Planned Giving   Another Simple Way to Help Columbus Audubon by Marc Blubaugh Many of you will recall that Columbus Audubon has established a Planned Giving Program to encourage members and friends to include Columbus Audubon in their estate planning. Charitable contributions can be made in an unrestricted fashion for the general use of Columbus Audubon or may be designated for deposit into one of the three endowment funds established by the Board of Trustees: Education Fund, Conservation Fund or Operating Fund. Bequests and donations directed to the endowment funds will be invested, and only the income from the investment will be spent. In other words, a contribution to one of the endowment funds essentially provides a permanent benefit to Columbus Audubon. Other articles on this web site have examined charitable remainder trusts, charitable gift annuities, codicils, and other mechanisms that permit you to help Columbus Audubon as well as yourself. However, making a planned gift to Columbus Audubon can also be as simple as changing the beneficiary on your life insurance policy or retirement plan (IRA, 401(k), 403(b), pension, etc.) to Columbus Audubon. For instance, you may realize that the person who you (perhaps long ago) initially identified as the primary beneficiary on your life insurance policy or retirement plan has died or, in your estimation, no longer truly needs your planned generosity. In such circumstances making Columbus Audubon your primary beneficiary may make sense  and is often as easy as requesting a change of beneficiary form from your insurer or employer. The form may also be located on your insurer's or employer's website, and typically takes mere minutes to complete. Even if you do not wish to change your primary beneficiary on a life insurance policy or retirement plan, you may wish to give additional thought as to who is listed as a secondary or contingent beneficiary. For instance, you may want to list a needy but elderly relative as your primary beneficiary, but also list Columbus Audubon as the secondary or contingent beneficiary in the event that the primary beneficiary predeceases you. Taking full advantage of a secondary or contingent beneficiary option helps you to determine with great specificity who will benefit from your life insurance or retirement plan after your death. Indeed, in reviewing your insurance policies and retirement plans, you may discover that you have never even identified anyone as a secondary or contingent beneficiary.   In short, making Columbus Audubon a primary or secondary beneficiary of your life insurance policies or retirement plans is almost always a very straightforward process. Of course, your retirement plans and life insurance can be used in a variety of ways to accomplish your planned giving goals (directs gifts, life insurance trusts, etc.). Your estate planning attorney or tax advisor can provide you with information that maximizes the benefits of any planned giving. Please contact Marc Blubaugh at 614-895-0857 with any questions. Page updated 01/19/04 © Columbus Audubon 2004