The start of a new year is a time for fresh goals, meaningful change, and creating a life that aligns with your values. While many resolutions focus on personal wellness or career growth, this year, consider adding something impactful to your list: planned giving.
Planned giving allows you to leave a lasting legacy that reflects your passions while ensuring long-term support for the people, organizations, or causes you care about most. It’s a way to make a meaningful impact—both now and in the future—and the new year is the perfect time to get started.
Here’s why planned giving should be your new resolution—and how you can begin securing your legacy today.
Why Planned Giving Makes a Meaningful New Year’s Resolution
1. Align Your Legacy with Your Values
The new year offers a moment to reflect on what matters most. Planned giving allows you to translate your values into action by supporting organizations that align with your beliefs—whether that’s education, healthcare, environmental conservation, or social justice.
When you make a plan for your future, you’re not just thinking about financial security—you’re contributing to the legacy you’ll leave behind for the next generation.
2. Simplify and Strengthen Your Estate Plan
Updating your estate plan is a responsible and empowering way to start the year. Including charitable gifts in your estate plan not only ensures your loved ones are taken care of but can also maximize the impact of your assets.
Certain planned gifts, such as charitable trusts or donor-advised funds, can offer tax benefits while also ensuring that your chosen nonprofit receives ongoing support.
3. Create a Lasting Impact, No Matter Your Income Level
You don’t need to be a billionaire to make a difference. Planned giving is for anyone who wants to make a meaningful contribution, whether through a bequest in your will, a life insurance policy, or a percentage of your estate.
No matter the size of your gift, the impact can be transformative for the organizations you care about and the communities they serve.
If you’re not sure how you want to contribute, check out our guide that explores different types of planned giving—perhaps it’ll spark some inspiration!
How to Incorporate Planned Giving Into Your New Year’s Plans
1. Revisit or Create Your Estate Plan
If you don’t yet have an estate plan, this is the perfect time to create one. Start by listing your priorities: who you want to care for, what assets you want to protect, and which organizations you want to support.
Already have an estate plan? This year, review it to ensure it still reflects your wishes and includes any organizations or charities you want to support.
2. Decide How You Want to Give
There are several ways to incorporate charitable giving into your plan:
Bequest: A specific amount or percentage of your estate gifted through your will or trust.
Beneficiary Designation: Naming a charity as a beneficiary of your retirement account, insurance policy, or financial account. Learn more about how to do this here.
Charitable Trust: A more complex option that can provide you with financial benefits during your lifetime while reserving assets for a charitable organization after your passing. (Trust & Will currently does not offer this product or service. However, we are always expanding and improving upon our platform to better serve our members.)
Your method of giving should reflect your financial goals and the legacy you wish to create. When creating your Trust & Will Plan, you’ll be prompted with the option of making a charitable bequest, and we’ll help you through this process step by step.
3. Have Conversations That Matter
Planned giving is not just a financial decision—it’s a personal one. Share your intentions with your family to ensure they understand your wishes and the values driving your decisions. It is also recommended to inform your selected organization about your planned gift so that they can plan accordingly.
Many people find that discussing their legacy can bring clarity and foster deeper connections with loved ones.
Planned Giving: A Resolution That Lasts a Lifetime
A new year signals an opportunity to build a more intentional life—one that balances personal goals with a desire to contribute to the greater good. By making planned giving a priority this year, you’re doing more than creating a resolution—you’re creating a legacy.
When you include charitable giving in your estate plan, you’re making a powerful statement about who you are and what you stand for. And that’s a resolution worth keeping.
Ready to get started? At Trust & Will, we’re here to help keep things simple. You can create a fully customizable, state-specific estate plan from the comfort of your own home. Our users have left over one billion dollars (and counting) to nonprofit organizations through estate plans created on the Trust & Will platform. Take our free quiz to see where you should get started, or compare our different estate planning and settlement options today!
Is there a question here we didn’t answer? Browse more topics in our learn center, visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, or chat with our member support!
Trust & Will is an online service providing legal forms and information. We are not a law firm and we do not provide legal advice.
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