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Plan today, and give hope for tomorrow

Meet your personal financial goals while making a difference for our future. By including Mercy Ships in your Planned Giving, you can provide long-lasting support for our organization while enjoying financial benefits for yourself.

Giving Home > What to Give > Gifts of Retirement Assets

Gifts of Retirement Assets

Donating part or all of your unused retirement assets, such as your IRA, 401(k), 403(b), pension or other tax-deferred plan, is an excellent way to make a gift to Mercy Ships.

If you are like most people, you probably will not use all of your retirement assets during your lifetime. You can make a gift of your unused retirement assets to help further our mission.

Benefits of gifts of retirement assets

  • Avoid potential estate tax on retirement assets
  • Your heirs would avoid income tax on any retirement assets funded on a pre-tax basis
  • Receive potential estate tax savings from an estate tax deduction

Gifts of retirement assets video

How to make a gift of retirement assets

To leave your retirement assets to Mercy Ships, you will need to complete a beneficiary designation form provided by your retirement plan custodian. If you designate Mercy Ships as beneficiary, we will benefit from the full value of your gift because your IRA assets will not be taxed at your death. Your estate will benefit from an estate tax charitable deduction for the gift.

More on gifts of retirement assets

Did you know that 60%-70% of your retirement assets may be taxed if you leave them to your heirs at your death? Another option is to leave your heirs assets that receive a step up in basis, such as real estate and stock, and give the retirement assets to Mercy Ships. As a nonprofit, we are not taxed upon receiving an IRA or other retirement plan assets.

Contact us

If you have any questions about gifts of retirement assets, please contact us. We would be happy to assist you and answer any questions that you have.

Please let us know if you have already included Mercy Ships as a beneficiary of your retirement assets. We would like to thank you and recognize you for your gift.