By Linda Zelig
MnSF Development Manager

Charitable organizations exist to better serve some aspect of society. As such they raise funds through people who believe in and support the mission and want to help it further its goals. Most donors talk about their charitable giving as an investment in the future or an investment in values they hold dear.

Smart non-profits find a variety of ways to raise funds and maintain income streams. The Minnesota Senior Federation relies on several means: earned revenue from sales of publications, program fees, ad sales; sponsorships from corporations; grants from foundations and individual gifts.

Most people are surprised to learn that across all sources of contributions to charitable organizations, individual giving makes up about 76.3 percent of the total. Corporations come in at 5.1 percent; Foundations account for 11.2 percent; and while the remaining 7.5 percent are attributed to bequests. That is an incredible number of individuals combining to form the bulk of charitable giving in this country.

We have a number of incredible individuals in this organization who invest in the mission of the Senior Federation with their generosity. You are familiar with the campaign appeals mailed throughout the year on various issues -- watch for the next one from the Medicare Justice Coalition. You purchase raffle tickets, annual memberships, and event registrations - all means to support the organization.

You may not be familiar with another way to invest in your beliefs that can be of enormous benefit to you, too! A charitable gift annuity enables you to transfer cash or marketable securities to a charitable organization in exchange for a current income tax deduction and the organization’s promise to make fixed annual payments to you for life. Current annuity rates hover around 6 percent, but the older you are, the higher the rate.

Gift annuities made on behalf of MnSF are contracted through and managed by the Saint Paul Foundation. This arrangement has proven a safe and secure means to assure our assets and those of our donors. We have several members who have chosen to express their trust and commitment to this organization through a gift annuity. We are grateful for their philanthropy. By the same token, these members tell me they are grateful for the security of a fixed quarterly, semiannually, or annual payment that returns their money at around 6 percent. There are additional financial benefits, but you can discuss your individual situation with a financial officer at the Saint Paul Foundation.

You may have been thinking of ways to benefit the Senior Federation that go beyond responding to the year-end appeal. If this way of managing your resources while benefiting a worthwhile charity interests you, we should talk. Thank you for the opportunity!

Contact me at 651/783-5006, 877/645-0261 ext. 5006 or .