Planned Giving 101: Building a Legacy Through Thoughtful Estate Planning

Donna Courville presented at the Sacramento Region Community Foundation’s Planned Giving 101 program alongside John Koch, Planned Giving Consultant, and Chelsea Fahr, Senior Director of Philanthropy. Together, they shared insights on how estate planning and philanthropy go hand-in-hand.

Why Estate Planning Matters

Estate planning is often thought of only in terms of wills and trusts, but as Donna emphasized, it is also about ensuring your wishes are respected in the event of incapacity, providing care for loved ones, and supporting the charitable causes you value most. Without a plan, California law dictates the distribution of assets, a result that may not reflect your intentions.

Planned Giving Defined

Planned giving can sound complex, but at its core it is the thoughtful process of aligning your financial and philanthropic goals. It involves working with a professional team, including legal, tax, and financial advisors alongside the Foundation, to identify strategies that balance three objectives: securing your own financial needs, providing responsibly for your loved ones, and creating a lasting charitable legacy.

Donna explained that philanthropy is simply the act of looking beyond personal needs and giving back to the community. Planned giving builds on that principle by offering a structured way to ensure charitable priorities are part of a long-term plan.

Tools for Planned Giving

Donna and John introduced several tools that make planned giving accessible and effective:

• Current gifts: cash, appreciated securities, real estate, or tax-smart giving through IRA distributions called Qualified Charitable Distributions (“QCD”). Donna noted, “If you only remember one thing that I say today, I want you to remember the QCD… It is a powerful way to donate to charities during your lifetime without needing to file an itemized income tax return.”
• Deferred gifts: contributions through wills, trusts, or beneficiary designations
• Life income gifts: John led the discussion on life income gifts such as Charitable Gift Annuities (CGA) and Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRT), explaining how these vehicles can provide income during a donor’s lifetime while ensuring that designated charities benefit in the future.

She reminded attendees to talk with their investment advisors about whether using a QCD might be the right fit for donating to the causes they care about most.

The Takeaway

Planned giving is about more than transferring wealth. It is a way to align financial planning with personal values, ensuring that loved ones are cared for while also making a lasting impact on the causes that matter most. By planning ahead, donors can take advantage of tax-smart strategies, support the organizations they believe in, and leave a legacy that endures.

Boutin Jones would like to thank the Sacramento Region Community Foundation for hosting this informative program and fostering important conversations about building a legacy through thoughtful giving.