At Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, planned giving isn’t just a financial strategy, it’s a powerful way for donors to create enduring impact. Every planned gift, whether a bequest, charitable gift annuity, retirement plan designation, or trust, supports mission-driven work that transforms lives, including services for people with disabilities throughout New York City.

1. What Planned Giving Means

“Planned giving” refers to thoughtful philanthropic choices woven into estate planning. Donors may create legacies through:

• Bequests in wills or trusts
• Charitable Gift Annuities (CGAs), which provide lifetime fixed income while preserving capital for Catholic Charities
• Beneficiary designations on IRAs, 401(k)s, or retirement plans
• Life‑income gifts, remainder trusts, and other tax-smart instruments

These options often offer tax advantages for donors while ensuring long‑term support for vital programs.

2. Disability Services at Catholic Charities of New York

Catholic Charities of New York serves individuals with visible and invisible disabilities through a comprehensive network of supports, including:

• Early intervention screening and special‑education services for young children
• Residences and supported housing for adults with developmental or physical disabilities
• Adaptive education, mobility training, employment services, assistive technology and more for visually or hearing‑impaired individuals
• Respite support, caregiver services, and substance‑use treatment programs aligned with these populations

In total, their services include:

• 1,468 preschoolers served in early intervention
• 1,236 people cared for in residences or apartments
• 5,126 vision or hearing-impaired individuals receiving adaptive training annually

3. How Planned Gifts Fuel These Programs

• Ongoing, Unrestricted Funding

Bequests designated for disability programs help sustain residential homes, special education, and adaptive‑tech training, providing essential flexibility for where resources are needed most.

• Designated Giving via Charitable Gift Annuities

With a minimum of $10,000 and age 65 or older, donors can establish a charitable gift annuity that pays fixed lifetime income. Importantly, donors may direct the remainder to support a specific program, such as special‑needs housing or early intervention.

• Retirement Assets and QCDs

By naming Catholic Charities of New York as a beneficiary of an IRA or using a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), donors can reduce taxable income while ensuring long-term impact, directly benefiting disability-focused services.

4. Why It Matters: Legacy with Impact

Legacy gifts empower donors to:

• Support inclusive programs that address a wide range of disabilities from developmental delays to sensory impairment.
• Ensure long-term stability and quality for residential, educational and adaptive services.
• Pair generosity with financial planning: offset estate or income taxes while influencing change for vulnerable individuals.

At Catholic Charities of New York, legacy donors are welcomed into the Legacy of Help and Hope society, honoring those who “create a legacy of help and hope.”

5. Taking the Next Step

If you’re considering a planned gift:

1. Explore giving options via CatholicCharitiesNY.giftplans.org.
2. Use calculators or request illustrations to view income projections and tax benefits.
3. Specify your intent: you may direct gifts to supporting people with disabilities programs when setting up a bequest, CGA, or retirement rollover.
4. Contact their Planned Giving office, reaching out to Emily Chau, Director of Planned Giving, at 646‑794‑2018 or via email Emily.Chau@CatholicCharitiesNY.org for assistance.

Planned giving allows individuals to leave a deeply meaningful legacy and strengthening services for people with developmental, visual, hearing, physical, behavioral, and emotional disabilities. Your gift ensures continuity for programs that support independence, inclusion and dignity. Whether through a bequest, charitable gift annuity, retirement plan gift, or other instrument, planned giving helps build a future where Catholic Charities of New York can continue serving all vulnerable New Yorkers with excellence.