Leave a Lasting Legacy in Tompkins and Cortland Counties

A planned gift — whether through your will, your IRA, or your estate — is one of the most powerful ways to build affordable housing for generations to come.

Planned Giving Is More Than What You Leave Behind

Planned Giving can be a tax- efficient way to leave a legacy during your lifetime.

Most people think of planned giving as something that happens after they’re gone — a gift in a will, a name in an estate plan. But some of the most tax-efficient ways to support affordable housing happen while you’re still here.

If you’re 70½ or older, you can make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) directly from your IRA — satisfying your Required Minimum Distribution while paying zero income tax on the withdrawal. You can also name Tompkins and Cortland Habitat as a beneficiary of a retirement account, donate appreciated stock to avoid capital gains, or establish a Charitable Gift Annuity that pays you income for life.

However you choose to give, a planned gift to Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins and Cortland Counties builds affordable homes — and the stability, health, and generational opportunity that come with them — long into the future.

Ways to Make a Planned Gift to Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins and Cortland Counties

Every path is different. Here are four of the most common ways our supporters build a lasting legacy.

Bequest in Your Will or Trust

One of the simplest and most common planned gifts. You designate Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins and Cortland Counties as a full or partial beneficiary in your will or living trust — at any amount. Your assets remain in your control during your lifetime, and your gift takes effect after you pass.

IRA Charitable Distribution (QCD)

If you’re 70½ or older, you can give directly from your traditional or Roth IRA — up to $111,000 per year ($222,000 for married couples). The distribution goes directly to Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins and Cortland Counties, satisfying your Required Minimum Distribution with zero income tax on the withdrawal.

Beneficiary Designation

Name Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins and Cortland Counties as a full or partial beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k), retirement plan, or life insurance policy. Because retirement assets are often taxed heavily when passed to heirs, directing them to a nonprofit — and leaving other assets to your family — can mean more for everyone.

Charitable Gift Annuity

A gift that gives back. Make an irrevocable gift of $10,000 or more in cash or appreciated securities, and receive fixed payments for life at an attractive rate. You may also receive an immediate tax deduction — and if you donate appreciated assets, you can reduce your capital gains exposure as well.

We’re Here to Help

We’re here to answer your questions, share the information your attorney or financial advisor may need, and make sure your gift is set up exactly as you intend.

Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins and Cortland Counties is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All gifts are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Our EIN is 90-0238478.

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Planned Giving FAQ

Have a question that isn’t answered here? Reach out to our team. We’re happy to walk you through your options with no pressure and no obligation.

A charitable bequest is a gift you designate in your will or living trust to take effect after you pass. To name us, your attorney should list us as: Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins and Cortland County, a nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of New York, with a principal address of 957 Mitchell Street, Ithaca, NY 14850. Our tax identification number is 90-0238478. You can designate a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or a specific asset — and you can change your bequest at any time during your lifetime.

If you are 70½ or older, you can direct a distribution from your traditional or Roth IRA directly to Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins and Cortland Counties — up to $111,000 per year (or $222,000 for married couples giving from separate IRAs). The distribution goes directly to us, which means you pay zero income tax on the withdrawal. Under 2026 rules, QCDs are even more valuable because they reduce your taxable income directly — without relying on itemized deductions. A QCD can also satisfy all or part of your Required Minimum Distribution for the year. Contact your IRA administrator to initiate the transfer.

You’re never obligated to notify us — your estate plan is private, and a planned gift is valid whether or not we know about it in advance. That said, we’d love to hear from you. When you let us know, we can thank you personally, welcome you to our circle of supporters, and make sure we have accurate organizational information on file for your estate attorney to reference.

Not at all. Planned gifts come in every size, and some of the most meaningful legacy gifts we receive come from donors who never considered themselves major donors. A bequest of any amount, a beneficiary designation on a retirement account, or a one-time IRA distribution can all make a lasting difference — and each one is deeply meaningful to the families we build alongside.

To start a conversation, all we need is your name and the best way to reach you. We’ll connect with you to understand your goals, answer your questions, and share any organizational details your attorney or financial advisor may need — like our legal name, address, and EIN. There’s no commitment required to have that conversation.