There are so many ways you can help fulfill the mission of KSPS Public Television.

The following information will show you some wonderful ways to make significant gifts, and possibly provide you with income AND reduce your *tax burden. These and all contributions make it possible for KSPS to continue airing the great programs and producing the unique local productions you enjoy. Your support keeps television at its best - without commercial interruptions and worth watching.

*Please note that these concepts are based on regulations governing charitable gifts under US tax laws. The tax implications of gifts by Canadian citizens are governed by Canadian law.

You will find links below to a variety of ways that you can contribute to KSPS/Friends of Seven.Gifts utilizing these various options allow you to make significant gifts, perhaps more than you thought possible, to benefit public television and create a lasting legacy.

If you find these various gift options to be of interest, you may contact us at . We strongly encourage consultation with an attorney or other professional advisor to assist you in drafting the necessary documents and to insure that your personal, charitable and estate planning objectives are met. We are happy to meet with you and your advisors. Please contact , Director of Major Gifts, Friends of Seven for additional information or call 509.354.7717 or 800.735.2377.

Gift Options

Bequest - a gift through your will which is the simplest way to distribute your estate the way you want it done.

Charitable Trusts - you can supplement your retirement income with these two gifts

• Unitrust
• Annuity Trust

Charitable Lead Trust - Use your asset to provide income to a charity for a period of years and then revert the asset back to yourself or pass it on to the next generation with tax savings.

Retained Life Estate (home, condo, vacation property) - donate it but live in it for life

Individual Retirement Accounts, IRAs, is an opportunity for one or more charities to be named beneficiary with significant tax benefits to you and your family.

Be sure to coordinate the wishes of your retirement plan with those in your will. It's important to note that the beneficiary designation on your retirement plan will take precedent over a beneficiary named in your will if there is a conflict.

For more information, discuss this important matter with your accountant or attorney.

Assets you can use to make those gifts:

• Cash, Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds
• Tangible Personal Property
• Real Estate
• Life Insurance
• IRA/Retirement Plans

To print important information regarding KSPS/Friends of Seven for your professional advisor, please visit our Professional Advisors Page.

Other Gift Options

• Matching gifts from your employer
• Gifts in Honor
• Gifts in Memory

Planned Gifts

The following information is presented to provide concepts that may be beneficial to you in achieving your estate planning and charitable giving goals. It is educational in nature and not professional tax or legal advice.

Preparing and completing an estate plan is a technical process that is governed by ever-changing and complex tax laws. We urge you to seek counsel and assistance from qualified professional advisors.

Bequests are gifts made through a Will. It may be the most appropriate way for most individuals to support their favorite charities, many of which receive significant gifts in the form of bequests. Bequests also allow donors the use of their assets while they are living. This allows a person with any size estate to make a gift to one or several charities in this manner.

When Friends of Seven is designated in a Will to receive a bequest, they will use that special gift to ensure the continuation of outstanding programming at KSPS Public Television. This type of gift will continue beyond a donor's lifetime - it is a legacy for and testimonial to your family, friends and community - that quality in television programming does matter.

When a bequest is made to Friends of Seven, it may be made leaving specific property or a specific amount. A percentage of an estate or residue of the estate after satisfying all other terms of the Will can be designated, as well. The following language with the legally correct name as recognized by the IRS and the Secretary of State in Washington is provided for naming Friends of Seven in a Will:

For a fixed amount:

I/We give $ ______ to Friends of Seven, a Washington non-profit corporation operating for the support of KSPS Public Television, 3911 S. Regal, Spokane, WA, 99223.

For a percentage:

I/We give_______ % of my estate to Friends of Seven, a Washington non-profit corporation operating for the support of KSPS Public Television, 3911 S. Regal, Spokane, WA, 99223.

For real estate or personal property:

I/We give____________ (insert address or brief description of the property being donated) to Friends of Seven, a Washington non-profit corporation operating for the support of KSPS Public Television, 3911 S. Regal, Spokane, WA, 99223.

Charitable Remainder Trusts are gifts to charity coupled with tax savings and income potential. They are separate legal entities that may provide capital gains tax, income tax and estate tax savings while providing for income to the donor or named income beneficiary. There are two basic types of Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRT) - the Charitable Remainder Unitrust (CRUT) and the Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust (CRAT).

The most significant difference between the two is that once the payout rate is established, the Unitrust's payments are based on the fair market value of the trust as it is revalued each year allowing for long-term growth and increased income. The Unitrust is a flexible planning tool that can be structured in different ways to meet personal objectives.

The Charitable Annuity Trust's payments remain constant as the payout rate is established based on the asset value when the trust is funded. This payout amount is constant - year to year. Charitable Remainder Trusts are excellent ways to supplement retirement income while ultimately benefiting those organizations that provide services you value.

