Charitable Gift Annuities (CGAs)

Provide a future gift to Braille Institute while receiving lifetime income...

If you have a favorite charity, a Charitable Gift Annuity is a particularly good choice when safety and income are desired. By funding a Braille Institute Charitable Gift Annuity, you'll receive a safe, guaranteed lifetime income with the satisfaction of knowing that your donation will help thousands of blind and visually impaired children and adults.

What is a Charitable Gift Annuity?

The annuity, which only a charitable nonprofit organization can offer, is a simple contract. When you make a minimum donation of $10,000, we'll pay you, and/or another individual, a guaranteed, fixed rate of return for life. The contract is governed by state laws, assuring that payments to "annuitants" are protected. When the annuity ends, Braille Institute receives the remainder to help those we serve.

Example: Mrs. Jones funds a $10,000 Braille Institute Charitable Gift Annuity. Now 80 years old, her annuity rate is 7.2 percent (annuity rates increase with age). She will thus receive an annual payment of $720 for life. "Icing on the cake" is an income tax deduction of $4,843, which could save her $1,356 in taxes. Plus, a major portion of the income generated will be tax free.

For a free personalized illustration of the benefits of a Charitable Gift Annuity or to request our brochure, Your Guide to Charitable Gift Annuities, please contact our Office of Development & Planned Giving.

Find Your Age On The Chart Below To See How A Braille Institute Charitable Gift Annuity Can Pay You A Much Higher Rate Than A Bank CD.

Call for rates on your actual age.

Braille Institute also offers several other Charitable Gift Annuity options.

Deferred Payment Gift Annuity

If you don't need income immediately, would like a charitable tax deduction now, and would like to earn a higher rate of return in the future, then a Deferred Payment Gift Annuity is a good option. This is an ideal gift for a younger donor, under 70 years of age. You may make a donation for a Deferred Gift Annuity in the same manner as a regular Charitable Gift Annuity. Because the payment to you is deferred, the annuity rate is compounded so that the eventual payout will be significant in relation to the original gift invested. Deferred Gift Annuity rates are considerably higher than regular gift annuity rates. If you are interested in a free personalized illustration of the benefits of a Deferred Gift Annuity or in learning more about our Deferred Gift Annuity Rates please contact our Office of Development & Planned Giving.

Life Estate Gift Annuity

A Life Estate Gift Annuity is a gift arrangement that allows you to give a gift of your home to Braille Institute today while continuing to live in and enjoy it during your lifetime. Specifically, a donor retains a "life estate" in his or her personal residence or farm after making a gift of a "remainder interest" in that property to Braille Institute. In conjunction with this gift, the donor enters into a Charitable Gift Annuity agreement with Braille Institute, which provides the donor with a lifetime annuity. This gift arrangement is similar in concept to a commercial arrangement called the "reverse mortgage." However, a Life Estate Gift Annuity, which only a charitable institution like Braille Institute can offer, surpasses the benefits of a reverse mortgage in many ways. If you are interested in a free personalized illustration of the benefits of a Life Estate Gift Annuity or in learning more about our Life Estate Gift Annuity program, please contact our Office of Development & Planned Giving.

View or download a copy of Braille Institute's planned giving newsletter.

The term "planned giving" refers to charitable gifts that require some planning before they are made. Charitable Gift Annuities are just one way of making a planned gift. Planned gifts are popular because they can provide valuable tax benefits and/or income for life. Please visit our special Braille Institute Planned Giving Web site to learn about the many other types of planned gifts that benefit both you and Braille Institute.

The information discussed here is not intended as legal or tax advice. A prospective donor should seek the advice of a qualified estate and/or tax professional to determine the consequences of his or her gift.

Office of Development & Planned Giving
Braille Institute of America, Inc.
741 North Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90029
Phone: 1-800-BRAILLE (272-4553), Ext. 1256
FAX: (323) 663-1428
E-mail: plangift@brailleinstitute.org
Office hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (PST), Monday through Friday

Related links:

A Bequest for Braille Institute – Leaving a bequest through your will or trust is easy.

Donate Real Estate – If you own property, perhaps now is the time to consider the many advantages of a gift of real estate to Braille Institute.

What to Give – Planning a gift carefully can be as important to you as the gift is to us. This section summarizes the many ways available for you to make a gift to Braille Institute.