Planned Giving
An Inspirational Legacy: Make a Planned Gift Today
The Free Library of Philadelphia has been an integral part of our community for over 100 years. A planned gift to the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation helps to ensure that the Library’s engaging programs, in-depth resources, and critical services will be available for future generations to depend on and enjoy. The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation offers many planned giving opportunities, all of which can be tailored to meet your specific financial and estate-planning needs.
Planned gifts help grow the Library’s endowment and can be designated to support a specific neighborhood library or program that you value. In addition, planned gifts can be an important tool for individuals who want to minimize estate, gift, and income taxes, and some planned gifts may also provide you and your loved ones with a guaranteed source of future income that you can depend on. In addition to significant tax benefits, planned gifts provide an ideal opportunity for you to support the Free Library more powerfully than you may have thought possible.
Please take a moment and explore the many different planned gift options that can support the Free Library to determine which may be the right one for you.
Thank you for considering such an important commitment.
Planned giving arrangements call for careful consideration and a complete assessment of your financial situation. Please consult with your attorney, tax advisor, or financial advisor about the application of planned gifts to your particular situation.
For more information, please contact The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation at 215-567-7710 or giving@freelibrary.org
Donor Profile
Susan G. Smith
Susan G. Smith is a longtime supporter of the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation and served on its Board of Directors during two separate appointments. She served as Vice Chair of the Board and held leadership positions on both the Executive Committee and the Borrowers’ Ball Committee.
Dedicated to the Library’s mission of advancing literacy in our region, Susan made plans to ensure that the Library’s services will continue to benefit from her philanthropy by providing for the Foundation in her will. As a charter member of The Benoliel Society and Chair of the Library’s Planned Giving Advisory Council, Susan has been an advocate for growing the planned giving program and expanding it to include Charitable Gift Annuities to further secure critical support for the Library’s services and ensure that they are available for generations to come.
Planned Gift Options
Bequests
Gifts of Plans and Policies
The Benoliel Society
Bequests are the most popular type of planned gift because they are easy to execute and flexible, and you do not have to part with any assets during your lifetime. Naming the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation as a beneficiary of your estate means your gift can grow the Foundation’s endowment, benefit a wide variety of programs and services at the Free Library, or be restricted to support your favorite neighborhood library. While the Free Library will benefit from your support for years to come, your heirs may gain estate tax advantages from your bequest. There are two types of bequests that might fit your needs:
- Specific bequests are gifts made in a will of a specified amount of money or a designated asset, such as 100 shares of a specific stock.
- Residuary bequests are gifts of a percentage of the donor’s estate after payment of specific bequests, debts, estate-administration expenses, and taxes.
- To find out about what advantages might apply to your specific situation, please speak to your attorney or financial advisor. Below is sample language you can review with your attorney while making your plans:
“I hereby give, devise and bequeath to the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation, a non-profit corporation d/b/a The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation, the sum of $_______ (or _______ percent of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate) to be used for general purposes of the Library (or for a particular program of your choosing).”
The Free Library of Philadelphia’s Employment Identification Number (EIN) is: 52-1173474
If you already have a will you do not need to rewrite your will if you wish to include the Free Library in your estate. We will be happy to provide you with brief language to create a codicil to your will that you can review with your attorney. A codicil will amend your will without necessitating a brand new document and allow you to include the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation in your long term plans.
For more information, please contact The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation at 215-567-7710 or giving@freelibrary.org
Gifting Your Retirement Plan
Using assets from qualified retirement plans like a Roth IRA or a 401K is a smart way to support your philanthropic priorities. Retirement plan assets that are left directly to heirs are subject to a high estate tax, so choosing to leave these funds to the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation ensures that your hard-earned dollars continue to work for something you love—the Library—for years to come. You can leave a percentage of your retirement assets or a specific dollar amount. Just notify your plan’s administrator of your intention and complete a “change of beneficiary” form.
