COFA Legacy Giving Program
COFA’s Legacy Giving Program provides supporters with the opportunity to leave a lasting impact on our mission. When you make a gift through your estate, you are often able to make a bigger impact than you ever thought possible while also obtaining tax savings. You will have control of assets during your lifetime and are free to modify your bequests at any time.
Bequest
You can provide a future gift to COFA by including a bequest provision in your will or revocable trust. COFA will receive your gift upon your passing based on the specifications included in the provision. Speak with your financial advisor or attorney to ensure that your wishes are properly made and recorded. Typical bequests include:
Specific: I bequeath the sum of ____Dollars to Christian Outreach for Africa, a charitable organization with the address of 111 W. Olive St., Arlington Heights, Illinois 20004 for its general purposes.
Residual: I bequeath ___percent of the residue of my estate, after the satisfaction of all specific bequests and the payment of all taxes and other costs attending my death, to Christian Outreach for Africa, a charitable organization with the address of 111 W. Olive St., Arlington Heights, Illinois 20004 for its general purposes.
Contingent: [After a specific or residual request to an individual] In the event that (name of the primary beneficiary) does not survive me, I designate Christian Outreach for Africa, a charitable organization with the address of 111 W. Olive St., Arlington Heights, Illinois 20004 as the devisee of this bequest of (specify the amount in dollars or as a percentage of the estate or describe for its general purposes.
Insurance Proceeds or Retirement Account
It is also possible to make COFA the beneficiary of a life insurance policy or the remainder of an IRA, 401(k) or other qualified retirement account. You can continue to make withdrawals from such accounts during your lifetime. As with a will, you can establish a specific amount, a percentage or make COFA a beneficiary contingent on certain occurrences.
There are special rules for donors 70 1/2 and older that can provide additional tax benefits with gifts or IRA direct transfers. Speak with your attorney or financial advisor to ensure that you take advantage of all options available to you.
Required Information
To ensure that COFA is accurately identified as a beneficiary, identify it with the following information:
Christian Outreach for Africa
111 W. Olive Street
Arlington Heights, IL 60004-4766
State of Incorporation: Illinois
Tax ID # (also called the EIN): 81-1029920
Please inform us when include COFA as a beneficiary in any instrument so we can acknowledge your gift and take steps to ensure your wishes are met. You can do so by sending us the attached Intention of Planned Giving Form.
COFA Legacy Giving Advisory Service
COFA can assist you in preparing a comprehensive gift plan that could include these types of bequests and other options. Contact Ray Pagels, our Legacy Giving Program advisor, for assistance. Ray is a Christian Gift Planning Counselor trained by the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Foundation. He been serving congregations and donors in the Chicago Northern Illinois District since 2010. Ray’s confidential services are provided at no cost to you as a supporter of COFA. Ray will assist you with expert, confidential advice to make sure that your estate planning goals are accomplished. You will have the peace of mind that your intentions for family and ministry will be handled in a trustworthy way to leave behind a legacy of helping COFA meet its mission. Click here to learn more about Ray and the services he provides as COFA’s Legacy Giving Advisory Service.