Planned Giving
The Legacy Society honors and assists individuals who have formally notified us of their intention to make a planned gift to the Community Foundation of Tompkins County.
The Society promotes sustainable philanthropy through planned giving opportunities (below) for those who wish to perpetually benefit Tompkins County. Members have the joy of helping their community while they secure appropriate financial options for themselves and their heirs.
Planned gifts include bequest intentions in a will, life income agreements, trusts, flexible endowments, qualified real estate with retained life use or without, retirement funds, and life insurance.
Examples of Gifts that Match Your Goals
| Financial Goal | Then You Can | And Your Benefits Are | ||
| Support the Tompkins County community | Put a bequest in your will to benefit the Tompkins Today & Tomorrow Fund or a Field of Interest Fund of the Community Foundation | Your generosity benefits Tompkins County forever as the community changes and new needs emerge. The Community Foundation can manage your bequest to address these issues; you receive estate tax deductions and keep your assets in your name during your lifetime. | ||
| Prioritizing heirs’ inheritance while benefiting the Community Foundation and Tompkins County | Name the Community Foundation as a beneficiary of your retirement plan; leave other assets to your family | Reduced estate and income tax | ||
| Secure a life income while minimizing taxes | Establish a Charitable Remainder Trust with the Community Foundation | Tax benefits and often a boosted rate of return from assets | ||
| Reduce gift and estate taxes on assets you pass to your children and grandchildren | Create a Charitable Lead Trust that pays income to the Community Foundation for a specific term of years | A gift or estate tax deduction. Your family keeps the assets | ||
| Make a large gift with little or no cost | Give a life insurance policy you no longer need | Current and future income tax deductions | ||
| Make a revocable gift during your lifetime | Name the Community Foundation as the beneficiary of assets in a living trust | Full control of the trust and its assets during your lifetime |
Downloads

- Legacy Society Form Confirm your commitment to the future of Tompkins County by making a planned gift