Glaucoma Research Foundation

Consider including a generous gift to the Glaucoma Research Foundation in your financial and estate planning. Such gifts, large or small, are critical to our mission to find a cure for glaucoma. The Blanche Matthias Society, named in honor of GRF’s beloved financial founder, was established to specially acknowledge bequests and donors who notify us of planned giving.

Bequests may have significant tax benefits. Please contact us if you have any questions. Our development staff would be happy to discuss your options with you.

Bequests

Benefits of Bequests

By making a bequest, or gift by will, you can give generously to the Glaucoma Research Foundation without reducing your current income. Charitable bequests are normally deductible in full from estate taxes.

As you review your estate plans, you may come across assets that will generate heavy tax burdens for your family. Such items may be subject to both income taxes and inheritance taxes.

As a tax-exempt organization, we would keep every dollar of such “tax-cursed property.” Furthermore, leaving these items to us will create estate tax charitable deductions that save even more taxes for your heirs.

Types of Bequests

Bequests, designated in your will for The Glaucoma Research Foundation, may be structured in several ways.

A “specific” bequest is the most common. You leave a specific amount of money, a specific asset, or a specific percentage of your estate to the Glaucoma Research Foundation.

A “residual” bequest benefits the Glaucoma Research Foundation only after all debts, expenses, taxes, and other bequests have been paid from your estate.

A “contingent” bequest results in a gift from your estate to the Glaucoma Research Foundation only if other beneficiaries cannot accept it. For example “If my child should predecease me then I leave my entire estate to the Glaucoma Research Foundation for the benefit of the unrestricted endowment fund.”

Testamentary Trusts

Your will may direct that a portion of your estate goes to a pooled income fund or a charitable remainder trust. The pooled income fund or charitable remainder trust will then pay life income to a named beneficiary. After your beneficiary’s death, the Glaucoma Research Foundation will receive any remaining funds.

Blanche Matthias Society

Over the past 27 years, bequests to the Glaucoma Research Foundation have totaled more than $7.1 million - a major contribution toward helping us advance a cure. The Blanche Matthias Society, named in honor of GRF’s beloved financial founder, was established to specially acknowledge bequests and donors who notify us of planned giving, which is so critical to our mission. Members of the Society are publicly recognized and named on a plaque in our San Francisco headquarters, in our annual report and on our website.

Pooled Giving

There is a way for you to help us save sight and earn extra income for yourself.

We started the Glaucoma Research Foundation Pooled Income Fund in 1993. It’s a group investment plan managed for us by Union Bank that provides donors with several benefits.

How It Works

Donors make an initial gift of $5,000 or more. You may make donations of $1,000 or more to grow your account. Every gift is tax deductible based on the amount and the age of the donor(s). As a donor, you will receive a check four times a year for your lifetime.

Benefits include:

• Lifetime income for the donor
• Avoiding capital gains tax on assets such as property or stocks that have grown in value since purchased
• Avoiding estate tax and probate costs
• Membership in the Blanche Matthias Society for planned giving donors
• No legal fees to participate in the pooled income fund (unlike a charitable trust)
• The knowledge that you are providing much needed support to the Glaucoma Research Foundation and helping to save the priceless gift of sight