The Wilder Legacy Society
Haste makes waste, but a lazy man’d rather get his work done fast than do it himself…all it saves is time, son. And what good is time, with nothing to do? You want to sit and twiddle your thumbs, all these stormy winter days?
To express our sincere appreciation to those who commit to planned gifts, the Wilder Home Association offers lifetime membership in the Wilder Legacy Society. As a member of this group, you will enjoy invitations to special events at the Wilder Home & Museum. In addition, you will receive a yearly online newsletter, updating and informing you of the work and projects of the Wilder Home Association. You will also receive a personalized certificate denoting your lifetime membership in the legacy society. As a legacy society member you play an important role in securing and preserving the legacy of one of America’s most noted authors, Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Planned gifts include bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, life insurance or retirement plan designations, and other provisions of future interest. There is no minimum dollar amount required for membership in the Wilder Legacy Society. For many types of gifts, we require only a simple statement of your commitment in writing to initiate your membership.
For More Information
The Wilder Home Association looks forward to visiting with you and your advisors about the best method for including the Association in your financial or estate plans.
Please contact:
Laura Ingalls Wilder Home Association
Attn: Nicholas Inman
3060 Highway A Mansfield, MO 65704
Toll Free: (877) 924-7126
This brochure provides information of a general nature only and is not intended as legal or financial advice. The services of a financial advisor, attorney or other estate planning professional should be obtained when considering ant type of planned gift.
Examples of Planned Gifts
Bequests
A bequest is a gift made by naming The Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home & Museum as a beneficiary in your will. This is both a simple method for remembering the Wilder Home Association in perpetuity. If you already have a valid, up-to-date will, your attorney can add the Wilder Home Association as a beneficiary through a simple amendment to your will called a codicil.
To leave a bequest, we suggest sharing the following language with your attorney:
‘I hereby give and bequeath [_________________________ dollars/________________ percent/ all of residue of my estate to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home Association, a nonprofit corporation in Mansfield, Missouri, to be used for its general purposes.”
Living Trusts
Please note that including the Wilder Home Association in a revocable living trust works in much the same manner as a bequest. Your attorney can assist you in tailoring the language to your needs and wishes.
Life Insurance
Whole life, universal, and other forms of permanent life insurance policies will qualify you for membership in the Wilder Home Association. You can contribute all or part of an insurance policy that you own but no longer need.
When naming the Wilder Home Association as the owner and beneficiary of an existing policy, your annual premium payments may become tax-deductible. Additionally, you may be able to deduct an amount approximately equal to the current cash value of the policy for income tax purposes in the year you transfer ownership. Another option is simple to purchase and name the Wilder Association as owner/beneficiary pf a new life insurance policy. You should consult with you accountant or financial planner.
Charitable Gift Annuities
A charitable gift annuity (currently available for gifts of $10,000 or more in most states) provides you with a guaranteed fixed income for life in exchange for your irrevocable contribution, which may be in the form of cash and/or appreciated securities.
Charitable Remainder Trusts
With the assistance of an attorney, you can establish an irrevocable trust naming yourself, another individual, or a bank as a trustee. You may transfer cash, securities, or other property to the trust. The trust then pays income to you and/or other beneficiaries, such as the Wilder Home Association, for life or a term of up to 20 years at a certain percentage or dollar amount as determined when the trust is established.
The income and estate tax advantages of a charitable remainder trust can be significant.
Retirement Plans
One of the simplest ways to make a gift to the Wilder Home Association is through a beneficiary designation in your IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or other retirement plan. Due to the fact that retirement plans at final distribution may incur considerable taxation to your estate and heirs, a gift of these assets may be one of the lowest cost ways to provide for the Wilder Home Association.
Working through your plan provider, you have the option of naming the Wilder Home Association as a primary or contingent beneficiary of your retirement plan and designating either a stated percentage or dollar amount.