Solutions for Large Donations

If you have built a sizable estate and also are looking for ways to receive reliable payments, consider a charitable remainder trust. This type of trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life, or a period not exceeding 20 years, from assets you give to the trust you create. At the end of the trust term, the balance in the trust goes to the Sierra Club Foundation.

These types of gifts may offer you tax benefits and the option for income. The minimum gift is $100,000. There are two ways to receive payments, and each has its own benefits:

The unitrust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. The amount of your payments is redetermined annually. If the value of the trust increases, so do your payments. If the value decreases, however, so will your payments.

The annuity trust pays you, each year, the same dollar amount you choose at the start. Your payments stay the same, regardless of fluctuations in trust investments.

Discover More

See which type of charitable trust best fits your estate plan with the FREE guide Trusts: Choose From Two Ways to Donate.

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An Example of How It Works

Woman smilingSusan, 75, wants to make a gift to the Sierra Club Foundation but would also like more income in the future. Susan creates a charitable remainder unitrust with annual lifetime payments to her equal to 5% of the fair market value of the trust assets as revalued annually. She funds the trust with assets valued at $500,000.

Susan receives $25,000 the first year from the trust. Subsequent payment amounts vary each year depending on the annual valuations of the trust assets. She is eligible for a federal income tax charitable deduction of $290,360* in the year she creates and funds the trust. This deduction saves Susan $92,915 in her 32% tax bracket.

*Based on a 5.2% charitable midterm federal rate. Deductions and calculations will vary depending on your personal circumstances.

Calculate Your Benefits

Submit a few details and see how a charitable remainder trust can benefit you.

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Next Steps

  1. Contact our team at (800) 932-4270 or giftplanning@sierraclub.org to talk about supporting the Sierra Club Foundation by setting up a charitable remainder trust.
  2. Seek the advice of your financial or legal advisor.
  3. If you include us in your plans, please use the appropriate legal name and federal tax ID.

Learn more about our two entities:

Legal name: Sierra Club Foundation
Address: 2101 Webster Street, Suite 1250, Oakland, CA 94612
Federal tax ID number: 94-6069890

Legal name: the Sierra Club
Address: 2101 Webster Street, Suite 1300, Oakland, CA 94612
Federal tax ID number: 94-1153307

Please note that contributions to Sierra Club are not tax-deductible if your estate exceeds the current allowable limit. Contributions to the Sierra Club Foundation are fully tax-deductible. Learn more about our two entities.

Legal name: Sierra Club
Address: 2101 Webster Street, Oakland, CA 94612
Federal tax ID number: 94-1153307

Legal name: Sierra Club Foundation
Address: 2101 Webster Street, Suite 1250, Oakland, CA 94612
Federal tax ID number: 94-6069890