Legacy Giving
What is Legacy Giving?
Legacy giving is a meaningful way to support the work of Samaritan Aviation beyond your lifetime. By including a gift in your will, trust, or estate plan, you help to continue bringing lifesaving medical flights and the hope of Jesus to remote regions of Papua New Guinea for years to come. Legacy gifts—also known as planned gifts—can take many forms, including bequests, beneficiary designations, or gifts of assets like stock or real estate. These contributions allow you to make a lasting impact while often providing financial benefits to your heirs and estate.
National Christian Foundation
About NCF
Your goal is to give wisely. Our mission is to help.
At NCF, we understand you want to be a good steward of all God has entrusted to you. That’s why we come alongside you with shared biblical values, innovative charitable solutions, and highly personalized service so you can give more strategically and with greater purpose.
Since 1982, generous givers at NCF have mobilized more than $21 billion for 90,000 churches, ministries, and charities. If you’re looking for a trusted Christian giving and granting partner, let’s start a conversation today.
- Maintain use of your assets during your lifetime
- Potentially reduce estate taxes
- Make a lasting difference through your legacy
Common assets to give:
Financial accounts, real estate, vehicles, brokerage accounts, crypto, NFTs, and personal property
As long as the gift aligns with our acceptance guidelines, you can easily contribute cash, securities, or other assets to Samaritan Aviation. Through our trusted partner, the National Christian Foundation, your gift can be invested to provide ongoing income for you, your chosen beneficiaries, or both. Depending on the structure, you may receive payments for life or for a set number of years.
Charitable Gift Annuities
A charitable gift annuity offers a unique opportunity to support Samaritan Aviation while also securing reliable income for your future. In exchange for your gift, you’ll receive fixed annual payments for life. If you’re under 65, you might consider a Deferred Charitable Gift Annuity, where payments begin at a later age you select.
- Receive an immediate tax deduction for a portion of your gift
- Enjoy steady, guaranteed income for life
- Benefit from partially tax-free payments
- Provide long-term support for Samaritan Aviation’s mission
How it works:
You establish the annuity through our partner, the National Christian Foundation, by transferring cash or appreciated assets. NCF invests your gift and makes fixed lifetime payments to you or up to two individuals. After the contract ends, the remaining funds are directed to Samaritan Aviation—extending your legacy far beyond your lifetime.
Charitable Remainder Trusts
A Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) is a giving strategy that allows you to make a meaningful contribution to Samaritan Aviation while also providing income for yourself or others. This irrevocable trust is designed to generate payments for a set number of years—or for life—before the remaining assets are directed to support our mission.
- Receive consistent income for yourself or your loved ones
- Potentially reduce or eliminate capital gains tax on appreciated assets
- Create a lasting legacy that supports life-saving medical flights and the hope of the Gospel
How it works:
You transfer assets—like cash, stocks, or real estate—into a trust, which is overseen by a trustee. The trust distributes income to you or your chosen beneficiaries for the duration of the trust. At the end of the term, the remaining balance is given to Samaritan Aviation. You may qualify for an immediate charitable tax deduction based on the estimated future gift, and you could minimize taxes on highly appreciated assets.
Charitable Lead Trusts
A Charitable Lead Trust (CLT) is a giving option that allows you to support Samaritan Aviation today while preserving assets for your loved ones in the future. For a set period, the trust provides annual gifts to our ministry. Once that term ends, the remaining assets are passed on to beneficiaries you choose—often family members.
- Make an immediate impact through annual support
- Receive an income tax deduction based on the charitable portion
- Retain some control over how assets are distributed
- Help provide for your family while advancing Gospel-centered medical missions
How it works:
You create and fund the trust with assets such as cash, stocks, or property. Each year, the trust makes contributions to Samaritan Aviation. After the charitable term ends, the remaining assets go to your selected non-charitable beneficiaries. This strategy can reduce estate or gift taxes while allowing you to invest in both your legacy and your family’s future.
Stocks
Giving appreciated assets like stocks, mutual funds, or other securities is a smart and effective way to support Samaritan Aviation’s life-saving mission, often with significant tax advantages. When you donate investments you’ve held for over a year, you can avoid capital gains taxes and receive a charitable deduction for the full market value.
- Avoid capital gains taxes entirely
- Receive a charitable deduction based on the asset’s current value
- Potentially save more in taxes than with a cash gift
- Put your generosity to work immediately for families in Papua New Guinea
How it works:
You transfer appreciated securities directly to Samaritan Aviation. We’ll provide a tax receipt for the fair market value of your gift. The assets are then sold, and the proceeds are quickly directed to our most urgent needs—bringing critical medical care and the hope of Jesus to remote communities.
Donor-advised Funds
A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) is a convenient and tax-smart way to manage your charitable giving. You can make a contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants to your favorite nonprofits—including Samaritan Aviation—whenever you’re ready. It’s a flexible approach that allows you to plan your giving over time.
- Make a gift now and receive an immediate tax benefit
- Recommend grants to charities on your own timeline
- Support Samaritan Aviation with ease and flexibility
How it works:
You contribute assets to a DAF managed by a sponsoring organization, such as the National Christian Foundation (NCF). When you’re ready to support Samaritan Aviation, you submit a grant recommendation with our details. Once it’s approved, the funds are sent directly to us, helping deliver emergency medical flights and the love of Christ to remote communities in Papua New Guinea.
Real Estate
Donating real estate can be a powerful way to support Samaritan Aviation—especially if the property has appreciated in value. It’s a smart solution for those looking to reduce capital gains taxes, simplify their estate plans, and let go of the financial and logistical burdens of property ownership, all while leaving a legacy of hope.
- Avoid capital gains tax on appreciated property
- Reduce or eliminate ongoing maintenance and costs
- Create a long-term impact for families in Papua New Guinea
How it works:
Start by reaching out to our team to discuss your interest. Because real estate gifts are complex, we’ll walk with you through each step. You’ll need to have the property professionally appraised to determine its fair market value, which helps establish your charitable tax deduction. From there, we’ll work with you and your legal advisor to complete the necessary paperwork and transfer the title. Once the gift is finalized, you may be eligible for a significant deduction, and your property will be transformed into life-saving care for those in need.
Qualified charitable distributions from your IRA
If you’re age 70½ or older, you can make a tax-smart gift directly from your IRA to Samaritan Aviation through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). This type of gift can count toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) and may lower your taxable income, all while advancing life-saving medical missions in Papua New Guinea.
- Reduce your taxable income
- Satisfy all or part of your RMD
- Make an immediate, meaningful difference
How it works:
Ask your IRA administrator to send funds directly to Samaritan Aviation. Because the distribution goes straight to a qualified nonprofit, it won’t be included in your taxable income—helping you save on taxes while fulfilling your philanthropic goals. While QCDs don’t qualify for a charitable income tax deduction, the tax exclusion often offers similar or greater benefit.
- May qualify for an estate tax charitable deduction
- Helps reduce taxes your family might otherwise owe
- Lets you continue using your assets during your lifetime
- Creates a legacy that supports life-saving care in Papua New Guinea
- IRAs and 401(k) retirement accounts
- Life insurance policies
- Jointly owned real estate or property
- Joint bank accounts
