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

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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

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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.