Gifts That Cost You Nothing Now

HomeMake an ImpactGifts That Cost You Nothing Now

Here are two easy ways to have an impact for generations to come — and they don’t cost anything now.

Gifts in a Will or Trust

A gift in your will or trust is one of the easiest ways to create your legacy of support and advocacy for rail transportation and passengers. This gift costs you nothing now and makes a difference for generations to come.

If you decide to include a gift for Rail Passengers Association to advance the cause of expanded and improved rail transportation, you will be invited to join our Heritage Circle — an exclusive society for supporters who create this special legacy gift to benefit generations to come.

Here are some benefits of including the Rail Passengers Association in your will or trust:

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No Cost

Costs you nothing now to give in this way.

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Flexible

You can alter your gift or change your mind at any time and for any reason.

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Lasting Impact

Your gift will continue your legacy of support for railways and passengers.

4 simple, "no-cost-now" ways to give in your will or trust:

General Gift

Leaves a gift of a stated sum of money in your will or living trust. For example, you might decide to leave $10,000 to each of your favorite charities. It’s considered to be ‘general’ because it doesn’t specify from where the money comes.

Residual Gift

Leaves what is left over after all other debts, taxes, and other expenses have been paid.

Specific Gift

Leaves a specific dollar amount, percentage, fraction, or specific items (collections, art, books, jewelry, and so on).

Contingent Gift

Leaves a stated amount or share only if a spouse, family member or other heir/beneficiary does not live longer than you. In other words, your gift is contingent upon whether or not they survive after you.

You can mix these no-cost ways together. For example, you might consider leaving a specific percentage (such as 50%) of the residual to Rail Passengers Association contingent upon the survival of your spouse and other loved ones.

See Sample Language for Will or Trust

Gifts by Beneficiary Designation

It’s easy to put your bank accounts, retirement funds, savings bonds, and more to use in creating a world informed and inspired by the Rail Passengers Association — and it costs nothing now.

By naming the Rail Passengers Association as a beneficiary of these assets, you establish your personal legacy of support for the expansion and improvement of America's railways for all passengers to enjoy.

Potential benefits of designating the Rail Passengers Association a beneficiary of assets:

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Reduce or eliminate taxes on retirement assets

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Reduce or avoid probate fees

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No cost to you now to give

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Make a difference for the nation's rail passengers

To name the Rail Passengers Association as a beneficiary of your retirement plan, contact your bank or insurance company to see whether a change of beneficiary form must be completed.

How to Change a Beneficiary Designation:

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Login to your account or request a Change of Beneficiary Form from your custodian (the business holding your money or assets).

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Follow the links to change your beneficiary or fill out the form.

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Be sure to spell the name of our organization properly:
Rail Passengers Association

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Include our tax identification number:
36-2615221

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Save or submit your information online or return your Change of Beneficiary Form.

Types of Gifts

Retirement Funds (beneficiary of your retirement plan):

You can simply name the Rail Passengers Association as a beneficiary of your retirement plan to advance the expansion and improvement of America's rail transportation.

Funds remaining in your bank accounts, brokerage accounts or certificate of deposit (CD):

This is one of the easiest gifts to give and one of the most useful in accomplishing what you want – helping animals in need. The next time you visit your bank, you can name the Rail Passengers Association (Tax ID: 36-2615221) as the beneficiary of a checking or savings bank account, a certificate of deposit (CD), or a brokerage account. When you do, you’ll take a powerful step toward expanding inter-city railways for generations to come.

Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) residuals

What remains in a donor-advised fund is governed by the contract you completed when you created your fund. When you name Rail Passengers Association as a “successor” of your account or a portion of your account value, you become an invaluable partner is our mission to advocate on behalf of rail passengers.

If you have a donor-advised fund and want to make a contribution to Rail Passengers Association now, use our convenient finder to log into your fund.

Savings Bonds

If you have bonds that have stopped earning interest and you plan to redeem them, you might owe income tax on the appreciation. That could result in your heirs receiving only a fraction of the value of the bonds in which you invested. Since the Rail Passengers Association is a tax-exempt institution, naming us as a beneficiary means that 100% of your gift will go toward expanding and improving America's rail transportation.

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Your Giving Toolkit

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Gifts from
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Sample Language for
Your Will or Trust

Sample Beneficiary
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Sample
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Need assistance? I'm here to help!

Jonsie Stone

Director of Development

Rail Passengers Association
202-408-8362 x 3207
[email protected]

This information is not intended as legal, accounting, or other professional advice. For assistance in planning your gift(s), please consult a lawyer and/or financial advisor for professional advice.