Join the Bonnie Bernardi Legacy Circle

Bonnie Bernardi was a founding Arts Council board member who championed our SPECTRA program from the beginning. Bonnie led a coalition of community leaders and activists determined to create a life-changing arts education program for youth across our county. Forty years later, her legacy lives on. We received a transformative gift from Bonnie’s estate just when it was needed most. Through her generosity, we were able to provide COVID-19 Relief Grants to the arts community she loved so dearly. You, too, have the power to leave an imprint on our vibrant arts community. Make Arts Council Santa Cruz County part of your living legacy by joining the Bonnie Bernardi Legacy Circle today.

With a planned gift, you can:

• Make a larger charitable gift than you thought possible
• Reduce your income tax and avoid capital gains taxes
• Provide inheritances for your heirs at a lower tax cost
• Diversify your investment portfolio
• Increase income and effective rate of return
• Leave a legacy without giving up assets

Join Arts Council Santa Cruz County’s Legacy Circle through your planned giving contribution. It’s simple: include one sentence in your will or living trust. It’s versatile: you can give a specific item, an amount of money, or a percentage of your estate. It’s flexible: you’re free to change your plans any time before your will or trust goes into effect. Your attorney can help make your loved ones a priority, while also helping you contribute to organizations and causes you care about.

Types of Estate Planning Gifts

Your estate-planning attorney can help you structure a gift that takes care of your family and honors your passion for the arts. Consider making a gift in the form of:

• A will or living trust with a specific amount of money or a percentage of your total estate. A gift that gives you flexibility and your estate will benefit from a federal estate tax charitable deduction.
• A beneficiary of your IRA account. This is a simple option because the forms are easy to change and the gifts are completely exempt from inheritance or income taxes.
• A payable on death (POD) account or certificate of deposit. This names people or charities as the beneficiary of all funds at the time of your death. During your lifetime, you remain in control and are free to use the money in the bank account, change the beneficiary or close the account
  
• Real Estate. When you give appreciated property you receive a federal income tax charitable deduction equal to the property’s full fair market value, and avoid paying capital gains tax and having to sell the property. You can deed the property directly to Arts Council Santa Cruz County.
• Life Insurance, IRA accounts and Gifts of Stock. Designate Arts Council Santa Cruz County as a beneficiary.

Here’s some sample language:

I give to Arts Council Santa Cruz County (EIN 94-2600140), a California not-for-profit corporation located in Santa Cruz, __________________________ [ __ percent of my estate, or of the residue of my estate; the sum of $ _________ dollars; the following described property; the proceeds of the sale of described property; etc.] to be used in such manner as its Board of Directors may direct. [Or, if you have a specific purpose in mind, please contact us at 831.475.9600 to ensure that we can fulfill your wishes.]

Contact Development at 831.475.9600 x12 or legacy@artscouncilsc.org to talk about our shared values and the mark you want to leave on the world.