There are many ways to help Regent through legacy giving, and many ways you and your family can benefit in the process. Every person’s situation is unique, so it’s worth taking some extra time to explore your options. That’s why we always recommend talking to a financial or legal professional about legacy giving and other long-term financial plans. An expert can help you make a gift that meets your unique needs and goals.

Regent College can’t offer you financial or legal advice (again, you’ll want an expert for that!), but here are a couple questions to consider as you think about legacy giving.

What do you hope for yourself and your loved ones?

Financial benefits. Like any other type of charitable giving, legacy giving can offer significant tax benefits. Many people reduce the tax owed on their estates by making legacy gifts in a will or other instrument. It’s also worth considering how legacy giving might benefit you during your lifetime. Whether by providing income tax credits or actually paying you an income, some types of charitable gifts will get to work for you immediately.

Caring for your loved ones. People often worry that the choice to make a legacy gift will come at the expense of their children or other heirs. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be the case! It’s very simple, for example, to make a gift in your will that draws only on assets left over after your primary heirs are taken care of. And depending on your circumstances and priorities, you may be able to make a gift that significantly reduces the taxes your heirs will have to pay on your estate, or even a gift that pays a loved one income over time. A qualified financial planner can help you figure out how to use your estate to care for the various people and causes close to your heart.

What do you hope your gift will do for Regent?

Most legacy donors simply want to help Regent’s mission and community flourish, so they leave gifts that can be used wherever the funds are most needed. These gifts are incredibly valuable because they help Regent follow God’s leading amid changing circumstances, while also safeguarding the core functions of the College. Throughout Regent’s history, these “where most needed” gifts have played a pivotal role in helping the College meet its regular financial obligations while also investing in new projects that make a real difference in the lives of students and our broader community. If you visit Regent College and take a quick look around, chances are good that you’ll see something legacy donors made possible!

Occasionally, donors prefer to leave specific instructions about how they would like a legacy gift to be used. If you have something specific in mind for your legacy gift, please get in touch with us! We’d love to help you express your intentions in a way that achieves your goals and maximizes the amount of good you can do for the Regent community.