Planned Giving with CERI
A Path Home for Every Child—For Good.
At Children’s Emergency Relief International (CERI), we believe every child deserves a safe, loving, and permanent home. Your planned gift ensures that our mission to protect childhood and strengthen families continues for generations to come. By including CERI in your estate plans, you create a lasting legacy that transforms lives—today, tomorrow, and far into the future.
Planned giving is a powerful way to align your values with your philanthropy. Whether through a bequest, retirement plan, or other asset, your gift will provide pathways home for children, protect them from harm, and empower families to thrive. Together, we can build pathways to bring children home.
Ways to Give
Simple, Meaningful, and Impactful.
Bequests in a Will or Trust
A bequest is one of the easiest ways to make a lasting impact. By naming CERI as a beneficiary in your will or living trust, you ensure that your commitment to children and families endures. A bequest can be a specific amount, a percentage of your estate, or the remainder after other distributions. Every gift, no matter the size, creates a ripple effect of hope.
Suggested Language for Your Will or Trust:
“I give, devise, and bequeath to Children’s Emergency Relief International (CERI), a nonprofit organization located in Austin, Texas, [written amount, percentage, or description of asset] for its general purposes.”
Gifts of Appreciated Stock or Securities
Donating appreciated stock or securities is a tax-smart way to support CERI. You receive charitable deductions for the full market value of the stock while avoiding capital gains tax. This means more resources go directly to protecting children and strengthening families.
How it works:
- Transfer shares directly to CERI’s brokerage account.
- Receive a tax deduction for the fair market value.
- Avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation.
Retirement Plan or IRA Beneficiary Designation
Naming CERI as a beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k), or other retirement plan is a simple and tax-efficient way to give. Retirement assets are often subject to heavy taxation when passed to heirs, but a gift to CERI ensures 100% of the funds support our mission.
How to do it:
- Contact your plan administrator for a beneficiary designation form.
- Name Children’s Emergency Relief International (CERI) as a primary or contingent beneficiary.
- No changes to your will are required.
Life Insurance Policies
A life insurance policy is a powerful way to leave a legacy. You can:
- Name CERI as a beneficiary of an existing policy.
- Transfer ownership of a paid-up policy to CERI, receiving a tax deduction for the policy’s value.
How it works:
- Contact your insurance provider to update your beneficiary designation.
- Or, transfer ownership of the policy to CERI.
Charitable Trusts
Charitable trusts allow you to support CERI while receiving income for life or a term of years. These trusts can provide tax benefits, income for you or your loved ones, and a future gift to CERI.
Options include:
- Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT): Receive income for life or a term of years, with the remainder benefiting CERI.
- Charitable Lead Trust (CLT): Provide income to CERI for a term of years, with the remainder passing to your heirs.
Gifts of Real Estate
A gift of real estate, such as a home, land, or commercial property, can provide significant support for CERI’s mission. You may receive tax deductions for the full appraised value and avoid capital gains tax.
How it works:
- Donate the property outright.
- Use a retained life estate, allowing you to live in the home for life while receiving a tax deduction.
- Or, sell the property and donate the proceeds.
Why Include CERI in Your Plans?
Protect Childhood: Your gift ensures children are safe, nurtured, and given the opportunity to thrive.
Strengthen Families: You help families stay together and build brighter futures.
Create a Lasting Legacy: Your name and values live on through the children and families you impact.
Tax-Wise Giving: Many planned gifts offer tax advantages, allowing you to give more while benefiting your estate.
Your Legacy Starts
Here
We’re here to help you explore the best way to make a difference through planned giving. Whether you’re just beginning to think about your estate plans or ready to take the next step, we’d love to connect.
Contact Us:
Jay Dunnuck
Vice President of Development
(512) 678-9353 | ✉ jay.dunnuck@ceri.org
Join Our Legacy Society
By including CERI in your estate plans, you become a member of our Legacy Society, a group of compassionate individuals committed to ensuring every child has a path home. We’d be honored to recognize your generosity and keep you connected to the impact of your gift.
Children’s Emergency Relief International (CERI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our tax ID number is 74-2933669. All gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.