Planned Giving

Treehouse Legacy Circle

The Treehouse Legacy Circle is a special group that honors and recognizes donors who have included Treehouse as a beneficiary of their estate plans. There is no minimum amount to be a member, as all gifts are welcome and important to Treehouse. In appreciation of your generosity and desire to ensure the future of Treehouse, Treehouse Legacy Circle members enjoy the following recognition and benefits:

Recognition in one issue per year of The Ladder, the Treehouse quarterly newsletter
Recognition in the Treehouse Annual Report
Invitations to attend Treehouse Donor Briefings to learn more about foster care

For more information about planned giving and becoming a member of the Treehouse Legacy Circle, please contact our Director of Development at jessica@treehouseforkids.org or 206.267.5116.

Ways to become a Legacy Circle Member

Bequests

A bequest is the easiest and most meaningful way to provide for the future of Treehouse. A bequest is a gift made through your estate, either directed by your will or through an outright trust distribution. Bequests allow you to retain your assets in case you need them during your lifetime. A bequest may specify a dollar amount, a particular asset, or a percentage of your estate.

We would be happy to provide sample bequest language that you and your estate planner can use to include Treehouse in your plans. This information is free and in no way obligates you to make a bequest to Treehouse.

Beneficiary Designation

A beneficiary designation is a simple way to include Treehouse in your estate plans. You can name Treehouse as a beneficiary of many different assets–an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), 401(k), 403(b) or other qualified retirement plan; commercial annuity contract; bank account; or brokerage account. All charitable distributions are totally tax-free.

Life Insurance

Life insurance provides security for a growing family and support in times of need. It can also be used to make a gift to Treehouse. Options include naming Treehouse as the beneficiary of the death benefit or transferring ownership of an existing policy to Treehouse.

Charitable Trusts

A charitable remainder trust pays you and/or your loved one an income stream for life or a specified number of years. Payments can be a fixed amount (annuity trust) providing you the security of the same payment each time; or payments can be based on a stipulated percentage of trust assets (unitrust), providing you with possibility that payments may increase. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal is left to benefit Treehouse. You will receive an income-tax deduction for the present value of the projected remainder of the trust that will go to Treehouse, and you avoid capital gains taxes when appreciated assets are transferred to the trust.

Another option, a charitable lead trust, is essentially the opposite of a charitable remainder trust. Instead of a beneficiary receiving payments, Treehouse would receive the payments. When the trust terminates, the principal is then distributed among designated non-charity beneficiaries.