Testamentary Life-Income Gifts: FAQs

If your trust beneficiary dies before you do, your will or revocable trust will include an alternate disposition you choose. For example, you can choose to have the assets first benefit a different beneficiary, or you can direct that they be distributed outright to Audubon immediately.

Your estate will be eligible to claim a charitable deduction based on the value of the trust remainder designated for Audubon. As a general rule, the older your income beneficiary and the lower the payout to that beneficiary, the higher the value of the remainder for Audubon (and your estate's deduction) will be.

If you create a charitable gift annuity through your will or revocable trust, you may name up to two annuitants. If you establish a charitable remainder trust, however, you may name more than two beneficiaries. How many beneficiaries you name will be limited only by the laws governing charitable trusts – too many beneficiaries might disqualify the trust for deductibility in your estate. Your attorney will be able to advise you on this point, and we'll be happy to provide helpful information for you and your advisors.

Absolutely. As with any life income or other gift to Audubon, you have the flexibility to designate your gift for one or more particular programs or purposes you'd like to support.