Roots of Tomorrow — Build a Legacy That Lives On
The values you care about today can shape our community for generations to come. Through planned giving, you have the opportunity to choose your neighbor — directing future support to the people, programs, and causes that matter most to you while creating a lasting impact in Manhattan and the surrounding region.
Whether your goal is to provide for family, strengthen local nonprofits, or invest in our community’s future, we are here to help you create a plan that reflects your priorities. Planned giving embodies our core pillars: Movement — keeping our community’s progress in motion; Vision — planning intentionally for what matters most; and Action — ensuring future impact powered by today’s decisions.
We invite you to join the many donors who have chosen to include the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation in their will or estate plans as members of our Legacy Society, thoughtfully outlining how they would like their gift to support the community. Through a simple Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with GMCF, you can identify the nonprofits or causes you wish to support in the future. Because priorities can change over time, the MOU can be updated at any time at no cost, giving you the flexibility and peace of mind that your legacy will always reflect what matters most to you.
Why Planned Giving?
Planned gifts allow you to:
- Support your community beyond your lifetime
- Create a charitable fund in your name or your family’s name
- Provide for the charities you love
- Strengthen local nonprofits for future generations
Planned giving is for anyone who wants to align their estate plans with their values — regardless of the size of their estate.
Simple Ways to Leave a Legacy
1. Include a Gift in Your Will or Trust
Designate a specific amount, percentage, or asset to support the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation or a fund you care about.
2. Name GMCF as a Beneficiary
Retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and investment accounts can include a charitable beneficiary designation.
3. Create or Support a Fund
Establish a permanent fund that continues giving year after year to the causes most important to you.
Estate Planning Resource
The Greater Manhattan Community Foundation has partnered with FreeWill to provide a free online estate planning tool available to our community. This secure resource allows individuals to create a legally valid will and document their wishes in a simple, guided process that typically takes about 20 minutes.
While the tool offers the option to include charitable giving, there is no obligation to designate a gift to GMCF. We simply want to make planning resources accessible to those who wish to organize their estate plans and think thoughtfully about the future.
We’re Here to Help
Estate planning decisions are personal. We’re happy to work alongside you and your professional advisors to ensure your charitable goals are achieved in a way that is meaningful to you.
Contact:
Greater Manhattan Community Foundation
foundation@mcfks.org
785-587-8995