PLANNED GIVING
SOS Richmond is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
Donations are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Our EIN is 86-2836343.
Donations are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Our EIN is 86-2836343.
Create a Legacy of Dignity, Stability, and Opportunity
Your generosity can continue transforming lives for years to come.
A planned gift to SOS Richmond can help people experiencing homelessness move toward stability, meaningful employment, and a place to call home. With thoughtful planning, your gift may also provide important financial or tax benefits for you and your family.
Whether you are considering a gift today or planning for the future, an SOS Steward can help you explore possibilities and connect your generosity with the work that matters most to you.
A planned gift to SOS Richmond can help people experiencing homelessness move toward stability, meaningful employment, and a place to call home. With thoughtful planning, your gift may also provide important financial or tax benefits for you and your family.
Whether you are considering a gift today or planning for the future, an SOS Steward can help you explore possibilities and connect your generosity with the work that matters most to you.
A conversation is simply a place to begin. It does not create any obligation or commitment.
GIVE IN A WAY THAT WORKS FOR YOU
Planned giving is not limited to wills or large estates. It includes many thoughtful ways to support SOS Richmond—during your lifetime or as part of your legacy.
The right approach depends on your goals, the assets you own, and how you would like to provide for the people and causes you care about.
Qualified Charitable Distribution From Your IRA
If you are eligible to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution, or QCD, you may be able to transfer funds directly from your IRA to SOS Richmond.
A QCD may count toward your required minimum distribution while keeping the transferred amount out of your taxable income, subject to applicable rules and limits. This can be an especially effective way to support SOS Richmond if you must take IRA distributions but do not need all of the income.
Potential benefits:
The right approach depends on your goals, the assets you own, and how you would like to provide for the people and causes you care about.
Qualified Charitable Distribution From Your IRA
If you are eligible to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution, or QCD, you may be able to transfer funds directly from your IRA to SOS Richmond.
A QCD may count toward your required minimum distribution while keeping the transferred amount out of your taxable income, subject to applicable rules and limits. This can be an especially effective way to support SOS Richmond if you must take IRA distributions but do not need all of the income.
Potential benefits:
- Satisfy part or all of your required minimum distribution
- Reduce the taxable income generated by an IRA withdrawal
- Put retirement assets to work in your community
- Make a meaningful gift during your lifetime
Gifts of Appreciated Securities
Stocks, mutual funds, and other publicly traded securities that have increased in value may be more beneficial to donate directly than to sell and give the cash proceeds.
Depending on your circumstances, donating appreciated securities may allow you to avoid recognizing capital gains while potentially qualifying for a charitable deduction.
Potential benefits:
Please contact an SOS Steward before initiating a transfer so we can provide the appropriate instructions and properly acknowledge your gift.
Stocks, mutual funds, and other publicly traded securities that have increased in value may be more beneficial to donate directly than to sell and give the cash proceeds.
Depending on your circumstances, donating appreciated securities may allow you to avoid recognizing capital gains while potentially qualifying for a charitable deduction.
Potential benefits:
- Avoid selling the investment and realizing capital gains
- Potentially receive a charitable deduction
- Make a larger gift without using your available cash
- Simplify or rebalance a concentrated portfolio
Please contact an SOS Steward before initiating a transfer so we can provide the appropriate instructions and properly acknowledge your gift.
Donor-Advised and Other Charitable Funds
If you have a donor-advised fund, you can recommend a grant to SOS Richmond. You may also name SOS Richmond as a beneficiary or successor recipient of the fund.
A designated charitable fund can provide regular support to SOS Richmond over time, while a donor-advised fund offers flexibility to recommend grants to multiple charitable organizations.
Potential benefits:
If you have a donor-advised fund, you can recommend a grant to SOS Richmond. You may also name SOS Richmond as a beneficiary or successor recipient of the fund.
A designated charitable fund can provide regular support to SOS Richmond over time, while a donor-advised fund offers flexibility to recommend grants to multiple charitable organizations.
Potential benefits:
- Organize your charitable giving in one place
- Recommend grants when the timing is right
- Involve family members in your charitable legacy
- Create ongoing support for SOS Richmond
LEGACY GIVING
A legacy gift allows your values to live on. It can help ensure that SOS Richmond remains a source of dignity, opportunity, and stability for future generations.
Name SOS Richmond as a Beneficiary
You can name SOS Richmond as a beneficiary of an IRA, 401(k), 403(b), life insurance policy, donor-advised fund, bank account, or investment account.
Beneficiary designations are often simple to establish and can usually be changed without revising your will. You may designate all or a percentage of an account to SOS Richmond.
Retirement accounts may be particularly effective charitable assets. Because SOS Richmond is tax-exempt, retirement assets left to the organization can generally pass without the income-tax liability that may apply when those assets are inherited by individuals.
Potential benefits:
Name SOS Richmond as a Beneficiary
You can name SOS Richmond as a beneficiary of an IRA, 401(k), 403(b), life insurance policy, donor-advised fund, bank account, or investment account.
Beneficiary designations are often simple to establish and can usually be changed without revising your will. You may designate all or a percentage of an account to SOS Richmond.
Retirement accounts may be particularly effective charitable assets. Because SOS Richmond is tax-exempt, retirement assets left to the organization can generally pass without the income-tax liability that may apply when those assets are inherited by individuals.
Potential benefits:
- Easy to establish or update
- Retain complete control of your assets during your lifetime
- Designate a specific percentage rather than a fixed amount
- Potentially preserve more tax-efficient assets for your heirs
Make a Gift Through Your Will or Trust
A bequest is a gift made through your will or living trust. It allows you to support SOS Richmond in the future without affecting the assets available to you today.
Your gift can be:
Sample Bequest LanguageI give to SOS Richmond, a nonprofit organization located in Richmond, California, [the sum of $___ / ___% of my estate / the following property] to support its charitable mission.
