Financial Contributions

(Will and Estate Planning)

Before you make your will and/or other estate plans, consider the following:

• Make a list of the people you want to include in your plans -- family, friends, or charitable interests.
• List the property you wish to distribute -- include securities, real estate, life insurance, retirement plans, and personal property.
• Consider ways to match the people or institutions with the property.
• Where appropriate, list any professionals you may need to consult -- attorney, banker, accountant, tax advisor, financial planner, investment advisor, or representative of a charitable interest.

Bequests of cash, securities, real property or other assets to the food bank entitle your estate to a charitable deduction that can reduce or eliminate estate tax liability.
The language of a bequest is important but it need not be complex. Clearly indicate that your bequest is intended for the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida, Inc. Possible phrasing:
I give, devise, and bequeath to the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida, Inc. (___% of my estate) or (the sum of $__) or (the following described property __) or (all the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate) for (the general use of the Food Bank) or (for the following use or purposes).

Gift Annuities and Remainder Trusts

Charitable Gift Annuities
Annuities become a very popular way for a donor to benefit the food bank while receiving an income for life, along with significant tax advantages. As the donor, you can have the payments begin now or postpone then for a payout at a future time.

Charitable Remainder Trusts
Trusts are a legal agreement that specifies how the assets placed will be managed. This approach is an attractive way to achieve a variety of goals as a donor, while providing income for life - as well as knowing that after your lifetime, the remaining trust assets will be used by the food bank exactly as you have specified. The Charitable Remainder Trust can be set up as a Unitrust, in which the income fluctuates annually with the fair market value of the trust; or the trust can be as an Annuity, in which the income payments are fixed and are determined when you make the gift.

Endowment Giving
Establishment of a permanent endowment with the Harry Chapin Food Bank is a unique privilege of honor to provide perpetual funding for a valued purpose - and assure an ongoing stream of funding to feed the hungry in Southwest Florida. Endowment funds are invested to provide continuing income for the explicit and stated purpose desired by the donor. Income utilization is determined annually by the Board of Directors, normally in the 5% range. Earnings in excess of the approved utilization are credited to the endowment principal, enabling the funds to maintain and grow over time.

There are two types of Endowments for the food bank:

In actuality, the Named Endowment Fund can be configured in at least two different ways. Some people prefer to set a time frame within which the principal, as well as the accumulated interest earnings, will be spent on food for the hungry - for example, a 25-year window. Others prefer that only the interest earnings be spent, thus assuring that the fund lasts in perpetuity.

*We advise that all matters related to planned giving be addressed with your Financial Advisor and/or Legal Representative prior to contacting the food bank to determine which method of giving best fits your situation.

Making a financial contribution to the Harry Chapin Food Bank is a wise investment. Not only does a donation help feed people in our community, it is also tax-deductible.

Each month, the food bank provides emergency food to approximately 20,000 to 30,000 hungry people. Hungry people in Southwest Florida include families struggling to meet basic needs (working poor), seniors living on fixed incomes, and thousands of children whose nutritional needs must be met if they are to have any kind of quality future in our community.

While the cost of gathering and distributing millions of pounds of food is considerable, no other hunger relief solution yields such high returns as an investment in food banking. This is often referred to as the “Miracle of Food Banking.” For every gift of $10, the food bank can provide $50 worth of quality food to needy people. Also, more than 95% of the food bank’s overall budget goes to feeding people in need.

The Harry Chapin Food Bank – Southwest Florida’s only food bank – faces critical operating expenses such as monthly building expenses, fuel, purchasing and maintaining trucks, equipment repair and maintenance, printing, cleaning supplies, modest salaries, insurance, training, and packaging.
While the food bank is grateful to accept almost any “in-kind” donation leading to a solution against hunger, monetary gifts are clearly needed.

Throughout the year, the Harry Chapin Food Bank seeks operating funds from local United Ways, area businesses, Florida foundations, through fundraising events, and from individuals. While these sources are often generous, the food bank needs more help now if we are to keep up with the enormous demand for emergency food in Southwest Florida.

During the past year most of our partner agencies have experienced a significant increase in requests for food assistance – increases from 30% to as high as 70% which can be attributed to a devastating housing slump and an increasing unemployment rate in our service area. In fact, Lee County has been cited in the New York Times and elsewhere as the hardest hit of any U.S. county by the housing/mortgage crisis.

Whether you are a foundation officer, a local business, an area service club, or an individual with heart, please consider the Harry Chapin Food Bank for your next charitable gift or award. Hunger is a serious but solvable problem and the solution lies within you and our community.

Giving Options:
• Make an unrestricted donation (to be used to support the general operations)
• Make a gift in support of food delivery
• Hold an event to benefit the food bank
• Make a donation to honor a special person
• Assist with an unrestricted financial donation
• Businesses can conduct “Matching Gift” Programs
• Donate a car, boat, RV or other personal property
• Make a donation of stock or mutual funds
• Remember the food bank during estate planning

The Annual Fund of the Harry Chapin Food Bank is made up of current gifts that are vital to efforts to alleviate hunger in Southwest Florida. Dollars that go annually to support the operating budget of the warehouse operations must be replenished each year with current gifting. Current gifts are often referred to as "outright gifts" and represent one of the most common ways that donors provide support to the Food Bank.

