How can I help?

There are many ways to help Hawaii Women’s Legal Foundation (HWLF) continue its mission of improving the lives of women and children in need and promoting women in the legal profession.  The options below are not intended as legal advice, but are intended to provide information about possible ways to help HWLF while also providing potential tax savings to you.  Please consult with your own legal and financial advisors to determine which giving option is best for you.  

 

LIFETIME GIFTS

support HWLF and provide potential tax savings for you.  In addition to cash donations via check or PayPal, consider the following:

  • Gifts of Appreciated Stock:

    If you own highly appreciated stock that will incur capital gains tax when sold, it might be better for you tax-wise to donate the stock to HWLF.  You will avoid the capital gains tax on the sale and should also receive a charitable tax deduction on your income tax return for the full fair market value of the stock if owned for more than one year.  Of course, you should consult with your accountant, but if you decide to pursue such a gift, please contact HWLF at hawaiiwomenslegalfoundation@gmail.com to work out the transfer instructions.

  • Qualified Charitable Distributions from your IRA:

    If you are 70 and ½ years or older, you can make a qualified charitable distribution directly from your IRA to a qualified charitable organization, such as HWLF.  For example, in 2026, distributions of up to $111,000 paid directly to the charity will count towards the Required Minimum Distribution you are required to take but will be excluded from your taxable income, thereby reducing your overall income taxes.  This is a great option for those who are required to take RMDs, but do not need the income for their living expenses.  It is critical, however, that the distribution be made directly from the IRA to the charity.  There are also exceptions, so please be sure to discuss this with your accountant.

  • Charitable Remainder Trusts:

    Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRT) are another great vehicle to reduce capital gains taxes on highly appreciated assets, yet in this case you can also retain an income stream for your lifetime.  Basically, you gift the appreciated assets (such as a residence or rental property or stock) to an irrevocable trust for your (and your spouse’s) lifetime and retain the right to receive a percentage of the value of the assets annually (generally 5-8%) for life.  The CRT terminates at your death and then whatever is left goes to your designated charitable beneficiary.  Because the trust is irrevocable, you receive a charitable deduction for the value of the “remainder” interest that the charity will receive in the future (which is determined by certain IRS Tables).

    You can be trustee of the CRT and control the investments and distributions.  After the assets are contributed to the CRT, the trustee (you!) sells the asset and, because it is a charitable trust, it does not pay immediate capital gains tax on the profit.  Instead, the profits are invested, and capital gains taxes are deferred until the gain is actually distributed to you as part of the percentage income.  In the meantime, funds that would have otherwise been used to pay the capital gain tax upon the sale are instead invested and working for you (and the ultimate charity).

    There are a variety of types of CRTs so you should consult with an experienced estate planning attorney to determine what is most appropriate for your needs and goals.

LEGACY GIFTS

not only support HWLF’s mission of helping needy women and children but also evidence your ongoing support after you have passed away.  

  • Bequests by Will or Trust:

    It is very simple to make a gift to HWLF in your Will or Trust.
    Sample Language: “At my death, I give the sum of $____________ to Hawaii Women’s Legal Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.”

  • IRA Beneficiary Designations:

    IRAs and retirement plans are the perfect gifts for charities.  If you name your children or other individuals as beneficiaries on a traditional (non-ROTH) retirement plan, they will pay income taxes on the distributions they receive.  If a charity is a designated beneficiary, then the funds distributed to the charity are tax-exempt.  For those with charitable intentions, it often makes tax-sense to name charities as IRA beneficiaries so that more non-taxable assets can go to your family or other beneficiaries under your trust or will.