USA Wrestling launches Legacy Giving Program
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by Lorraine Rorabaugh, Donor, Alumni Relations
USA Wrestling is excited to announce the launch of our Legacy Giving Program! This program has been in the planning phase since June of 2019 when Dr. Ken Lane handed a check to USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender and said, “Here; I want this to be a legacy gift.”
Dr. Lane recently shared his thoughts about his legacy gift.
"Wrestling not only changed my character, but it also changed my life. I cannot shoot a takedown, or throw a headlock anymore, but I can give back to my sport as a way of saying ‘Thank You’ for this wonderful life. When I saw the ‘Legacy Wall’ at the University of Nebraska, it inspired me to suggest to USA Wrestling to create an opportunity for all of us to financially reward our sport by creating a gift that will live forever," said Dr. Lane.
At the time of Dr. Lane’s gift, USA Wrestling did not have a formal program for these type of gifts. This led to USA Wrestling conducting research on how these programs worked and could impact the organization and the sport.
Several meetings ensued with staff from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC). Megan Berg and Walt Glover outlined about how their Legacy Giving program was managed. As it turns out, it was not as difficult as one might imagine.
There are a few caveats in the world of Endowments, Donor Advised Funds and Insurance Policies, but the other ways a donor can leave a Legacy Gift were simple. All of these strategies provide donors with tax advantages to fully maximize their giving. Besides designating USA Wrestling as a beneficiary to partial or full retirement plans, others were as simple as designations of insurance policies and estates and wills.
Legacy Giving is no stranger to universities, hospitals, or other nonprofits. Endowments and bequests have been major funding sources for these institutions for decades. The biggest takeaway for USA Wrestling is that many donors want to leave a Legacy Gift. They want their gift to be remembered and make an impact forever.
“The launch of this program is a big deal! It will safeguard the future of programs for wrestlers for years to come. It also fills a gap we have had, as a solid funding source. Legacy Giving will also make us financially stronger overall,” said Steve Fraser, Chief of Donor & Alumni Relations.
So how easy is it? Talk to your financial planner, estate planner, estate attorney, human resources representative to update your beneficiary, then reach out to USA Wrestling to let us know your intention.
If you have questions about leaving a Legacy Gift, visit USA Wrestling’s donor website at donate.usawrestling.org then select the tab for Legacy Giving. You may also reach out by phone at 719-598-8181 and ask for Lorraine in our Development Department.
Dr. Ken Lane has been a Team Physician for USA Wrestling for 22 years. You may see him still today at many of our events.
Dr. Lane recently shared his thoughts about his legacy gift.
"Wrestling not only changed my character, but it also changed my life. I cannot shoot a takedown, or throw a headlock anymore, but I can give back to my sport as a way of saying ‘Thank You’ for this wonderful life. When I saw the ‘Legacy Wall’ at the University of Nebraska, it inspired me to suggest to USA Wrestling to create an opportunity for all of us to financially reward our sport by creating a gift that will live forever," said Dr. Lane.
At the time of Dr. Lane’s gift, USA Wrestling did not have a formal program for these type of gifts. This led to USA Wrestling conducting research on how these programs worked and could impact the organization and the sport.
Several meetings ensued with staff from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC). Megan Berg and Walt Glover outlined about how their Legacy Giving program was managed. As it turns out, it was not as difficult as one might imagine.
There are a few caveats in the world of Endowments, Donor Advised Funds and Insurance Policies, but the other ways a donor can leave a Legacy Gift were simple. All of these strategies provide donors with tax advantages to fully maximize their giving. Besides designating USA Wrestling as a beneficiary to partial or full retirement plans, others were as simple as designations of insurance policies and estates and wills.
Legacy Giving is no stranger to universities, hospitals, or other nonprofits. Endowments and bequests have been major funding sources for these institutions for decades. The biggest takeaway for USA Wrestling is that many donors want to leave a Legacy Gift. They want their gift to be remembered and make an impact forever.
“The launch of this program is a big deal! It will safeguard the future of programs for wrestlers for years to come. It also fills a gap we have had, as a solid funding source. Legacy Giving will also make us financially stronger overall,” said Steve Fraser, Chief of Donor & Alumni Relations.
So how easy is it? Talk to your financial planner, estate planner, estate attorney, human resources representative to update your beneficiary, then reach out to USA Wrestling to let us know your intention.
If you have questions about leaving a Legacy Gift, visit USA Wrestling’s donor website at donate.usawrestling.org then select the tab for Legacy Giving. You may also reach out by phone at 719-598-8181 and ask for Lorraine in our Development Department.
Dr. Ken Lane has been a Team Physician for USA Wrestling for 22 years. You may see him still today at many of our events.
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