MET Legacy Society

Legacy Society is New Name for Chalice Society

In 2003 the UUCC Memorial Endowment Trust established the Chalice Society as a way to honor congregants and friends who had made a financial commitment to the UUCC beyond their lifetimes. In 2016 the MET Board of Trustees changed the name to the MET Legacy Society. The name connects the society directly to the Memorial Endowment Trust and underscores that “legacy” is exactly what planned giving to the Trust is about.

Let Your Legacy Reflect Your Values

The Legacy Society consists of UUCC members and friends who have designated the Memorial Endowment Trust as a beneficiary in their wills, retirement plans, trusts and/or life insurance policies as described below in Plans of Giving. Joining the Legacy Society allows you to leave a legacy in perpetuity to support the ongoing activities of the Unitarian Universalist Community of Charlotte. If you have already done this, please notify the MET Trustees by completing the Legacy Society Confirmation Form.

Charitable giving in a well-managed estate plan may provide an income for life, reduce or eliminate capital gains taxes, generate a current income tax deduction, and/or reduce or eliminate gift and estate taxes. Your attorney or financial advisor may help you pursue a strategy that is best suited to your personal needs.

Plans of Giving through Estate Documents

1. Provision by Will: Bequests may be in the form of a stated dollar amount, specified property, or a percentage—or the residual—of an estate. Here is some suggested language you can share with your attorney to assist in drafting a will or codicil that will achieve your charitable estate plans: “I give ______________($ amount, description of property, or % of estate) to the Unitarian Universalist Community of Charlotte Memorial Endowment Trust, for its unrestricted use.”
2. Life Insurance: Donors may name the UUCC Memorial Endowment Trust as a beneficiary of an existing policy. If you name the UUCC Memorial Endowment Trust as an irrevocable beneficiary and owner of your life insurance policy, you are eligible for an immediate income tax charitable deduction equivalent to the policy’s cash surrender value or replacement value. If additional premium payments are due, you can deduct those payments as charitable contributions.
3. Retirement Plans: A popular way to give to a charitable organization is through the beneficiary designation on your retirement funds. These could include an IRA, a 401(k) or 403(b) plan, or an annuity. This gift can often be arranged without changing other estate documents, simply by completing a “Change of Beneficiary” form provided by the institution that holds the investment.

For more information on becoming a member of the Legacy Society, please contact the MET Board of Trustees through our contact form.