Please ask your estate-planning attorney to review and adapt this language for your circumstances. An SOS Steward can also help ensure that we understand and can honor your intentions.
A bequest is a gift made through your will or living trust. It allows you to support SOS Richmond in the future without affecting the assets available to you today.
Your gift can be:
- A specific dollar amount
- A percentage of your estate
- A particular asset
- The remainder of your estate after other obligations have been fulfilled
- A contingent gift that takes effect only under specified circumstances
Sample Bequest LanguageI give to SOS Richmond, a nonprofit organization located in Richmond, California, [the sum of $___ / ___% of my estate / the following property] to support its charitable mission.
Please ask your estate-planning attorney to review and adapt this language for your circumstances. An SOS Steward can also help ensure that we understand and can honor your intentions.
Create Enduring Support Through an Endowment
An endowment gift is designed to provide support over many years. The principal is generally invested, while a portion of the fund supports the organization’s work over time.
An endowed gift can create a lasting connection between your values and SOS Richmond’s mission. Depending on the size and purpose of the gift, it may also offer opportunities for recognition or dedication.
Because endowment gifts require careful planning, we encourage you to speak with an SOS Steward before including one in your estate plan.
An endowment gift is designed to provide support over many years. The principal is generally invested, while a portion of the fund supports the organization’s work over time.
An endowed gift can create a lasting connection between your values and SOS Richmond’s mission. Depending on the size and purpose of the gift, it may also offer opportunities for recognition or dedication.
Because endowment gifts require careful planning, we encourage you to speak with an SOS Steward before including one in your estate plan.
EXPLORE MORE WAYS TO GIVE
Charitable Trusts
Charitable trusts can help donors combine philanthropy with personal, family, income, or estate-planning goals.
Charitable Remainder TrustA charitable remainder trust can provide income to you or other beneficiaries for a defined period. At the end of that period, the remaining trust assets pass to SOS Richmond or another designated charity.
This approach may be particularly useful for appreciated investments, real estate, or other assets that could produce significant capital gains if sold.
Charitable Lead Trust
A charitable lead trust provides income to SOS Richmond or another charity for a specified period. At the end of the trust term, the remaining assets generally pass to family members or other beneficiaries.
Depending on its design, a charitable lead trust may help support SOS Richmond while advancing family wealth-transfer goals.
Charitable trusts are sophisticated arrangements that require assistance from qualified legal, tax, and financial professionals.
Real Estate and Other Non-Cash Assets
In some circumstances, SOS Richmond may be able to accept assets such as real estate, closely held business interests, private investments, royalties, artwork, or other valuable property.
These gifts may allow you to support SOS Richmond using assets that are difficult to convert to cash. They can also involve valuation, environmental, ownership, or other considerations, so they must be reviewed before acceptance.
Please speak with an SOS Steward before transferring or formally designating a non-cash asset.
Employer Matching Gifts
Your employer may be able to double—or even multiply—the value of your contribution through a matching-gift program.
Ask your employer or former employer whether it matches charitable donations made by employees, retirees, or board members. If it does, follow the company’s instructions to request a match for your gift to SOS Richmond.
Charitable trusts can help donors combine philanthropy with personal, family, income, or estate-planning goals.
Charitable Remainder TrustA charitable remainder trust can provide income to you or other beneficiaries for a defined period. At the end of that period, the remaining trust assets pass to SOS Richmond or another designated charity.
This approach may be particularly useful for appreciated investments, real estate, or other assets that could produce significant capital gains if sold.
Charitable Lead Trust
A charitable lead trust provides income to SOS Richmond or another charity for a specified period. At the end of the trust term, the remaining assets generally pass to family members or other beneficiaries.
Depending on its design, a charitable lead trust may help support SOS Richmond while advancing family wealth-transfer goals.
Charitable trusts are sophisticated arrangements that require assistance from qualified legal, tax, and financial professionals.
Real Estate and Other Non-Cash Assets
In some circumstances, SOS Richmond may be able to accept assets such as real estate, closely held business interests, private investments, royalties, artwork, or other valuable property.
These gifts may allow you to support SOS Richmond using assets that are difficult to convert to cash. They can also involve valuation, environmental, ownership, or other considerations, so they must be reviewed before acceptance.
Please speak with an SOS Steward before transferring or formally designating a non-cash asset.
Employer Matching Gifts
Your employer may be able to double—or even multiply—the value of your contribution through a matching-gift program.
Ask your employer or former employer whether it matches charitable donations made by employees, retirees, or board members. If it does, follow the company’s instructions to request a match for your gift to SOS Richmond.
YOUR LEGACY CAN OPEN A DOOR
A planned gift begins with your values, not with a particular financial product or giving strategy.
An SOS Steward will listen to what matters to you, answer questions about SOS Richmond, and help you explore how your gift could make a lasting difference. We can also work with your attorney, accountant, or financial advisor to help carry out your intentions.
An SOS Steward will listen to what matters to you, answer questions about SOS Richmond, and help you explore how your gift could make a lasting difference. We can also work with your attorney, accountant, or financial advisor to help carry out your intentions.
SOS Richmond does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice. The information on this page is general in nature and may change as laws and regulations change. Please consult your attorney, tax professional, or financial advisor before making or modifying a planned gift. All gifts are subject to SOS Richmond’s gift-acceptance policies.
The tax descriptions above are deliberately qualified because eligibility, deductibility, valuation, and reporting depend on the donor’s circumstances. Current IRS guidance is available in Publication 526 and Publication 561.
The tax descriptions above are deliberately qualified because eligibility, deductibility, valuation, and reporting depend on the donor’s circumstances. Current IRS guidance is available in Publication 526 and Publication 561.