Planned Giving

A Legacy of Compassion

Depending on your individual situation, a legacy gift to VOA-Greater New York (VOA-GNY) can help you manage your personal financial plan and extend your ability to help others for generations. You can make the world a better place for your children and grandchildren when you continue the good work of Volunteers of America-Greater New York by leaving a bequest in your will, acquiring an annuity, or making a gift of appreciated stock, real estate or other assets. Learn the many ways you can leave a legacy of compassion and caring through thoughtful gift planning.

Your legacy to future generations can be assured by including in your estate plan those institutions—like VOA-Greater New York—and causes that matter to you that you support during your lifetime. Estate planning and making legacy gifts helps protect the value of your estate from decreasing due to federal estate tax and other causes, all while supporting those in need.

Below are some planned giving options that offer a variety of flexible and secure opportunities to be charitable, and typically reduce estate taxes. Each gift—no matter its size—helps make it possible for VOA-Greater New York to continue the vital work we do.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss charitable gift options for you and your family, please contact us directly, without any obligation, and we will be happy to speak with you or send you information that you can discuss with your estate planner or accountant. If you are interested in directing your legacy gift to VOA-Greater New York, please contact the Development Team, at (212) 496-4345. 

The Booth Legacy Society


Those who remember Volunteers of America-Greater New York in their estate plans become members of the Booth Legacy Society. The Booth Legacy Society is the recognition circle for our forward-thinking friends who have named VOA-Greater New York in their estate plans. The Society recognizes those who are committed to continuing the work of our founders, Maud and Ballington Booth, two individuals who dedicated their lives to helping the most vulnerable individuals and families.

Booth Legacy Society members receive:

  • An invitation to an annual members-only Booth Legacy Society recognition event
  • A membership certificate
  • A beautiful, specially designed sterling silver pin that will help to spread the word about the good work of VOA-Greater New York.

There are a number of ways to join the Booth Legacy Society, many of which offer tax benefits to the donor, including:

  • Naming VOA-GNY in your will, either with a fixed gift or a percentage of your estate.
  • For donors over the age of 70-1/2, making an IRA charitable rollover of $10,000 or more to VOA-GNY
  • Establishing a charitable gift annuity, which provides a fixed income during your lifetime, for our donors over the age of 65
  • Naming VOA-GNY as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, savings account, retirement fund or donor advised fund
  • Establishing a trust to benefit VOA-GNY
  • Making a gift of $10,000 or more to VOA-GNY’s endowment fund

For further information about making an estate gift and joining the Booth Legacy Society, please contact the Development Team at 212-496-4345 or donors@voa-gny.org. It is always recommended to discuss any estate gift with your own financial adviser as well.

Thank you for your generosity to VOA-Greater New York. With your help, our work will continue for generations to come.

Estate Gifts

Gifts by Will or Living Trust: Include a bequest to Volunteers of America-Greater New York in your will or trust (designate a specific dollar amount, a percentage or a share of the remainder), leaving a legacy without affecting your cash flow during your lifetime. We have partnered with FreeWill, an online estate planning tool, to make it easy and quick to complete (or update) your estate plan.

IRA Distributions

Donors over the age of 70 and 1/2 can make direct rollover contributions to Volunteers of America.

Retirement Plans 

Name Volunteers of America as a full or partial beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k), life insurance, savings accounts, donor advised funds, or other qualified plan.

Outright Gifts

Gifts of Securities: Transfer appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual fund shares to Volunteers of America and we will use the funds from their sale to support our mission.

Gifts of Business Interests: Give an interest in a closely-held or family business.

Gifts of Real Estate: Make a substantial gift through a transfer of residential, commercial, or undeveloped real estate.

Gifts of Personal Property: Donate valuable personal property such as rare books, artwork or antiques.

Gifts that Partner with Us

Charitable Gift Annuity: Transfer cash or securities to Volunteers of America and we will pay you, or one other beneficiary you name, a fixed income for life. (Soon to be available for donors over the age of 65)

Deferred Gift Annuity: Make a gift of cash or securities to Volunteers of America and beginning on a specified date in the future, we will begin to pay you, or up to two annuitants you name, fixed annuity payments for life. (Soon to be available for donors over the age of 65)

Charitable Lead Trusts: Freeze the taxable value of your appreciating assets by using them to make gifts today and pass them back to family members later.

Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts: Transfer cash, securities or other appreciated property into a trust, which will make fixed annual payments to you or to your beneficiaries.

Retained Life Estate: Donate your home or other property to Volunteers of America-Greater New York and continue to live there rent-free for life, only paying taxes and upkeep.

Charitable Remainder Unitrusts: Transfer cash, securities or other appreciated property into a trust which pays a percentage of the value of its principal to you or the beneficiaries you name.

Gifts are subject to acceptance by the Board of Directors of VOA-Greater New York on a case-by-case basis.