May is Leave a Legacy Month, a national public awareness campaign that invites each of us to reflect on the future and consider the impact we want to leave behind. It encourages individuals and families to include a charitable gift in their estate plans—ensuring the causes they care about continue to thrive for generations to come.
Take a moment to look ahead ten, twenty, thirty, or even forty years down the road. Are the organizations and causes closest to your heart still being supported, uplifted, and strengthened? Planned giving makes that vision possible.
When you remember the Otsego Community Foundation (OCF) in your estate plan, you are making a powerful decision to support your charitable goals well beyond your lifetime. A planned gift can help preserve your family name, honor loved ones, provide for heirs, minimize potential tax burdens, and—most importantly—create lasting impact in our community. Often, these gifts allow donors to make a far greater contribution than might have been possible during their lifetime alone.
How the Otsego Community Foundation Helps
At OCF, legacy giving is not a one-size-fits-all process. We partner with donors every step of the way to ensure their wishes are clearly defined, thoughtfully planned, and faithfully honored.
Identifying the causes that matter most to you.
We help donors select organizations and causes that align with their values and interests. Because we know the nonprofits in our community well, we can share insight into their missions, effectiveness, and long-term sustainability. For those who want to learn more, we’re happy to arrange tours or introductions—so you can see firsthand how your generosity makes a difference.
Choosing the right giving tools.
In collaboration with your financial advisor, we help identify the giving vehicles that best match your financial situation and charitable goals. A planned gift doesn’t have to be a simple cash bequest. Options may include charitable remainder trusts, gifts of appreciated securities, or even life insurance—often allowing for greater flexibility and impact.
Keeping the process simple and flexible.
Your charitable wishes are documented through a straightforward Gift Intent Form—a simple, one-page outline of your intentions. This document can be updated at any time at no cost. If your priorities change, or you want to add or adjust organizations, a quick call is all it takes.
Preserving your intent—forever.
OCF ensures that your charitable purpose is honored long into the future. If an organization you cared about is no longer operating decades from now, we work to redirect funds in a way that reflects your original intent. Our Board of Directors serves as steward of these gifts, supported by strong systems of transparency and accountability.
Protecting your privacy.
We also preserve donor anonymity for those who wish it, helping ensure you don’t receive unsolicited donation requests while still making a meaningful community impact.
The Legacy Society
To honor this meaningful form of philanthropy, the Otsego Community Foundation established the Legacy Society. Membership recognizes individuals and couples who demonstrate foresight and deep commitment to the future of our community.
Anyone who names the Otsego Community Foundation as the beneficiary of a planned or deferred gift—through a will, trust, retirement asset, or life insurance policy—is welcomed into the Legacy Society. Members may choose to be recognized publicly or remain anonymous.
Legacy Society members often share a common motivation: a love for Otsego County and confidence that the foundation will steward their gift with care, integrity, and purpose.
“The Legacy Society allows us the opportunity to give to the community we love so much, long beyond our time. Our gratitude can be expressed forever!”
— Bill and Liz Forreider
“I like the idea of the Legacy Society because it allows me to leave a lasting gift of philanthropy under one umbrella. It gives me great peace of mind knowing things will be in good hands.”
— Susan A. Jordan
How to Join the Legacy Society
Joining the Legacy Society is simple and meaningful:
- Determine your planned gift. Work with your attorney, financial advisor, or the Otsego Community Foundation to designate a planned or deferred gift that reflects your charitable wishes. OCF is always happy to assist you or your professional advisors in this process.
- Let us know. Complete and submit the Legacy Society form so the foundation can honor your commitment.
Planned gifts to the Otsego Community Foundation are generally endowed, creating permanent, sustainable support for our community. Gifts may establish new funds, strengthen existing ones, or support multiple causes you care about most—forever.
Learn More
If you are interested in joining the Legacy Society or simply want to explore your options, we invite you to start the conversation. Contact Amanda Sosa, Director of Donor Services, at 989-731-0597 to learn more.