Your commitment to protecting the absolute separation of religion and government, and ensuring that the voices of atheists are never silenced in our public discourse, can be a part of your legacy.
Designating American Atheists as a beneficiary, or leaving a gift in your will or trust, can guarantee that the future of American Atheists is strong for years to come. Whether you choose to support American Atheists through your will or living trust, a life insurance policy, or retirement plan, we are here to help. Please contact us directly with any questions by emailing [email protected] or calling (908) 276-7300.
Legacy Circle
You can join the American Atheists Legacy Circle by adding American Atheists to your will or trust or by designating American Atheists as a beneficiary. Legacy Circle members receive a lifetime subscription to American Atheist magazine, a Legacy Circle lapel pin, and a special thank you gift at the time of your pledge.
Be sure to let us know if you have included American Atheists in your end-of-life planning. Providing documentation helps ensure that American Atheists will receive the gift you intend to make.
After receiving notification of your legacy gift, we will add your name to the Legacy Circle Wall at American Atheists Headquarters to recognize your dedication to positive and lasting change and equality for atheists.
Ways to Give
There are a number of ways to ensure that your legacy gift to American Atheists has the greatest impact while keeping you in complete control.
- You can choose to make a bequest in your will;
- You can designate American Atheists as a beneficiary of your retirement accounts or other financial accounts; or
- You can designate American Atheists as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy.
No matter how you choose to support American Atheists, your gift leaves a legacy of activism and passionate support for American Atheists’ important mission and our shared values. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to let us know by emailing [email protected] or calling (908) 276-7300.
Bequests
A bequest in your will is one of the most popular ways to join the Legacy Circle and helps guarantee that American Atheists will continue to be the leading voice for atheism and the absolute separation of religion from government for years to come. You are in control of your assets during your lifetime, and you are free to change your beneficiaries or the distribution of your assets at any time.
Making a bequest through your will can be as simple as adding a few sentences. No matter how modest your gift, a bequest is a way to make a lasting investment in American Atheists while still providing for your loved ones or other nonprofit organizations.
You can support American Atheists through your will in these ways:
- A general bequest leaving American Atheists with a specific sum of money or percentage of your will or trust.
- A residual bequest for a percentage of the “rest, residue, and remainder” of your estate once you have made all of your specific bequests and all debts and taxes have been paid.
- A contingent bequest that leaves American Atheists with a share of your estate only if a named beneficiary does not survive you.
- A life income bequest whereby after your death, income is paid to another individual for his/her lifetime, and American Atheists receives the remainder.
Specific examples of bequest language is below.
General Bequest
You can include a general bequest of an amount of money or specific property (stocks, bonds, etc.) to American Atheists using the following clause: “I give, devise, and bequeath to American Atheists, Inc. located at 225 Cristiani Street, Cranford, New Jersey 07016-3214, the sum of $_____ (or describe the specific property you intend to bequeath) to be used for its general purposes.”
You can include a percentage bequest in your estate using the following clause: “I give, devise, and bequeath to American Atheists, Inc. located at 225 Cristiani Street, Cranford, New Jersey 07016-3214 _____ percent of my estate, both real and personal property, of whatever kind and wheresoever situated to be used for its general purposes.”
Residual Bequest
Include a residual bequest for the remainder of your estate once you have made all of your specific bequests, by using the following clause: “I give, devise, and bequeath to American Atheists, Inc. located at 225 Cristiani Street, Cranford, New Jersey 07016-3214 all (or _____ percent) of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, both real and personal property of whatever kind and wheresoever situated to be used for its general purposes.”
Contingent Bequest
Include a contingent bequest should one or more named beneficiaries not survive you, by using the following clause: “If any one of the above-named beneficiaries should predecease me, I hereby bequeath his/her share of my estate to American Atheists, Inc. located at 225 Cristiani Street, Cranford, New Jersey, 07016-3214 to be used for its general purposes.”
Life Income Bequest
You can include a life income bequest whereby after your death, income is paid to another individual for his/her lifetime. After that individual’s lifetime, American Atheists will receive the remainder. This type of bequest is often arranged to provide for elderly parents, family members, or friends in special circumstances. Because it can be adapted in a variety of ways to meet your specific needs and circumstances, an attorney should always be consulted when considering a life income bequest.
Note: Each person’s legal and financial situation will differ, and the laws applicable to estates and trusts vary from state to state. Accordingly, please consult with an attorney with respect to any gifts you may wish to make in your will.
Retirement Plans
You may designate American Atheists as the final beneficiary of a company pension or profit-sharing plan or of a private fund such as an IRA, Keogh, or tax-sheltered annuity.
If you are over the age of 59, you may find it advantageous to make an annual charitable gift to American Atheists from your retirement plan, to receive a tax deduction and save yourself and your heirs costly income and estate taxes. This may be especially attractive if you are over the age of 70 and are required by law to begin withdrawing these retirement funds.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, American Atheists is exempt from paying the taxes that would otherwise be owed by you or other beneficiaries. Consider making your Legacy Circle Gift to American Atheists and using other, less heavily-taxed assets to provide for your loved ones.
Simply designate American Atheists (Federal Tax Identification Number 74-2466507), located at 225 Cristiani Street, Cranford NJ 07016 as the beneficiary of your retirement plan, IRA account, or other financial account.
Life Insurance Plans
You may decide to include American Atheists as a beneficiary of a life insurance plan you already have. To do this, you need to contact your insurance company and formally designate American Atheists as a beneficiary of your policy.
You may have purchased a life insurance plan that is now fully paid that you no longer need. By transferring ownership and beneficiary status to American Atheists, you can receive an immediate income tax deduction and make a significant gift to American Atheists.
You may wish to purchase a new insurance policy naming American Atheists as a beneficiary or co-beneficiary. This may be a convenient way of making a special gift that is much larger than its cost to you. If ownership and beneficiary status are transferred to American Atheists, your annual insurance payments are tax-deductible.