Guest Speaker Chris Reilly - September 1, 2015 Meeting

At their October 1999 meeting, The Rotary Foundation Trustees approved the adoption of a bequest recognition society, The Rotary Foundation Bequest Society. Becoming a member is a simple process. Membership occurs when an individual or a couple place The Rotary Foundation in their estate plan for a minimum of $10,000 and notify The Foundation. Open enrollment for membership to The Rotary Foundation Bequest Society, to include previous Benefactors who qualify for the Bequest Society, began in April 2000. By completing a Bequest Society membership card and sending it to The Rotary Foundation, a donor will be recognized according to the following levels: CONTRIBUTION RECOGNITION LEVEL RANGE ITEMS $10,000 - $ 24,999 CRYSTAL 1. 1 Diamond Pin $25,000 - $49,999 CRYSTAL 2. 2 Diamond Pin $50,000 - $99,999 CRYSTAL 3. 3 Diamond Pin $100,000 - $499,999 CRYSTAL 4. 4 Diamond Pin $500,000 - $999,999 CRYSTAL 5. 5 Diamond Pin $1,000,000 Plus CRYSTAL 6. 6 Diamond Pin A new, single size, bequest society recognition crystal will be given. A Diamond Circle pin, corresponding to the appropriate contribution range as identified above, will also be presented. The following gift types of $10,000 or more are eligible for Bequest Society Membership: · Bequest commitments (e.g. Wills, Living Trusts, Retirement Plan assets) · Whole and Universal Life Insurance Additional Information Term Life Insurance does not qualify for Bequest Society membership. Cash, other outright contributions, and life income agreements of $10,000 receive Major Donor recognition. Spouses do not automatically qualify and will need to submit their own commitment if the application does not specify a “joint” bequest. Diamond Circle pins will reflect the combined totals from personal outright contributions as well as bequest commitments. Crystal recognition will remain separate and reflect the total dollars given under each respective Major Donor and Bequest Society recognition program. Benefactor or Bequest Society Member? The introduction of the new Rotary Foundation Bequest Society will not directly alter Benefactor recognition. For those individuals who identify bequest commitments and life insurance policies ranging from $1,000 to $9,999, Benefactor recognition will be awarded. However, because their estate plan commitment is under the $10,000 threshold for Bequest Society recognition, membership will not be awarded. Individuals who identify bequest commitments and unpaid whole and universal life insurance policies $10,000 or over, will be awarded both benefactor recognition and be eligible for membership in the Bequest Society.

 

UPDATE ON MAJOR DONOR RECOGNITION

 

During their October 1999 meeting, The Rotary Foundation Trustees revised the Major Donor recognition. Originally set at five levels, the Trustees approved the addition of a new level ($25,000 – 49,999) that now brings the total to six levels. A new pin design was approved that allows the inclusion of up to six Diamonds to reflect the respective giving levels. Please refer to the chart below for a detailed explanation of each level, the appropriate Diamond Circle pin and a picture of the six different crystals. Recognition occurs when an individual or a couple has contributed a combined personal outright gift(s) of $10,000 or more to The Rotary Foundation. Please note that the Diamond Circle pins now identify recognition levels for both the Major Donor program and the new Bequest Society. However, crystal recognition will remain separate and reflect the total dollars given under each respective Major Donor and Bequest Society recognition program. CONTRIBUTION RECOGNITION LEVEL RANGE ITEMS $10,000 - $ 24,999 Level 1 CRYSTAL 1. 1 Diamond Pin $25,000 - $49,999 Level 2 CRYSTAL 2. 2 Diamond Pin $50,000 - $99,999 Level 3 CRYSTAL 3. 3 Diamond Pin $100,000 - $499,999 Level 4 CRYSTAL 4. 4 Diamond Pin $500,000 - $999,999 Level 5 CRYSTAL 5. 5 Diamond Pin $1,000,000 Plus Level 6 CRYSTAL 6. 6 Diamond Pin Major gifts can be given in a variety of ways: cash, pledges and planned gifts. They can be made to the Annual Programs Fund or the Permanent Fund. In either case, the donor may opt to designate the gift to the SHARE District Designated Fund (DDF) or the Trustee-directed World Fund (WF). Donors are always asked how they would like their funds used. A gift that is not further designated provides maximum flexibility for future programs needs. However, opportunities exist for donors who may wish to designate their gifts to a particular type of program or a specific geographic area. Recognition for all irrevocable life insurance policies (owned by and payable to The Rotary Foundation), which are written on the life of an adult donor (over 21 years old), shall be based on the greatest determinable value of such policies (usually the “face value”) as long as the minimum cash value is $1,000. Donors whose cumulative contributions are $250,000 or more may opt to have their photograph permanently displayed in the Rotary Hall of Honor at World Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois. Major Donors are invited to the annual Trustee Chairman’s Appreciation Dinner that is held in conjunction with the Rotary International Convention and are listed in the Salute to Donors booklet that is published annually.