You can make the difference
Monthly contributions
A monthly contribution offers several advantages:
•Your regular support helps us offer stable services for domestic abuse victims.
•You have complete control over the monthly contribution. You can change the amount or cancel the contribution at any time.
•There is no minimum contribution, so for those of us on a budget, this is a good way to contribute a little each month to help underserved domestic violence victims. Use the Network for Good link below.
We offer services for some groups who almost nobody else helps out. Your donation can help to ensure that abuse victims will have a place to go for help, that abusers need to be held accountable for their actions, and that services need to be available for all abuse victims, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, or ethnicity.
Our Promise:
• we are committed to making your donation secure and private.
• we will not share or sell your contact information with any other party.
• we are accountants and committed to getting the most out of every donation. (yes we do pinch pennies)
How does your contribution make a difference?
•$100 will allow us to print up abuse brochures. The brochures are often the first publication seen, so it can have a huge impact.
•$200 will allow us to pay for phone charges and postal charges for one of the hotlines we support.
•$300 will help us produce new brochures to address teen dating violence (a huge unaddressed problem), elderly partner/adult child abuse, and severe sibling abuse brochures.
•$1,000 will help pay for a shelter/crisis line personnel.
•$5,000 will help pay the salaries of essential staff at a shelter/safe house and in some cases food.
•$$$$ will help with our national awareness programs. Such as the SILENT NO MORE TOUR!
By supporting us, you are directly reaching out a hand to those who are trying to
escape violent and abusive relationships.
The Power Of What If a 501 (C)(3) Non profit-Company
PayPal Customers
Donations by check
It is very easy to donate by check!
Simply write out a check to
The Power of What If
and mail to:
The Power of What If
3933 Orly Drive
Rockford, IL 61101
U.S.A.
A bequest is the simplest and most common form of planned giving.
For example, Mrs. Wilson, a widow, wanted to make a charitable bequest to Domestic Violence Programs supported by The TPOWI. However, she had a younger sister she wanted to provide for first. Mrs. Wilson set up a charitable remainder trust in her will that benefits her sister for the remainder of her sister's life, whereupon the remainder interest is directed to TPOWI by donating the remainder interest to charity, Mrs. Wilson not only provided for her sister, her estate gained a tax deduction for the charitable portion of her bequest--thereby increasing the amount that generated income for her sister. This is an example of how thoughtful charitable estate planning not only enables you to do more for the causes you cherish, it also enables you to do more for the people you love.
Although donors may always designate the use for which their gift is intended, we at TPOWI - encourage donors to leave unrestricted funds whenever possible. That way, we have the freedom to use your gift where it is most needed.
You don't have to make a new will to add a bequest to The Power of What If.
A bequest can perpetuate your annual gift...forever!
Making a bequest simply requires naming The Power of What If! Domestic Violence Awareness in your will.
For example, you may add a line that reads, "I bequeath the sum of $ _______ to The Power of What If (TPOWI), to be utilized as its Board of Directors deems appropriate." Or, "I bequeath the property located at (address) to TPOWI" Or, "I bequeath all my shares of (X stock) to TPOWI" etc.
Please click
"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." --Winston Churchill
Types of Planned Gifts
Planned gifts can take many forms, from bequests to gifts of property to charitable trusts.
Click on the links for descriptions of some of the more frequent types of planned gifts.
The Benefits of Planned Giving Planned gifts offer important benefits to you, the donor.
They can:
• Result in a substantial source of future income that is often more than an individual can give during his or her lifetime• Secure our economic future, independent of government funding priorities or economic fluctuations• Enable us to plan to meet future needs, knowing a secure source of funds is available to us. Planned gifts are more important than ever to ‘The Power of What If’.
Planned gifts:
• Result in a substantial source of future income that is often more than an individual can give during his or her lifetime• Secure our economic future, independent of government funding priorities or economic fluctuations• Enable us to plan to meet future needs, knowing a secure source of funds is available to us. 
Surprise yourself...
With a planned gift to The Power of What If!
You may be pleasantly surprised to find out how much good you can do with a planned gift to The Power of What If (TPOWI). Thanks to the variety of planned gifts available, you don't have to be particularly wealthy, nor do you have to part with anything now. You just have to want to make the world a better place for victims of domestic abuse.
Alternatively, you may wish to leave a gift to TPOWI only after the needs of your loved ones have been met. In that case, you would name TPOWI as a contingent beneficiary. Your attorney can draft the appropriate language that will ensure that your estate benefits the people and organizations you intend, in the order that your gifts are intended.
If you already have a will, you can include a gift to The Power of What If (TPOWI) simply by adding a "codicil"--an addition to your existing will. The codicil must meet all the legal requirements of your state of residence, and generally must be signed by you in the presence of witnesses. The simplest way to ensure that your will and any codicils are legally drawn is to ask you attorney to draft them.
You can also remember TPOWI through your life insurance or retirement account!
