It’s your legacy. Make a planned gift to the American Thoracic Society and build a future where respiratory diseases no longer exacts its toll on individuals and families.

You have options when naming the ATS as a beneficiary in your planned giving:

• Bequests

  Your will is an enduring statement to the people, causes and institutions that you care about. Your will says you care enough to make your intentions clear. It leaves no doubt as to your priorities and your convictions.

  Wills are an important source of support for the American Thoracic Society. They are often the largest and the easiest planned gift an individual can make. Because they are revocable gifts, they do not jeopardize your cash flow, standard of living or ability to meet future needs.

  Many supporters send us letters confirming their intention to make a bequest to the ATS. Besides ensuring that your wishes will be carried out, the bequest commitment letter enables the ATS to recognize your gift and to discuss designation of your gifts. We are happy to honor your wishes regarding anonymity.

• Gifts of Retirement Assets

  When you name the American Thoracic Society as a beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k) or other qualified plan, any residual left in your plan when you die passes to the ATS tax free.

  If the largest asset in your estate is your retirement plan, you may be surprised to learn that the IRS will impose income tax on the remaining balance in the account if you designate it to a beneficiary other than your spouse. This tax is in addition to the estate tax that may be imposed on the account. For estates fully subject to the estate tax, the result can be that up to 70 percent of the value of your retirement plan will be consumed in taxes before your child, relative or friend receives it.

• Life Insurance

  Life insurance is an excellent way to give a substantial gift with only a small sum of money. When the American Thoracic Society is named the owner of a life insurance policy, all contributions to the ATS to pay premiums are fully tax deductible. If a fully paid policy is donated to the ATS, its value is equal to the policy’s replacement cost. The value of a partially paid policy approximates its cash surrender value. The exact value in either cash or the death benefit can be obtained from the insurance company.

• Edward Livingston Trudeau Society: Our recognition society for donors who have included the American Thoracic Society in their planned giving.

• FAQs: Frequently asked questions about gift planning

You can choose to gift all or a percentage of your plan, will, or trust.

Your attorney or accountant can help you make choices that meet the needs of your family and support the causes you hold dear.

“When I was very young, my husband and I invested a few hundred dollars in an annuity fund then promptly forgot about it. Many years later, we were pleasantly surprised to learn that the fund had grown significantly in value. We had no plans to continue the investment, so we decided to make the American Thoracic Society the beneficiary of the fund. The fund sits there, quietly accumulating value, and will benefit the ATS Research Program and (eventually) benefit patients with lung diseases.” – Sharon Rounds, MD, ATSF