Top 10 Things You Can Do Today to Leave a Legacy to Epiphany Center, Family and Loved Ones

1. Prepare a will. Only 50% of those who pass away have one. Without a will, you may lose control over your belongings.

2. Leave a gift in your will for the nonprofit and charitable organization that made a difference in your life. Less than 6% of American households have included nonprofits in an estate plan. Imagine the positive impact on our community if everyone made a donation to a favorite nonprofit.

3. Leave a specific dollar amount or a percentage of the assets in your will to nonprofit of your choice.

4. Consider using assets for your charitable gift. These include but aren't limited to: cash, stocks, bonds, CD's, real estate, vehicles, art and jewelry. Such gifts may even provide estate tax savings.

5. Name a nonprofit of you choice as the beneficiary of your pension plan or IRA.

6. Purchase a new life insurance policy naming your favorite nonprofit as the beneficiary.

7. Name your favorite nonprofit as the beneficiary of an existing life insurance policy.

8. Remember loved ones with memorial gifts.

9. Encourage family and friends to leave gifts to nonprofits in their wills.

10. Ask your financial advisor to include charitable giving as part of counsel to clients.

Greg Lassonde, our planned giving specialist with more than 26 years of experience, is available to assist our supporters considering a planned gift. Please contact him with any related questions at (510) 482-1502 or by .

The Top 10 List was reproduced from Leave a Legacy.