One way to maximize the impact of even a relatively small bequest is to endow it, so that it distributes five percent of the principal year after year--forever. A bequest of just $5,000, for example, if endowed, will generate an annual gift of $250 in perpetuity.
What an incredible way to care for future generations
Another easy way to benefit TPOWI is by making us the beneficiary of your life insurance or retirement account. Although in most cases, your surviving spouse is your beneficiary, where there is no surviving spouse, or when the surviving spouse is adequately provided for by other means, TPOWI can be named. TPOWI can also be listed as a contingent beneficiary--meaning our organization would benefit if there were no other surviving beneficiaries.
A bequest can perpetuate your annual gift...forever!
Gifts of Property_____________________________________
Donations do not always have to be gifts of cash
You don't have to be wealthy to do a world of good!
You don't have to be wealthy to give a significant gift to The Power of What If (TPOWI). With deferred giving such as deferred charitable gift annuities and endowed giving - even donors of modest means can build a sizable future gift to TPOWI.
Most deferred gifts utilize the purchase of an insurance policy or annuity contract. Through annual or monthly payments, the gift accumulates value until it begins to generate an income stream for TPOWI five or more years hence. The value of the gift and the ensuing revenue stream depend upon the current life expectancy of the donor and current annuity rates. For example: (The following examples are old. Request expert assistance to update growth rates and payout years.)
A 35-year-old male, non-smoker who made monthly gifts to ‘The Power of What If’ of $100 for five years would build an endowment of more than $25,000 that would begin to make payments to TPOWI in the 15th year.
A 25-year-old individual could build a $10,000 endowment for ‘The Power of What If’ through monthly gifts of $35 for five years.
A grandchild could build a future endowment of $50,000 for ‘The Power of What If’ through annual gifts of $250. The endowment would begin generating payments to ‘The Power of What If’ in its 15th year. It would also cultivate a new generation of philanthropists!
See what a world of good you can do with a planned gift to The Power of What If!
For more information, please contact our Development Officer at (815) 704-4483
In fact, there are many times when donating property instead of cash offers compelling advantages for you, the donor! A gift of property can avoid the headache and expense of a difficult sale, for example. It can also convert a low-income producing property into a better income-producing asset. And donating property reduces or avoids capital gains tax on highly appreciated properties.
There are various ways to make gifts of property.
Real estate or other property can be used to fund a charitable trust or a life estate agreement. Alternatively, a bargain sale of highly appreciated property can reduce or eliminate capital gains tax.
CharitableTrusts___________________________________________
Donors gain an immediate tax deduction, reduce their estate tax liability, and increase the wealth passed on to heirs. A charitable trust is an asset placed in trust that each year pays a specific sum of money or a fixed percentage of the trust to one or more beneficiaries.
There are two main types of charitable trusts: a charitable remainder trust and a charitable lead trust.
Charitable Remainder Trust
A charitable Remainder Trust offers three primary benefits:
Mrs. Brown, who is 65, owns a piece of property that she bought for $25,000 and that has since appreciated to $150,000. If Mrs. Brown sold the property, she would incur costs of approximately $34,500, taking into account selling costs, commissions, and capital gains tax. However, if Mrs. Brown transfers the property to a charitable remainder trust that will pay her 7 percent per year (percents vary based on current interest rates), she will receive an income stream of $10,000 annually and also gain a substantial income tax deduction for her charitable gift.
Assuming that Mrs. Brown's charitable deduction results in a federal income tax savings of $20,000 and that she invests this savings at 5 percent, her total annual income will be $11,500 ($10,500 + $1,000) - nearly $5,725 more each year than if she sold the property and invested the after-tax proceeds. What's more, if TPOWI were the beneficiary of the charitable remainder of her trust, T.P.O.W.I. would receive the principal of the trust
upon Mrs. Brown's death.
Charitable Lead Trust
A Charitable Lead Trust is the inverse of a charitable remainder trust, in that it leads with a payment stream to charity and, at the end of the trust's term, confers the remainder of the trust on a non-charitable beneficiary, such as the grantor. Charitable lead trusts are typically created when interest rates are low, increasing the present value of the charitable donation, while decreasing the taxable value of the remainder that goes to heirs. Donors gain an immediate tax deduction, reduce their estate tax liability, and increase the wealth passed on to heirs. Plus, TPOWI, as your charitable beneficiary, benefits immediately.
A Charitable Remainder Trust provides for a specified distribution at least annually to one or more beneficiaries, at least one of which is not a charity.
For example, a charitable remainder trust can be established to pay the donor (or another beneficiary, such as a spouse or child) an income stream for as long as the donor or other beneficiary lives, whereupon the remainder of the trust will be paid to The Power of What If (TPOWI).
Life Estate Agreements_______________________________________
Under a life estate agreement, Mrs. Tucker can continue to live in and enjoy all of the benefits of her home for as long as she lives, after which, the property will go to the charitable organization she selected. Mrs. Tucker receives a present income tax deduction for the actuarial present value of her future gift.