Charitable Lead Trusts are advantageous to people who don't need income from current assets and want to benefit a charity like Friends of Seven. This type of trust also provides the means to transfer assets to heirs at a reduced or eliminated gift tax cost, making it a desirable vehicle for someone that anticipates high estate and gift taxes.The trust pays taxes on the income and capital gains, although it may deduct any amount paid to a charity.

The Charitable Lead Trust (CLT) trust can have terms for a fixed number of years, one or more persons' lifetime, or a combination of the two. The asset (income producing or invested) would pay a fixed percentage of the trusts value (the lead) to Friends of Seven on an annual basis. When the trust's term ends, the trust "assets" would be distributed to the designated heirs. Also worthy of note is that appreciation that occurs within the trust during its term would be distributed to heirs free from gift or estate tax liability.

A Retained Life Estate enables a donor to make a gift of a personal residence, vacation home or farm to Friends of Seven and retain the right to live in it for life or for a term of years. The lifetime of a second resident may be named, as well. Responsibility for obligations pertaining to the property such as maintenance, insurance and taxes remains with the donor or life tenant. The immediate benefit of this type of gift is an often substantial tax deduction for the charitable gift. This deduction is equal to the remainder interest in the property; that is, the appraised fair market value of the real estate less the calculated value of the retained life use. This arrangement is ideal for an older property owner. It allows the donor to make a gift of a significant asset without relinquishing its use - and realize the tax deduction at the time of transfer.

Assets Used To Fund Planned Gifts

Cash gifts are simple and the most common form of gifting. Personal checks, cashier checks and money orders can be used.

IRS regulations state that the postmark on the envelope is the "official" day of receipt, not the date on the check.

Appreciated Stock or Bonds that have been held for at least 12 months can be one of the most advantageous ways to make charitable gifts or payments on pledges. The benefits are:

• Value determined on day the gift is received by or in the account of the non-profit or planned giving arrangement
• Charitable income tax deduction used in the year of the gift (up to 30% of your adjusted gross income with a five year carry-over of any unused deduction)
• Capital gains tax savings realized on the appreciation of the stock
• Stocks transferred electronically between accounts, which simplifies the process

Instructions for transferring stock gifts to a charity:

For electronic transfers:

1. Contact your broker or banker (they may require your request in writing)
2. They will need your name and address, phone number and your account number.
3. State your intent to donate the stock to Friends of Seven along with the name and number of securities to be transferred.
4. Give them the name of the firm that holds the account for Friends of Seven, the account number and the DTC number
5. Let us know of your intent by email, phone, fax or letter so we can alert the broker and be of assistance if needed.

Friends of Seven Brokerage Account

If the stock/bond certificate is in your possession:

Send in separate envelopes by certified mail to Friends of Seven, Attention Major Gifts, 3911 S Regal, Spokane, WA 99223

1. the unsigned stock certificate(s)

2. the signed stock power(s) along with a letter of intent in which you state your name and address, describe the certificates (company, number of shares and certificate numbers), and specify that you wish to donate them to Friends of Seven. Click to print a stock power form.

Make sure the certificates and the signed stock power do not travel together.Together they are negotiable. The signature on the stock power must correspond exactly to the name that appears on the stock certificate.For additional security, take the stock power to the broker or banker and ask him or her to guarantee the signature by signing and stamping the stock power.

Additional Notes:

• The date of the gift is determined by the postmark on the envelope when certificates and stock powers are sent through the mail (last envelope received of the two) OR if electronically transferred, the day it was received into the Friends of Seven brokerage account.

• Stock gifts are valued based on the average of the high and low value of the stock on the date of the gift.

Friends of Seven standard practice is to sell the stock as soon as it enters the account to prevent possible loss in value.

Tangible Personal Property, such as art, jewelry, coin collections and household furnishings can be gifted recognizing that there are specific guidelines from the IRS as to the tax deductibility of the gift. Two key issues to be considered before contributing a gift of this type is whether or not the item(s) can be put to related use or whether its use or function is related to the tax-exempt purpose of the charity to which it is donated.

The IRS has very specific guidelines for appraising and reporting gifts of tangible personal property, which must be followed to support a charitable income tax deduction. There are also requirements regarding the size and value of the gift and time frames within which reports must be filed. Gifts such as these may require approval by the Board of Directors of Friends of Seven.

Real Estate can include a primary residence, vacation property, undeveloped land, farm, ranch or commercial building. Real Estate that is highly appreciated compounds tax and other benefits to the donor. Management costs and responsibilities are alleviated and capital gains tax and broker's fees may be avoided. The charitable deduction that can be claimed for a gift of real estate is based upon the fair market value of the property as determined by an independent appraiser, furnished by the donor. Since the IRS has specific rules about the kind of appraisal they will accept, and requires it for support of your charitable tax deduction, it is advisable to consult with professional counsel before pursuing this type of gift.

