What are the membership benefits of the Angel Society?
Membership offers many benefits, including:
· Inclusion on the Angel Society membership plaque located in the Gibson Memorial Chapel
· Recognition in the Society’s membership roster published on the cemetery website
· Inclusion on the Society mailing list, used for occasional, notices, and invitation to Society and public events
· And other forms of recognition that the CRC Trustees wishes to introduce
Membership Criteria
When you make a major gift in your lifetime (cumulative value equal to or greater than $5,000) or notify us in writing of your intent to make a
similarly sized legacy gift through a trust, bequest, or other planned gift -- you become eligible for membership in the Angel Society. Your lifetime or legacy gift may be unrestricted (it can be used at the discretion of the Cortland Rural Cemetery Trustees) – or restricted for a specific use (such as building the CRC's interest-bearing endowment fund, maintaining roads or grounds, purchasing equipment, or funding staff salaries). In addition to simple ‘cash’ contributions, other qualifying gifts include:
· A bequest by will or living trust
· A life insurance policy, be it a policy that is no longer needed for its original purpose or a new policy enabling a substantial future gift
at a modest annual cost
· A gift of retirement plan assets (e.g. IRAs, bank accounts, 401ks, etc.) which might otherwise be subject to 'double taxation,' limiting
their value to your heirs
· A charitable gift annuity, providing lifetime income to you or a loved one, as well as income and estate tax savings; this type of gift must
be set up by a licensed legal or financial adviser
· A charitable remainder trust, providing lifetime income for you or a family member, income and estate tax savings, and the avoidance of
capital gains taxes on highly appreciated property
· A charitable lead trust, which is an intergenerational wealth-transfer strategy enabling you to provide for your heirs and the cemetery –
while also sharply reducing gift and estate taxes
· Establishing a permanent endowment fund for a specific purpose
· Other gifts and giving strategies may qualify
To develop a legacy-giving approach that’s right for you, contact your legal or tax adviser to discuss your goals. Or, for simple ‘cash’ donations, feel free to contact the Cortland Rural Cemetery directly.
