What is Planned Giving?

A Planned Gift is a unique way to make an incredible impact on the Rockford Symphony Orchestra. Planned giving refers to the process of making a major charitable gift of assets that allows a donor to make a larger gift than would normally be possible from their income. It is a gift that requires consideration, thoughtful planning, and is part of the donor’s overall financial and estate plan. Gifts can be made during a donor’s lifetime or at death.

While some planned gifts provide a life-long income to the donor, others use estate and tax planning techniques to provide for charity and other heirs in ways that maximize the gift and/or minimize impact on the donor’s estate. Whether a donor uses cash, appreciated securities, life insurance, a retirement plan, etc., the benefits of funding a planned gift can make this type of charitable giving very attractive to both the donor and to the RSO.

RSO will accept planned gifts including: bequests, retirement plan beneficiary designations, life insurance plan beneficiary designations, life insurance, beneficiary of a charitable remainder trust, income beneficiary of a charitable lead trust, and other planned gifts. Unless otherwise indicated by the donor, all bequests received by the Rockford Symphony Orchestra and the Rockford Symphony Orchestra Foundation shall be used for the purposes of endowment and will be made part of the endowment fund at the Rockford Symphony Orchestra Foundation.

Prospective planned giving donors are encouraged to seek legal and financial counsel to review the gift to be donated and the advisability of the gift considering the donor’s overall estate planning. RSO staff, consultants, and volunteers do not provide legal or tax advice to prospective donors.

For more information on Planned Giving, contact Executive Director Julie Thomas at 815.965.0049 or jthomas@rockfordsymphony.com.