Real Estate can be given outright, by bequest, through a charitable remainder trust or by means of a retained life estate. For an outright gift of real estate, a deed is drawn up that transfers your property to Friends of Seven. The Friends of Seven will credit you with a gift equal to the fair market value of the real estate, based on an independent appraiser's assessment. This type of gifts is eligible for a charitable income tax deduction for the property's fair market, appraised value and may be eligible for relief from capital gains tax.

Making a gift of real estate can be accomplished by stating the intention as a specific bequest in a will. On the donor's death, the real estate will be transferred to Friends of Seven. The estate will receive a charitable tax deduction for the value of the real estate at the time of the donor's death. Following is the language to accomplish this through a bequest:

I/we give the property at (insert address or brief description of the property being donated) to Friends of Seven, a Washington non-profit corporation operating for the support of KSPS Public Television, 3911 S. Regal, Spokane, WA, 99223.

Life Insurance Policies can be used to make charitable gifts. The need for life insurance protection of one's family to replace a financial loss caused by a death generally lessens as an individual grows older.

Life insurance may be donated in several ways. Because of the nature of the gift, the donor may either contribute the face value of the policy (assign ownership of the policy) to Friends of Seven, or name Friends of Seven the owner and/or beneficiary of the policy. A Charity may also be named as successor beneficiary in case of the prior death(s) of individual beneficiary (ies) named in the policy. Proceeds received by Friends of Seven will be deductible by the insured donor's estate as a charitable contribution, thus reducing estate tax.

To receive a charitable income tax deduction for the present value or future premium payments on the policy, ownership of the policy must be relinquished, assigning all rights, titles and interest to Friends of Seven. The tax deduction will be based on the present value of the policy or the cash surrender value of the policy, whichever is less. This tax deduction is limited to 50 percent of the donor's adjusted gross income. Any excess may be carried over for up to five additional years, within the limitations of the law.

Life insurance policies do not need to be paid up in full to be given as a charitable gift. In this case, the donor would name Friends of Seven the beneficiary of the policy, continue to maintain the policy by paying the premiums and receive a tax deduction for premiums made to keep the policy in force. There is no obligation on the part of the donor to continue paying the premiums in this arrangement. Should the premium payments cease, Friends of Seven would have the options of 1) paying the premiums; 2) hold a paid up policy in a reduced amount; and 3) surrender the policy for its present cash value.

Gifts from Individual Retirement Plans (IRA's), present some interesting gift planning options to help fund the future of programs you enjoy - especially during retirement. This particular option can save your heirs double taxation on your estate. Retirement plan assets remaining after your death will be subject to income tax under the current law. This is referred to as "Income in respect of decedent" and must be paid from the estate holding or heirs receiving the funds in the retirement fund. A tax friendly option, once your family's needs are met, is to name one or more charities as beneficiary of the retirement account.

Here's a couple of options to consider:

• Designate a specific amount to be paid to Friends of Seven, before the division of the remainder among family beneficiaries.
• Name Friends of Seven the beneficiary of part, or even all, of the balance remaining after your spouse's or another beneficiary's lifetime.

If you name Friends of Seven as a beneficiary, be sure to notify your plan administrator and fill out the necessary forms. If the retirement plan is an IRA or a Keogh plan that you manage, notify the custodian in writing, and keep a copy with your valuable papers.

Be sure to coordinate the wishes of your retirement plan with those in your will. It's important to note that the beneficiary designation on your retirement plan will take precedent over a beneficiary named in your will if there is a conflict.

For more information, discuss this important matter with your accountant or attorney.

Matching Gifts are gifts that occur when participating companies match the amount of dollars given to KSPS by their employees or retirees. The company matches the gift (sometimes up to four times in a given year) after the donor has sent in their gift to KSPS along with the company's matching gift form. KSPS will complete the form and mail it to the company. You can check with your company's Personnel or Human Resources office to determine their participation in a matching gift program.

Gifts in Honor or in Memory

Gifts in Honor of someone are a meaningful way of recognizing a family member, friend, colleague, teacher, etc., for special occasions such as births, birthdays, graduation, anniversaries, retirements, or other achievements.We will send that individual a card acknowledging your thoughtfulness; however, the amount of the contribution will not be revealed.

Gifts in Memory of a spouse, family member, friend or loved one are a special way to say "I care and support you in your time of sorrow". A card will be sent to you acknowledging receipt of your gift and the individual or family recognized will be sent a card to let them know of your thoughtfulness. No gift amount will be revealed.

For further information or questions on giving opportunities, you may contact us by phone. In Spokane and the surrounding area, dial 509.354-7700, otherwise use 800.735.2377.You may also email , Director of Major Gifts or Patty Starkey, Executive Director.