The Literary Legacy Society recognizes those donors who have included the Broward Public Library Foundation in their bequests, gifts in trust, and other planned gifts to enhance the collections, programs and services of Broward County Library beyond the means of public funding.

Literary Legacy Society gifts not only ensure that necessary funding continues in the years ahead, but also provides members with significant benefits, including decreased income taxes and increased family wealth.


ENDOWMENT

The Broward Public Library Foundation created an endowment in 1981 to build the resources necessary to provide long term support for library programs and services in the Broward County Library system and its 37 community branches.

Establishing a permanent endowment in your name or the name of a loved one is a wonderful way to provide ongoing funds to Broward County’s libraries. With this type fund, a percentage of the earned income is used to carry out the purpose of the endowment while the principal remains intact.

The interest income generated from the endowment helps the Foundation underwrite the cost of Broward County Library staff scholarships and training, as well as literacy and multicultural programs throughout the Library system.

As a donor, you might want to consider leaving a gift designated for your local library branch through the Broward Public Library Foundation. Several years ago, the Broward Public Library Foundation received a bequest of $685,000 from local library-lover Ann Jacobs.


Planned Giving
Planned giving is giving to non-profit organizations that is coordinated with financial and estate planning to serve both philanthropic and personal needs. Planned giving incorporates many different kinds of financial and tax benefits. Planned gifts include gifts through your will, charitable gift annuities, gifts of life insurance, and charitable trusts.

Charitable Gift Annuities
The Broward Public Library Foundation offers Charitable Gift Annuities. The program provides participants with the ability to increase their income, realize an immediate tax benefit, and help the Library Foundation provide funds for needed programs and materials at the Broward County Library.

With a minimum investment of $5,000, you receive a lifetime return on the investment that tends to be higher than the interest currently being paid by financial institutions. In addition, you not only receive a charitable deduction that helps you reduce your income tax liability but a portion of the quarterly payments you receive each year is tax-free. Charitable Gift Annuities offer significant savings opportunities when appreciated securities are used to purchase the annuity instead of cash.

Bequests
Many of our supporters make charitable gifts by naming the Broward Public Library Foundation as a beneficiary in their wills. Your will can include gifts in the form of property (cash, securities, etc.), a percentage of your estate, and/or the residue or your estate (property remaining after other bequests have been fulfilled). The legal designation for the Broward Public Library Foundation in wills and trusts is 'Broward Public Library Foundation, Inc. (BPLF), Fort Lauderdale, Florida'.

Life Income Gift
You irrevocably transfer some assets to the Broward Public Library Foundation now, and in return, you (and a survivor, if you desire) receive income for life.

Gift of Life Insurance
Some of our supporters no longer need their life insurance, which was purchased years ago to provide for children or other family members, and donate the policy to the Broward Public Library Foundation. Life insurance provides several effective ways to benefit the Library Foundation. Your gift will provide the Library Foundation with a substantial deferred gift while you pay relatively modest premium payments. In some instances, leaving a cash gift to the Library Foundation and equal gift of life insurance to family members who are named as beneficiaries may enable one to leave more of an inheritance.

Charitable Lead Trust
Individuals can use a charitable lead trust to benefit the Broward Public Library Foundation. Based upon the circumstances, lead trusts can pass assets to family members at reduced estate and gift tax costs.

Gifts of Retirement Plans
Your IRA assets will be transferred to a charitable remainder trust; the trust will provide life income to the beneficiary, and then an eventual gift to the Broward Public Library Foundation. You may also name Broward Public Library Foundation as a beneficiary of a portion or all of your IRA or other retirement fund(s). If you wish to consider this type of gift, please contact the administrator or person in charge of your IRA.

Gifts of Equities and Securities
Gifts of equities and securities can provide attractive tax benefits. Property that you gift that has increased in value, and that you have held long enough to qualify as long-term property, may enable you to avoid capital gain taxes.

Trusts
A variety of trust arrangements are available that can provide income for your life or provide the Library Foundation with income during your life. In some instances, you can place money in a qualifying trust, which will provide income to you (and your spouse) for life. The remaining principal is paid to the Library Foundation upon your death or on a specified date. These trusts, generally described as charitable remainder trusts, assure you of income while providing an immediate charitable deduction to you that can be taken to reduce your taxes.

Meet us personally
We welcome the opportunity to confidentially discuss your personal needs. Please call Jennifer Smith, Director of Development at 954-357-8086 or email to schedule a personal appointment.

For more information call (954) 357-8086 or email jsmith@bplfoundation.org