Throughout its history, Saint Edmund's Retreat has relied on the support of those who share its vision. Several recent bequests from donors who had the foresight and generosity to include us in their wills have helped us to cover the costs of critical deferred maintenance projects, as well as provided us with the initial seed to grow our endowment.

Making a planned gift is one of the most effective ways that you can help to insure the long-term growth and financial stability of Saint Edmund's Retreat. There are several ways to support us and, at the same time, gain significant tax advantages. Listed below is a brief description of some options to get you started:

Bequests
Leaving a bequest to Saint Edmund's Retreat allows you to pass any amount you wish onto us without paying an estate tax. You can give cash or specific property, a dollar amount or a percentage of your estate, with restrictions or without. Please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement if you are considering making a bequest so that we can discuss both your interests and our needs. Because there are so many ways to give and because the language used needs to be specific, we also suggest that you obtain the professional counsel of an attorney who specializes in probate and estate planning.

If you have decided to make such provisions and feel comfortable about sharing this information, we would love to hear about it. Your thoughtfulness and generosity may inspire someone else to do the same!

Charitable Remainder Trust
A Charitable Remainder Trust allows you to take care of your loved ones and yourself, while at the same time making provisions for the charities you love and have supported over the years. You can name Saint Edmund's Retreat as the ultimate beneficiary while remaining in complete control of the trust during your lifetime. Like wills, living trusts are fully revocable, so you can change or terminate them at any time. They also come with significant tax advantages. Unlike wills, however, the terms of a living trust can be put into effect immediately. Other types of trusts include a charitable remainder unitrust, charitable remainder annuity trust or a pooled income fund.

Charitable Gift Annuities
A Charitable Gift Annuity is a simple way of making a deferred gift to your favorite non-profit. You give cash, marketable securities, or, in certain cases, real estate, and the recipient charity agrees to pay you and/or another beneficiary a specified annuity. You can then claim the immediate gift as a tax deduction, as well as a portion of the annuity you receive. You can also reduce the capital gain tax on long-term, appreciated securities by donating them in this manner.

Closely held Stock
Stock in a closely held corporation is another important planned giving option. Business owners who contribute closely held stock to a charitable organization are allowed a tax deduction for the fair market value of the stock, while at the same time escaping a possible capital-gain tax on any appreciation in its value. After the gift is made, the corporation can then purchase the stock from the charity for cash. Both parties benefit in this way: Saint Edmund's Retreat receives a much-needed gift of cash, while your corporation receives significant tax advantages.

Other Options
Gifts of real estate, tangible personal property (art work, antiques, etc.), life insurance, appreciated securities and retirement plan assets are other planned giving options that come with significant tax advantages for you, while providing important financial benefits to Saint Edmund's Retreat.

Depending on the specific arrangement, you can expect some or all of the following benefits of thoughtful charitable planning:

• Satisfaction from providing Saint Edmund's Retreat with the means to further its mission and goals
• Income-tax savings
• Avoidance of the capital gain tax with respect to certain gifts
• Retained payments during your lifetime and/or that of other beneficiaries
• Possibility of a higher rate of return than currently provided by the contributed asset
• Elimination of federal estate tax on the value of the interest in property passing to Saint Edmund's Retreat upon the donor's death
• Reduced estate-settlement costs

Enders Island Endowment Fund
While the annual fund fluctuates from year to year depending on the current economic climate, an endowed fund steadily increases over time and provides much-needed financial resources during difficult periods. For this reason, we are in the process of establishing the Enders Island Endowment Fund, which will help to insure the long-term viability of our ministry by providing annual revenue based on interest generated from the principle investment.

The Enders Island Endowment Fund will support six key program areas:

• 12-Step Recovery and Life Enrichment Programs
• Facilities and Operations
• Retreats and Programs
• St. Michael Institute of Sacred Art
• Catholic Religious Education and Evangelization

The Fund will be controlled and supervised by our Board of Trustees. Each year the Board will establish a spending rate for the Fund. It may establish additional categories of support according to the needs of Saint Edmund's Retreat and may name individual funds in recognition of outstanding service to the retreat or as memorials for benefactors and friends of the island.

Our long-term growth, stability and success depends on prudent spending, careful planning, and a source of income that can supplement the annual fund. We hope that you will consider supporting this critical initiative.

For more information on how you can make a planned gift to Saint Edmund's Retreat, please call (860) 536-0565.