If classical music is an important part of your life, consider establishing a named fund to benefit the Santa Rosa Symphony. Even a person of modest wealth can make an important contribution.

The Santa Rosa Symphony relies on more than annual donations to cover the growing costs of each musical season, and endowment is the gift that makes a lasting difference. Planned giving augments your current support with a gift for your Symphony's future.

The Santa Rosa Symphony Endowment Fund was established in 1986 to provide long-term, predictable support for the orchestra. Donor gifts are prudently invested and managed by the professional firm of Neuberger-Berman.

Through May 2006, the endowment’s annual return was 4.19%, exceeding the market benchmark by 2.49%. Our investments are overseen by the SRS Board’s Finance Committee which has kept the draw from endowment for operations below the preferred percentage for two years in a row. Be assured you can contribute with confidence.

By Giving, You Give to Yourself as Well

There are many rewards of philanthropic giving. You may find it especially satisfying to establish a fund in your name, or the name of a loved one, in perpetuity. Whatever type of gift you choose to make, a $25,000 minimum gift automatically entitles you to the benefits of membership in the Symphony Encore Society:

• Invitations to Annual Encore Society Events
• Brulé Private Reserve Club Privileges
• VIP Parking Pass

Options for Including the SRS in Your Estate Plan
There are a variety of options for creating your charitable legacy for classical music, including ways to help you save on taxes and make your contributions go further.

Consider how these choices best fit your individual needs and goals:

Will or Living Trust

Name the Santa Rosa Symphony as a beneficiary of your estate. Where there’s a will, there’s a way to honor your love of classical music.

Example: 
Bequeath a specific dollar amount, an asset, or a percentage of your will or trust to the Santa Rosa Symphony. Because this portion is tax deductible, your donation may significantly reduce taxes otherwise payable by your estate. 

IRA or Retirement Plan

Retirement Plans and Individual Retirement Accounts offer great tax benefits while you are living. However, at your death, the tax costs of these assets can be immense. One way to save your family and heirs the burden of these costs is to make a charitable contribution.

Example:
Name the SRS as the beneficiary of your IRA or Retirement Plan so that your heirs will not have to pay the income taxes you have avoided during your lifetime. In addition, your heirs will not have to pay estate taxes on the value of your retirement vehicles. By naming the Santa Rosa Symphony as the beneficiary of your Retirement Plan or IRA, your family and heirs will avoid this double taxation.

Pooled Income Fund

This popular form of giving offers many tax and income benefits. You endow the Symphony with cash or securities (minimum contribution of $5,000) yet retain rights to all income from investments of these assets throughout your lifetime and/or the lifetime of another.

Example: 
Bequeath a specific dollar amount, an asset, or a percentage of your will or trust to the Santa Rosa Symphony. Because this portion is tax deductible, your donation may significantly reduce annual income taxes as well as the taxes otherwise payable by your estate. 

Gift of Real Property

Deed transfer ownership of your home, ranch, vacation home or land to Santa Rosa Symphony and retain the right to live there for your lifetime. Properties may be held or managed according to your specific terms for years to come. You may continue to live in your home, yet benefit from a sizable income tax deduction.

Example: 
A widowed supporter deeds his home to the Santa Rosa Symphony, subject to his right to live there for life. The market value of the property is $550,000.

Our donor’s accountant, using the IRS tables to discount the gift based on life expectancy and future depreciation of the house, determines the value of his income tax deduction to be in excess of $275,000. This can be written off over as many as five years.

Charitable Remainder Trusts

These popular financial planning arrangements allow you to retain income while providing for the future of the Santa Rosa Symphony. There are several different types of this individually and privately managed form of giving.

Example: 
A couple decides to establish a $250,000 trust for the Santa Rosa Symphony. They plan to fund this trust with appreciated stocks.

The donors set up the trust so they can predict what their annual income will be from the trust. They seek a 6% return in order to generate $15,000 yearly personal income. Their charitable deduction will depend on their ages and individual circumstances, but it may be assumed to exceed $100,000.

Charitable Lead Trusts

Protect your grandchildren’s inheritance. This innovative estate planning tool reduces your estate taxes, provides interim income for the Santa Rosa Symphony, and ensures that your grandchildren receive more of your assets than they would otherwise.

Example: 
Invested income from your trust goes to the Symphony for a designated period of time (usually ten to fifteen years), thereby reducing your income taxes. When your grandchildren reach maturity, the trust terminates and assets pass to them with certainty, thereby reducing your estate taxes.

Memorial Gifts

Make sure that your loved one will not be forgotten by making  a perpetual gift in the name of your friend or family member.

Example: 
An endowed chair is an effective way to memorialize the loss of a friend or family member. Ask those who share your loss to contribute to this fund in lieu of sending flowers. 

Life Insurance Policy

You may choose to designate the Santa Rosa Symphony as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy.

Example: 
Proceeds from your existing life insurance policy may be assigned, all or in part, to the Santa Rosa Symphony. Or, purchase an additional life insurance policy naming the Symphony as owner or sole beneficiary of this new policy.

Gifts of Celebration

Share your happiness. Mark special occasions for all time with a unique contribution to the musical organization that has enriched you over the years. Your tribute will be listed in the concert program book.

Example: 
What better way to recognize a Golden Wedding Anniversary, or other milestone, than with a gift that aids the Santa Rosa Symphony's acoustic excellence. 

Facilitating Your Wish to Make a Lasting Contribution

Your endowment provides a unique opportunity to ensure the Symphony's long-term financial stability and artistic excellence by providing a predictable income stream far into the future. Before making such a decision, it is prudent to call Santa Rosa Symphony staff and to meet with your estate planner or other professional advisors. The Santa Rosa Symphony’s staff welcomes the opportunity to meet with you personally in order to understand and facilitate your wish to make a lasting contribution.

To make a donation or inquire about supporting the Symphony, contact Connie Wolfe in the Development Office or by phone (707) 546-7097 ext 214.