You Can Give a Gift Annuity

You probably know how a charitable gift annuity works. You give stock or a check to one of the Masonic Charities of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, including the Masonic Homes, The Pennsylvania Youth Foundation, The Pennsylvania Masonic Foundation for Children, The Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania, or the Masonic Charities Fund, which includes the Masonic Temple and Monument Preservation Fund. We sign a commitment to pay you X number of dollars every year for the rest of your life. The arrangement benefits you in several ways, including tax relief. A Masonic Charity benefits because it obtains funds to help carry out its mission.

Gift annuities help both the donor and the organization that the donor cares about. Some folks like them so well that they obtain a new one every year.

But, did you know you can give gift annuity payments to someone else? For example, let's say your mother is 86 years old and lives on a fixed income. She could use some extra money, so you could write a check for $20,000 to a Masonic Charity and we would establish a gift annuity naming your mother as the annuitant. According to our current rates, she would receive guaranteed payments of $168.37 every month (or $505.00 each quarter) for the remainder of her life. Of course, the Masonic Charity would also benefit from this thoughtful arrangement.

Or, consider this scenario: You have two adult children and you want to supplement their retirement programs, so you establish a deferred payment gift annuity with a Masonic Charity for each of them. At the outset, when you provide the initial funds, you determine when the payments to your children will begin. It could be at age 65, or perhaps later. We handle the details and make the payments. Again, the benefits are considerable -- for you, for your children, and for the Masonic Charity.

Can you give a gift annuity to a non-family member? Yes, indeed. In fact, some donors use such gift arrangements to benefit a treasured friend, a long-time employee, a revered teacher, or someone else whom they want to assist. Gift annuities can help just about anyone! And, all the while, a Masonic Charity also receives a blessing.

To learn more about gift annuities and how they might benefit you, in complete confidence and at no cost or obligation, fill out and return the response coupon to the Office of Gift Planning, or call Bro. Alvin H. Blitz, Chief Director of Gift Planning, or Bro. John McFadden, Director of Gift Planning ­ East Region, at (800) 599-6454 or (717) 367-1121, extension 33311. Brethren and Friends in Western Pennsylvania are invited to contact Jane W. Binley, Director of Gift Planning ­ West Region, by calling (866) 872-0664 or (412) 741-1400, extension 3011.