Planned Giving

Ways to Make a Planned Gift

There are many different types of planned gifts, and each offers unique advantages. Some planned gifts are revocable – a gift in your will or living trust, for example – so you can change your mind at any time. Or, they can be irrevocable – just as outright gifts are – so that you benefit from an income tax deduction if you itemize.

Your planned gift may be designated to support a specific program at St. Louis Center or given in support of the greatest areas of need. Through careful planning, you can both ensure the future of the Center and maximize the impact of your assets.

What is a bequest?

A bequest is a gift from your estate – a transfer of cash, securities, or other property made through your estate plans – and can be made to St. Louis Center

A bequest can be made for a specific amount, for a percentage of your estate, or for all or a portion of what is left after you have made bequests to your family.

How does a bequest work? What are the benefits of a bequest?

• You retain control and use of your assets during your lifetime.
• You may modify your bequest if your circumstances change.
• Gifts from your estate may be exempt from federal estates taxes.
• A bequest costs nothing now, yet gives you the satisfaction of knowing you have provided for St. Louis Center.

BEQUEST language for A WILL

For an unrestricted gift that allows the Center to determine how to use the funds based on the most pressing needs, use the following language for your will and/or trust:

“I give to St. Louis Center located at 16195 W Old US Hwy 12, Chelsea, MI 48118 or its successor thereto, _______ [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted charitable use and purpose.”

What is an Endowment?

When you make a donation to an endowment, you give a gift with both immediate and long-term benefits. Endowment donations are invested. A portion of the annual income from the investment is used to address immediate needs at St. Louis Center. The remaining funds are reinvested to ensure indefinite support.

Language for ENDOWMENT:

“I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to St. Louis Center in Chelsea, MI [money or property to be bequeathed] to establish an endowment fund to be known as the [_________ Fund], the income from which shall be for the unrestricted use of St. Louis Center.”

What is a Charitable Trust?

Charitable Lead Trust

If you want to make an impact now at St. Louis Center and also provide for your family later, consider setting up a charitable lead trust. You transfer cash or other assets to a trust that makes payments to the Center for a period of time. When the term is up, the remaining trust passes to your family or other beneficiaries you select.

Charitable Remainder Trust

This type of trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create. At the end of the trust term, the balance in the trust goes to St. Louis Center.

Beneficiary Designations

Make a gift in a few easy steps. Not everyone wants to commit to making a gift in their wills or estates. Some prefer the increased flexibility that a beneficiary designation provides by using:

• IRAs and retirement plans
• Life insurance policies
• Donor advised funds
• Commercial annuities

It is very simple to name St. Louis Center as a beneficiary. Start by requesting a change-of-beneficiary form from your policy administrator or download the form from your provider’s website. Make your desired changes and return the form to establish your gift.

Benevolent Care by the Numbers

77% of the donations received go to the care of the Center’s residents.

According to the 2022 audit, St. Louis Center administrative and overhead expenses were only 23%, in line with well-managed nonprofit best practices. You can be confident that your donation to the Center is going to good use.

$3,300,000 – The total cost of Benevolent Care that St. Louis Center must fund raise each year, ie, the amount above earned revenue such as SSI or other individual support.

$9,041 – The approximate cost of Benevolent Care to St. Louis Center each day.

St. Louis Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Federal Tax ID: 38-6038121

Provide the gift of
Benevolent Care

For over 60 years, St. Louis Center has remained focused on St. Louis Guanella’s vision to provide loving service to the most vulnerable people in our community, without regard to their economic status. With this as our mission, St. Louis Center always focuses first on resident care.

What is Benevolent Care?

Benevolent Care is financial support from charitable contributions necessary to cover the services that are not met by earned revenue. Given the limits of earned income, and the reality that very few families can afford the total cost of care, St. Louis Center strives to offer Benevolent Care to cover the difference.

More than half of the total costs must be fund raised to provide a level of care, which includes 24/7 supervision, protection, transportation, meal preparation, medication administration, community involvement, and assistance with other activities of daily life. The difficulties the pandemic caused over the last few years have made the need to provide Benevolent Care even more poignant.

Depending on the level of care, the cost of services to a person living at the Center may be as much as $8,000. A social security supplement (SSI/A) covers only room and board, which is about 20% of the total. Some residents do have support from their local Community Mental Health organization and a Medicaid waiver program. Many residents do not qualify for this governmental benefit, and apply instead for a small Personal Care Supplement (less than $10 per day).

St. Louis Center residents and staff are so grateful for your support!