Based on an appraised fair market value of $150,000, Mrs. Tucker will receive a current income tax deduction of $73,418, which can be used against 30% of her adjusted gross income (AGI). She can also carry over any excess amount for the next four years.
So, in the year of her gift, Mrs. Tucker can claim an $18,000 charitable deduction against her AGI of $60,000, and can use the remaining $55,418 of deduction over the next four years. Assuming a combined federal and state tax bracket of 25%, the deduction will save Mrs. Tucker a total of $18,354.
For estate tax purposes, the result is the same as if Mrs. Tucker had made a charitable bequest of her residence. However, in addition to the estate tax benefits, the life estate agreement gives Mrs. Tucker a significant income tax benefit during her lifetime.
A life estate agreement allows you to donate your residence to The Power of What If (TPOWI), qualify for an immediate tax deduction, and continue to live in and enjoy your property for as long as you, and/or your spouse, may live. At the end of the term of the agreement, ownership of the residence transfers to TPOWI.
For example, Mrs. Tucker is a 75-year-old widow with no children. She is in good health and lives in a home that has been mortgage-free for many years. As she has no children, the majority of her estate is intended for charity. In the meantime, however, she has an annual income of $60,000 from a retirement plan, annuities, tax-exempt bonds, and social security.
Because Mrs. Tucker has very few tax deductions now and intends that most of her estate go to charity upon her death, her accountant suggested that she reduce her present income taxes by donating her home to charity with a retained life estate.
Charitable Gift Annuities________________________________________
• To pay a lifetime income to a friend or family member before donating the remainder to charity.• To increase retirement income while gaining an immediate tax deduction.• To increase the income generated from highly appreciated securities by avoiding capital gains tax.• All of these gift annuity types also result in a valuable gift to The Power of What If (TPOWI).Provide for a Loved One
For example Mrs. Stedman, a wealthy benefactor of TPOWI, wants to support her 80-year-old sister with an annual gift of $18,000. Because Mrs. Stedman is in the 36% federal income tax bracket, she needs an income of about $28,000 annually in order to offer this support.
Mrs. Stedman approaches TPOWI and asks about establishing a charitable gift annuity that would benefit her sister. With a one-time gift of $200,000, TPOWI is able to purchase an annuity that guarantees Ms. Stedman's sister an annual income of $18,400 for the remainder of her life. Mrs. Stedman also receives a charitable income tax deduction of 50% of the amount of her gift. (The percentage deductible depends upon the age of the donor, but ranges from 30% to 50 %) Mrs. Stedman is also pleased that her gift results in a substantial contribution to TPOWI.
Supplement Your Retirement Income
Another donor, Mr. Evans, is a successful businessman who doesn't need more income now, but would like to increase his income upon retirement. He also would welcome an immediate tax deduction to ease his 39.6% annual federal income tax liability. After talking with his financial advisors, Mr. Evans decides to contribute $25,000 to a gift annuity that will begin making payments to him in 10 years--when he expects to retire at age 68. At that time, Mr. Evans will receive an annuity of approximately $3,000 a year for the remainder of his life. He can also take an immediate tax deduction of about $12,850.
Mr. Evans can also add to his annuity periodically to produce a greater cumulative retirement income. Every year he does so, he receives a current year income tax deduction.
Avoid Capital Gains Tax
Mrs. Hilton is preparing for retirement and wants to sell non-income producing property and invest the proceeds in a way that will increase her annual income. By transferring the property to a charitable gift annuity, Mrs. Hilton accomplishes this goal without incurring an immediate capital gains tax, but instead, receives an immediate charitable income tax deduction. She also preserves more of her capital to fund her annuity and benefit her favorite charity - The Power of What If.
As its name suggests, a charitable gift annuity is part gift to charity and part annuity. It consists of a transfer of cash or property to a charitable organization in exchange for the charity's promise to make fixed annuity payments to one or two life annuitants.
A gift annuity differs from a charitable trust in two important ways. A gift annuity pays the donor a fixed, guaranteed income (rather than a percentage of the trust), and it allows the donor to defer income payments to a later date, during which time the asset used to fund the annuity grows, increasing the income eventually distributed.
• A lifetime income.When you establish a trust, you direct that a specified sum or a certain percentage of the trust be paid to you (and/or other beneficiaries) each year. Most donors designate a sum or a percentage equivalent to 5% to 8% of the value of the trust.
• A charitable income tax deduction.Although TPOWI will receive no benefit from your charitable remainder trust until the end of the term of income payments, you - the donor - can take an immediate charitable income tax deduction for the present value of the deferred charitable interest. • Avoidance of capital gains tax.When you fund a charitable remainder trust with appreciated property, you incur no capital gains tax liability, either when you transfer the property to the trust or when the property is sold by the trustee. 
Bequests
