Monica Dickens Legacy Society

Leave a Legacy

You can help prevent suicide by leaving a gift to Samaritans in your will. Your gift will be a legacy of your compassion for those who struggle or have suffered a loss to suicide. When you make a planned gift to Samaritans, you’ll become part of the Monica Dickens Legacy Society, named after Samaritans’ founder. Monica’s legacy lives on each day in our work to prevent suicide — and you can be part of that legacy, as well.

Interested in leaving a legacy gift?

Contact Janet Lawn, Chief Development Officer, at [email protected] or (617) 536-2460 x5223.

Make a Future Gift to Samaritans

The simplest way to make a legacy gift to Samaritans is through your will or by designating Samaritans as a beneficiary of your retirement plan, life insurance policy, or bank account. A legacy gift can allow you to make a bigger impact through a larger gift than is possible with present-day funds — without affecting your finances today and offering tax advantages to you and your heirs.

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Bequests

A quick phone call to your attorney or financial planner is all you’ll need to make a charitable gift through your will. Donations often include various types of assets, such as cash and securities. In your will, you can specify a dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or the residual of the estate, as well as make the gift contingent on future events. Below are examples of types of bequests and sample language for your will.

Outright Bequest

I give, devise, and bequeath $, % or [name specific asset] to Samaritans, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation (Tax ID #04-2643466) with offices at 41 West Street, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02111.

Contingent Bequest or Trust Gift

In the event of the death of any of the beneficiaries, I give, devise, and bequeath % of the rest, residuary, and remainder to Samaritans, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation (Tax ID# 04-2643466) with offices at 41 West Street, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02111.

Life Insurance, Retirement & Bank Accounts

Naming Samaritans as a beneficiary is another way to support our future. A paid-up life insurance policy may also be transferred to Samaritans for an immediate income tax deduction. The benefit of using life insurance is that it provides leverage when gifting, which makes it possible to gift a significant amount at a relatively small cost.

Retirement assets such as an IRA or 401(k) are taxable to your heirs. As a nonprofit, Samaritans would not pay taxes on funds from a retirement account. Required minimum distributions from an IRA at age 70 1/2 that are directly rolled over to Samaritans are not taxable.

Bank and brokerage accounts can also name Samaritans as a beneficiary and would not need to go through the probate process.

Naming Samaritans as a beneficiary is simple:

  1. Contact your life insurance company, retirement plan, or financial institution for a change of beneficiary form.
  2. Complete the form designating what percentage of the assets you wish to contribute to Samaritans as a primary or secondary beneficiary.
  3. Return the form to your institution. You can share a copy with us to help ensure the plan is completed.
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Annuities & Trusts

Annuities and trusts offer tax advantages for you and your heirs, and can provide income and support for yourself or a designated beneficiary. Talk with your attorney or financial planner about the tax advantages and income-producing options that make sense for you such as:

Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT)

A tax-advantaged vehicle that enables you, as donor, to give to Samaritans, diversify assets, and receive annual payouts.

Charitable Lead Trusts

You would fund the trust, preferably with an asset expected to appreciate; Samaritans receives a fixed annual payout from the trust; and the remainder goes to your beneficiaries at the end of the payout term.

Charitable Gift Annuity

A special type of agreement designed to provide you with the benefits of a traditional annuity while giving the underlying asset to Samaritans.

“Samaritans and SafePlace have been my lifeline. They taught me to grow and how to accept losing Edward. Leaving a bequest in my will is a wonderful way that I can give back — and help others avoid this terrible loss.”

Donalda

Monica Dickens Legacy Society member

Make Your Contribution Today

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Donate by Phone

(617) 536-2460 x5

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Donate by Mail

Samaritans
41 West St., 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02111

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Email with Questions

[email protected]