We are happy to work with you and your advisor to make certain that your gift is used in accordance with your wishes. Individuals who use their retirement assets to make planned gifts become members of The Benoliel Society.
The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation also welcomes gifts of property or real estate to strengthen its public spaces.
Gifting a Life Insurance Policy
You may also designate the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation as owner and/or the beneficiary of a life insurance policy—either a new policy or an existing one that you and your family no longer need. Simply contact your insurance agent and ask for the appropriate forms.
For more information, please contact The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation at 215-567-7710 or giving@freelibrary.org
Planned gifts help ensure that the engaging programs, in-depth resources, and crucial services of the Free Library will be available for future generations to depend on and enjoy. D. Jacques Benoliel was one of the first to support the Library through a planned gift, creating the foundation for the Library’s world-renowned Dickens collection. We honor his important legacy through The Benoliel Society. The Benoliel Society recognizes those thoughtful individuals who have made a planned gift to the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation. Benoliel members enjoy access to special programing each year. Join the many others who, like you, understand the lasting value of the Library and the importance of sustaining its future. We invite you to become part of The Benoliel Society by making the planned gift that's right for you.
Benoliel Society Members
- Ihsan Ahmed
- Joseph F. Baker
- Sherrin Baky-Nessler
- Carl J. Balis
- Sheila and Myron Bassman
- Khadija Benaissa
- Peter A. Benoliel and Willo Carey
- Sally Cooper Bleznak
- Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz
- Andrea Boyd
- Carol Buettger
- Helen and Robert* Buttel
- Elaine W. Camarda and A. Morris Williams, Jr.
- Joseph Cesa
- Carol Shlifer Clapp
- Rebecca L. Craik and Mark Haskins
- John W. Cunningham, Jr.
- Peggy and Mark Curchack
- Prudence W. Dalrymple
- Victoria and Colin Dawson
- Doris N. Desher
- Tobey and Mark Dichter
- Donkey Dover, Jr.
- Amy Finkelstein
- Graham Finney
- Maureen Flanagan
- Drs. Barbara* and Leonard Frank
- Barbara F. Freed and Alan Mittelman
Benoliel Society Members
- Jill Friedman-Rickman
- Professor Eileen Gambrill
- Elaine Gelb and Marc Pachtman
- Bob Gelsher
- Bruce J. Gould
- Peggy and Rich Greenawalt
- Antoinette Hoagland
- Warren D. Hoffman
- Edward W. Hoy
- Katherine Huseman and William Rich
- Charles Keates
- Marlyn and Norman Kline
- Deborah Komins
- Bernice Koplin
- Barbara S.M. Kretchmar
- Sue D. and Reinhard* Kruse
- Magali and Charles Larson
- Anne Silvers Lee and Wynn Lee
- Betty and Philip Leifer
- Sabina Leybold
- Ellen Linky-Heiman and William Heiman
- The Loki's Fund
- Mickey and Larry Magid
- Andrew Mangravite
- Randi and William Marrazzo
- Jane R. and Dr. Bernard A. Mason
- Priscilla Seïbert McDougal
- Kim and Tom Moon
Benoliel Society Members
- Tara Lynne Murphy
- Anita M. Myette
- Stephanie and Michael Naidoff
- Linda and Jeffrey Needleman
- Frances Novack
- Susan Odessey
- Neil A. Oxman, Esq.
- Shirley A. Page
- Marilyn Phister
- Nancy D. Pontone
- Israel T. Radl
- Polly Riddle
- Marcia J. Rogers
- Eileen Rosenau
- J. Randall Rosensteel*
- Patricia and Scott Schultz
- Wallace Sliwinski
- Susan G. Smith
- Miriam and Arthur Spector
- Hannah Spielberg
- Evelyn G. Spritz
- Sherry A. Swirsky
- Nadeen Van Tuyle and Gilbert Feinberg
- Debra Weiner
- Heather Winett
- Mara and Kenneth Wolfgang
- Anonymous (3)
* deceased
For more information, please contact The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation at 215-567-7710 or giving@freelibrary.org