Friends of Vista Hill - Heritage Society

To join, click here: Gift Giving and Membership Form

The Heritage Society includes individuals who are interested in securing the future of Vista Hill by contributing through their estate plan or by making an endowment gift/pledge. Our ongoing Endowment Campaign was kicked off in June 2003 with generous matching gift opportunities from the Lipinsky Foundation and the Parker Foundation. As of December 31, 2007, we have reached $578,074 in the 50th Anniversary Friends of Vista Hill Endowment Fund. One hundred percent of our Board members have contributed.

We are actively seeking gifts. We invite your participation. We thank you for your friendship and consideration. Please call Ann Mound at 858.514.5151 for additional encouragement and information!

opportunity to name a room or area at ParentCare or Stein Education Center
membership in The Heritage Society
knowledge that you have helped a worthwhile program
being a catalyst to encourage others to participate
showing your children, grandchildren and friends how to be a philanthropist
making sure that Vista Hill's successful programs continue

charitable income tax deduction
reduced estate tax liability
increased cash flow
elimination of capital gains tax
better diversification and higher investment yields

As a member of The Heritage Society, your name will be listed in the lobby of Vista Hill's Corporate Offices, and you will receive invitations to four special sponsor receptions during the year.

How you can give...

Bequests: Contributions included as part of your will or living trust are commonly written as specific dollar amounts or as a percentage of the estate. Bequests may be changed at any time during the donor's lifetime.

Charitable Gift Annuities: Gifts of cash or property made to Vista Hill are contractually honored and pay a specific annuity income (some of which is tax-free!) to you for your lifetime. Minimum contribution is $10,000.

Pooled Income Fund: Your gift of $10,000 or more is invested by a trustee who distributes income to you for life. Future additions of $1,000 or more may be made.

Charitable Remainder Trust: You transfer an asset, preferably highly-appreciated, to an unchangeable trust and retain income from the trust, usually for life. Remainder of the trust goes to charity upon your death.

Special Needs Trust: Families can provide funding to benefit a disabled family member without jeopardizing public support. Minimum contribution is $5,000 with at least 25% of any remainder designated to the Special Needs Trust Foundation and 25% designated to Vista Hill, a charter member of the Special Needs Trust Foundation. Please call 619.201.2672 for specific information.

Beneficiary Designation: Vista Hill may be named as beneficiary of your retirement fund, life insurance policy or investment account. Any amount designated to charity will provide a credit for the estate thus reducing the impact of estate taxes.

Residential Life Estate: A donor contributes his/her home but keeps the right to live in and enjoy the property for life or a term of years. Donor pays property tax, insurance and upkeep. In some instances, this strategy can be combined with a Charitable Gift Annuity to also provide income for the donor during his/her lifetime.

Charitable Lead Trust: Similar to a charitable remainder trust except the income benefits the charity and the remainder goes to family members at donor's death. Both trusts require a higher degree of customization than gift annuities or pooled income fund gifts.

If you are interested in going forward with a planned gift to Vista Hill, we encourage you to speak with your attorney or estate planning professional. Vista Hill has Crescendo software to assist in this process. Thank you for your consideration!

For more information please contact Ann L. Mound, Vice President, Executive Director, Friends of Vista Hill at 858.514.5151 or email amound@vistahill.org.