Donate to the LAREF Impact Fund

Importance of the LAREF Impact Fund
 
The club formed Los Altos Rotary Endowment Fund (LAREF) in 1978 to increase its charitable giving impact in the local and world community.  The purpose of LAREF's Impact Fund is to help the club give more grants to nonprofits, scholarships to deserving local students, and provide support for international humanitarian projects and other charitable activities to make the world a better place.

The Impact Fund provides funds for the club’s charitable activities through annual earnings that it generates through investments.
 
Why Grow the Impact Fund?
 
The Impact Fund enables the Los Altos Rotary club to:
  • Increase its charitable impact locally and internationally
  • Provide consistent nonprofit and scholarship support, especially in difficult years like 2020 or when the club’s normal fundraisers do not do as well as expected.
  • Flexibly address important needs and priorities now and in the future. We don’t know what future needs will be, but we can be sure there will be many. Who would have ever predicted the pandemic but the club was able to provide consistent support thanks to the Impact Fund.
 
Why You Should Contribute
 
You should contribute to the Impact Fund because:
  • You enable the club to grow its local and global charitable impact, year after year into perpetuity
  • You will be recognized by current and future club members and the community for your generosity and farsighted vision
  • YOU financially benefit -- Donations are tax deductible and may provide other financial planning benefits  
 
Donation and Pledge Recognition Levels
 
Your donation or pledge to the Impact Fund is important for the strength of the club’s charitable programs.  Donation recognition levels include the following.  Note: Donation levels are cumulative, so over time as you donate more, you can move to higher recognition levels.
  • LAREF Guy Shoup Fellow: $1,000-$4,999
  • LAREF Advocate: $5,000-$9,999
  • LAREF Benefactor: $10,000-$24,999
  • LAREF Patron: $25,000-$99,999
  • LAREF President’s Circle: $100,000+
 
Member of Los Altos Rotary Legacy Society: Those designating planned legacy gift by including the Impact Fund in their estate plans.
  
Ways to Give
 
You can donate to the Impact Fund now and/or give later by leaving a planned gift.  If you have any questions about donating now or leaving a planned gift to the LAREF Impact Fund, please contact Joe Eyre, Impact Fund chair.
 
Donate Now
 
You can Donate Now: through any of the following ways:
 
  • Donate Online:    
  • Send a check to Los Altos Rotary Endowment Fund, P. O. Box 794, Los Altos, CA  94023 (write “Impact Fund” on your check’s memo line).
  • Donate appreciated stock.  Download the stock donation form.
  • Donate up to $100,000 of your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from your IRA (if you are at least 70 ½)
  • Donate from your Donor Advised Fund
  • Donate real property
 
You can give donations from yourself, “In Memory of” or “In Honor of” a club member, or loved one, or you can be recognized as “Anonymous".
 
 
Donate Later by Leaving a Planned Gift
 
You can leave a planned gift by including the LAREF Impact Fund in your estate plans. By doing this you automatically become a member of the Los Altos Rotary Legacy Society.  The Legacy Society recognizes the visionary commitment of club members and others who have committed to, or have left, a planned gift to the LAREF Impact Fund. The generous support provided by Legacy Society members enables the club to do even more good locally and globally to make the world a better place.
 
What is Planned Giving?
 
Through Planned Giving, you can create your personal legacy for which you’ll be remembered forever while making a meaningful impact for the club.
 
In addition to helping the club be more impactful locally and globally, your planned gift helps you. With a planned gift, you give after you pass away and thus you do not need to worry about running out of funds during your lifetime. In addition, planned gifts may significantly enhance your financial or tax situation, provide guaranteed income, and/or help your heirs through tax incentives.
 
How to Leave a Planned Gift to LAREF for the Impact Fund
 
There are numerous options for leaving a planned gift to LAREF for the Impact Fund.  Some of them include: 
 
  • Prepare a will and leave a Bequest of cash to LAREF for the Impact Fund. Bequests are simple and can be for a specific dollar amount, residual amount, or percentage of assets. Please see the section below for sample bequest language.  LAREF’s Nonprofit Tax ID number is 94-2575930 .
  • Name LAREF as a beneficiary of one of your retirement funds, such as your IRA, 401k, 403b, or pension. It is simple (often an online form on your broker’s web site) and can avoid significant taxes (retirement funds can be subject to double taxation).
  • Leave a bequest or planned gift of appreciated property to LAREF for the Impact Fund.  Appreciated securities (stock/mutual fund shares), personal assets, or real estate property are especially favorable from a tax perspective. And, if you have a house you are currently living in, you can donate it, get a tax deduction now, and continue to live there for your lifetime.
  • Give a gift that pays you income while you are living. Life Income Gifts, such as Charitable Remainder Trusts or Charitable Gift Annuities can give you a tax deduction now and then provide lifetime income. These vehicles are often ideal after you have maximized your annual giving.
  • Purchase a new life insurance policy, naming LAREF as the beneficiary, or do this for a life insurance policy that you already own.
  • Give closely-held stock, interest in your business, or patents, mineral rights, etc.
  • You can remember loved ones or honor those in the community through memorial or honorary planned gifts.
  • Encourage family and friends to leave planned gifts to LAREF for the Impact Fund.
 
Sample Bequest Language for your Will:
 
To make a cash bequest:
…the sum of $_________ to Los Altos Rotary Endowment Fund to be directed to the LAREF Impact Fund.”
 
To give a percentage of your estate:
…_______ percent of my estate to Los Altos Rotary Endowment Fund to be directed to the LAREF Impact Fund.”
 
To give a residual amount or remaining interest:
…the rest, residue and remainder of my estate after all debts, expenses, and taxes have been paid and all the general and specific bequests have been made, to Los Altos Rotary Endowment Fund to be directed to the LAREF Impact Fund.”
 
To give a tangible asset or property:
…_______ shares of common stock of __________ (or insert here a description of other property) owned by me at my death as these shares shall exist at the date of my death, to Los Altos Rotary Endowment Fund to be directed to the LAREF Impact Fund.”
 
Los Altos Rotary Endowment Fund is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. All gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Tax ID # 94-2575930.
 
"The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy." -- Kalu Ndukwe Kalu
 
 
Los Altos Rotary Endowment Fund | P. O. Box 794 | Los Altos, CA 94023 | laref@losaltosrotary.org | Nonprofit Tax ID number 94-2575930