Why the Legacy Society?
After decades of being used for all kinds of entertainments and community events, the Opera House portion of City Memorial Hall, out of need, was turned into a court house, and remained as such until the new court house, and police station, was constructed and opened across the street in 1999. Once this occurred, leaders of the community began the process of resurrecting the Opera House, and the Franklin Opera House, a 501 (c) 3 organization, soon took form. The “drop down” ceiling was removed revealing the balcony, restoration began in earnest, and the rest is history. Through the dedicated work of numerous volunteers, the Franklin Opera House once again became a community center. The work, however, never stops, and can not be supported by ticket sales alone. Members, sponsors, advertisers, and donors are crucial for this wonderful organization to continue to improve and flourish.
A gift to the Franklin Opera House Legacy Society in your Will or Trust enables you to support the mission of the Franklin Opera House and make a difference in the lives of this community and future generations. A bequest:
- is easy to arrange.
- will not alter your current lifestyle in any way.
- and can be easily modified to address your changing needs.
Sustaining gifts can also be made during the donor’s lifetime to provide tax advantages, as donations to the Franklin Opera House are fully tax deductible. Cash amounts, transfer of stock or other securities can also be considered.
The Franklin Opera House has designated Independence Financial Advisers (IFA), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Franklin Savings Bank, as fiscal agent for donations to Franklin Opera House Legacy Society. A short and easy phone call to Paul Gatehouse, (IFA) at (603) 934-8378 will start the process, IFA will then work with your estate planner/tax advisor to make all the necessary arrangements.
With a minimum commitment of $10,000 or more, you will be eligible for:
- a lifetime membership to the Opera House
- invitations to special gatherings throughout the year
- two free tickets to every Opera House production
- recognition in the annual program guide
- receiving the monthly Executive Directors Report via email, to be kept apprised of all that is going on at the Opera House
- Your name on a Legacy Society plaque on display in the Opera House
- a Legacy Society lapel pin, recognizing your philanthropic support
Above all, you will have the certainty of knowing that your gift will continue to enhance the Opera House’s tradition of excellence while providing for the cultural enrichment of the Franklin community for generations to come.
What Is Planned Giving?
Planned giving is sometimes referred to as gift planning or legacy giving. Some planned gifts provide life-long income to donor. Other gift plans use estate and tax planning to provide for charity and heirs in ways that maximize the gift and/or minimize its impact on the donor’s estate.
Thus, by definition, a planned gift is any major gift, made in lifetime or at death as part of a donor’s overall financial and/or estate planning.
What are the 3 types of planned gifts?
- First, outright gifts that use appreciated assets as a substitute for cash;
- Second, gifts that return income or other financial benefits to the donor in return for the contribution;
- Third, gifts payable upon the donor’s death.
Independence Financial Advisors,
a subsidiary of Franklin Savings Bank, manages our planned giving program. Please consult a financial planning advisor or attorney to discuss options.