The Harry Chapin Food Bank is always seeking Annual Fund support - private gifts, corporate/agency support and community gift support. All Annual Fund dollars - without exception -- go into providing food for the hungry.

Ways to Give
There are several ways in which you can make a current gift - payable to the Harry Chapin Food Bank:

• You can make an Unrestricted Donation (To be used towards the general operating expenses)
• You can make a donation to a particular portion of the annual budget - e.g. transportation, warehouse operations, food procurement.
• You can make a donation in support of a particular program, e.g. A Fresh Start (our fresh produce Program), Kids Café, our Holiday Meal program, or to support expansion of services to a particular geographic area.
• You can make a donation to underwrite our services to a particular agency or agencies, or to purchase highly desirable foods.
• You can contribute by check, bank draft, credit card or other fund.
• You can make a recurring pledge and contribute monthly, bimonthly or quarterly.

Please know that privacy and respect are important to us. If you have concerns about sharing sensitive information, note our Core Principles of Stewardship - or contact us.

We will be pleased and proud to answer any questions, give you a warehouse tour, share any financial records, introduce you to agency representatives, have you meet with people who benefit from the food bank food supplies - in any way respond to your information preferences.

And do remember - every $1 donated to the food bank provides $6 in actual food products provided to feed the hungry. It would be hard to find another "investment" that has such a positive return! Also, according to our most recent audit (ending June 30, 2011) 96% of every dollar donated goes directly towards the program and mission of fighting hunger in Southwest Florida.  

The most common form of planned gift is a simple bequest through a will. A bequest allows you to give in ways you may not be able to during your lifetime. Bequests can take various forms:

• A specific bequest directs that the Harry Chapin Food Bank receive specific assets.
• A general bequest directs that the Harry Chapin Food Bank receive a percentage (2%, 5%, 10% etc.) of the estate or a specified dollar amount.
• A residual bequest is used to give the Harry Chapin Food Bank all or a portion of whatever remains after all debts, taxes, expenses, and all other bequests have been paid.
• A contingent bequest takes effect only if the primary intention cannot be met. This can ensure that property will pass to the Harry Chapin Food Bank rather than unintended beneficiaries, such as the government.

While all of the above forms of outright bequests can be used to provide for unrestricted support of the Harry Chapin Food Bank’s mission, any of them may be designated for a specific purpose at the Harry Chapin Food Bank.

Because of the estate-tax charitable deduction, a bequest in any of these forms can significantly reduce the tax burden of your estate.

Businesses, large and small, local or national, can play an important role of helping the Harry Chapin Food Bank alleviate hunger in Southwest Florida. Whether the contribution is monetary, goods or services, or public awareness, the impact that businesses can have on serving the hungry is tremendous. Companies often find that the effort and commitment to sponsor a food bank campaign provides great benefits to employee morale, has a wonderful organizational development impact, and sends a favorable message to clients and customers.
Many companies and businesses choose to "match" the contributions of their employees to nonprofit organizations, including the Harry Chapin Food Bank. Such firms have created a "Matching Gifts Program" and will match the contribution with an equal dollar amount. Some companies will even match the gift at two or three times the cash value.

Your business can make a donation in any of the following ways”

• Your company can sponsor one of our local events
• Your company can underwrite the cost of one of our trucks, while simultaneously advertising your logo on th e truck as it travels throughout Southwest Florida
• Your company can sign up to receive our annual appeals, provide a monthly or periodic pledge, or conduct a gift drive or charity outing for employees.
• Your company can organize and conduct a food and/or a fund drive, generating groceries as well as dollar contributions.
• Your company can donate equipment, supplies or employee expertise toward helping the food bank serve more people and become even more productive.
• Your company can periodically or regularly have employees volunteer at the food bank in a variety of meaningful and fun ways.
• Your company can adopt a “Matching Gift” Program to match or augment the funds generated by an employee drive.

We'd be glad to arrange a visit for company representatives to see our warehouse and operations, or we'd be pleased to come to your company and discuss possible ways to collaborate.

With the community’s help we can make sure that no child goes hungry!

Remember your loved ones with a unique gift that alleviates hunger for thousands!
There are many occasions when you want to say something special to a family member, friend or associate. Not only is a gift to the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida, Inc. a lovely way to express sympathy for the loss of a special person, it is also a wonderful way to commemorate happy occasions. You may even wish to make a contribution instead of giving a traditional holiday gift. Here are some ways you can give to the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida, Inc.:

• In Memoriam - Honor the memory of someone special through a memorial designation.
• Congratulations - Celebrate a birthday, anniversary, graduation, retirement, or special achievement (such as a successful diet)!
• Get Well - Express wishes for a speedy recovery, while supporting our mission to fight hunger in SW Florida
• In Appreciation - Thank someone while extending their kindness through a gift that will continue to help others.

Whatever the occasion, we mail an acknowledgement to the designee of your choice, to let him or her know that you've made a gift in his or her honor or their loved one's memory. (The amount of your gift will not be disclosed.)