Designation, Restoration, and Preservation
PRESERVATION PROGRAMS
HISTORIC LANDMARK RESTORATION
Reclaiming Our History
Once a site of historical significance is identified, the work and expense to arrest deterioration and restore the site to dignity and respect begins. Great care must be taken to avoid damaging what remains of delicate memorials ravaged by time and elements. This task is immeasurably more complicated than mowing grass and clearing vegetation. It means using sophisticated technology to identify buried artifacts such as headstones and employing careful techniques in the cleaning and preservation of monuments.
HISTORIC LANDMARK PRESERVATION
Preserving Our History
Preservation is perpetual endeavor that ideally involves an entire community. Our goal is to develop sustainable plans which can be integrated easily into the daily lives of communities. By identifying and restoring historically significant sites, interest and pride in the past is renewed and communites can follow low and no-cost plans to maintain the beauty and richness of their history in perpetuity.
A Lasting Legacy
REAL ESTATE DONATIONS
Want to make a big gift without touching your bank account? Consider giving us real estate. Such a generous gift helps us continue our work for years to come. And a gift of real estate also helps you. When you give us appreciated property you have held longer than one year, you get a federal income tax charitable deduction. This eliminates capital gains tax. And you no longer have to deal with that property's maintenance costs, property taxes or insurance.
Another benefit: You don't have to hassle with selling the real estate. You can deed the property directly to the Louisa Harvard Foundation or ask your attorney to add a few sentences in your will or trust agreement.
AN OUTRIGHT GIFT
Federal Income Tax Charitable Deduction - Eliminate Capital Gains and Gift Tax Now
When you make a gift today of real estate you have owned longer than one year, you obtain a federal income tax charitable deduction equal to the property's full fair market value. This deduction lets you reduce the cost of making the gift and frees cash that otherwise would have been used to pay taxes. By donating the property to us, you also eliminate capital gains tax on its appreciation. Furthermore, the transfer is not subject to the gift tax, and the gift reduces your future taxable estate.
A INSTALLMENT BARGAIN SALE
Immediate Charitable Deduction, Eliminate Capital Gains, Monthly Income
Want to sell us your property for less than the fair market value? A "bargain sale" may be the answer. When you make a bargain sale, you sell your property to our organization for less than what it's worth. The difference between the actual value and the sale price is considered a gift to us. A bargain sale can be an effective way to dispose of property that has increased in value, and it is the only gift vehicle that can give you a lump sum and a charitable deduction at the same time.
WILL OR LIVING TRUST
Flexibility Benefits Your Estate After Your Lifetime
A gift of real estate through your will or living trust allows you the flexibility to change your mind and the potential to support our work with a larger gift than you could during your lifetime. In as little as one sentence or two, you can ensure that your support continues after your lifetime and that your estate will benefit from a federal estate tax charitable deduction.
A RETAINED LIFE ESTATE
Mantain Occupancy While Receiving Immediate Income Tax Charitable Deduction
Perhaps you like the tax advantages a gift of real estate to our organization would offer, but you want to continue living in your personal residence for your lifetime. You can transfer your personal residence or farm to the Louisa Harvard Foundation but keep the right to occupy (or rent out) the home for the rest of your life. You continue to pay real estate taxes, maintenance fees and insurance on the property. Even though we would not actually take possession of the residence until after your lifetime, since your gift cannot be revoked, you receive an immediate federal income tax charitable deduction for a portion of your home's value.