, your account or insurance policy will be paid or transferred to the Alliance of Families for Justice, consistent with the beneficiary designation. 

Important considerations for your future

If you are interested in making a gift but are also concerned about your future needs, keep in mind that beneficiary designation gifts are among the most flexible of all charitable gifts. Even after you complete the beneficiary designation form, you can take distributions or withdrawals from your retirement, investment or bank account and continue to freely use your account. You can also change your mind at any time in the future for any reason, including if you have a loved one who needs your financial help.

Ways to Make an Immediate Gift to AFJ

Non-cash Assets

Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Charitable Rollover if you are 70½ or older

IRA Charitable Rollover

You may be looking for a way to make a big difference to help further our mission. If you are 70½ or older you may also be interested in a way to lower the income and taxes from your IRA withdrawals. An IRA charitable rollover is a way you can help continue our work and benefit this year.

Keep in mind: If you are taking a qualified charitable distribution from your IRA, please think of putting these dollars to work at the Alliance of Families for Justice.

Benefits of an IRA charitable rollover

• Avoid taxes on transfers of up to $100,000 from your IRA to our organization

• May satisfy your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year

• Reduce your taxable income, even if you do not itemize deductions

• Make a gift that is not subject to the deduction limits on charitable gifts

• Help further the work and mission of our organization

How an IRA charitable rollover gift works

1. Contact your IRA plan administrator to make a gift from your IRA to us.

2. Your IRA funds will be directly transferred to our organization to help continue our important work. 

3. Please note that IRA charitable rollover gifts do not qualify for a charitable deduction.

IRA Gifts: If you’re eligible for the Required Minimum Distribution, please consider making a Qualified Charitable Distribution that benefits the Alliance of Families for Justice’s mission.

Please note: This information is not intended as tax or legal advice. We recommend that you consult with your legal and financial advisors to learn how a gift would work in your circumstances. Laws and regulations governing all gifts and availability of certain life income gifts vary by state.

Gifts of Appreciated Stock

It’s a great time to consider making a gift of stock or – if you have one – drawing from your donor advised fund.  

Did you know that your stock gift may also be matched by your Employee Matching Gift program?

Stock Gifts

Donating appreciated securities, including stocks or bonds, is an easy and tax-effective way for you to make a gift to our organization.

Making a gift to the Alliance of Families for Justice via stock, or other securities (such as bonds or mutual funds), allows you to have an immediate impact.

The total value of your gift is tax-deductible as long as it has been held for at least one year. There is no obligation to pay any capital gains tax on the appreciated value. And, the gift is fully deductible as of the date it arrives in our account.

FAQ

Alliance of Families for Justice is a 501(c)3 organization. Donations to Alliance of Families for Justice are tax-deductible as provided in section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Our mailing address is:

ALLIANCE OF FAMILIES FOR JUSTICE8 West 126th Street, 3rd floor 

New York, NY 10027

Questions? Please email emily@afj-ny.org or call: 347-973-0580