Planned giving

Leave a legacy that breaks the cycle of poverty

Design Your Legacy

A Planned Gift to American Friends of The School of St Jude can break the cycle of poverty. Your bequest will have lasting impact on the lives of the brightest and most economically disadvantaged children in Tanzania and change the trajectory of life for the students, their families, and the community. Your gift, no matter how large or small, will make a difference.
As a volunteer and long-term sponsor of students at The School of St Jude, Australian Board Director and Treasurer, David Collins (pictured right, and above with his wife Gail), knows the value of gifts in Wills and the impact they’ve had for the school and its students.

He says bequests mean the school can invest in buildings and equipment required for development and growth, and they help support the school’s financial sustainability.

“My wife and I are fortunate to have visited the school and seen firsthand the impact bequests have for St Jude’s. Bequests are another way of giving, and mean the school can sustainably provide free quality education for students who would otherwise miss out on educational opportunities that significantly impact their life, their family’s life and the broader community.

We are leaving a gift in our Will as an enduring legacy that continues to provide support for the education of our 2 students even after we have gone,” he says.

There are 4 types of bequests

  • a cash gift for a specific amount. This is sometimes referred to as a pecuniary gift.
  • a percentage of your entire estate.
  • an asset such as land, shares, property or other personal items.
  • the remainder of your estate after your family and loved ones are looked after. This is called a residual bequest.

How do I leave a gift in my Will to St Jude’s?

Leaving a bequest or legacy to St Jude’s is simple. You can write your own Will or you can consult a solicitor who is experienced in Wills and estates to help you create one.

To ensure your wishes are followed and St Jude’s receives your gift, we recommend wording such as that below:

How to name us in your will

If you wish to name The American Friends of The School of St Jude in your Will or Estate Plan, we should be named as:

The American Friends of The School of St Jude, Tanzania, Inc, organized and existing as a Maryland Nonstock Corporation. The American Friends of The School of St Jude is tax exempt as a Public Charity under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code with a Federal Tax Identification Number: 47-3077055 and an Incorporation date of February 15, 2014.

The American Friends of The School of St Jude uses all charitable gifts to support The School of St Jude in Arusha, Tanzania, to fulfill its mission of providing free, quality education to 1,800 high achieving students from disadvantaged backgrounds. In addition, The School of St Jude also supports hundreds of graduates in higher education through the Beyond St Jude’s Program. If you have a more specific purpose or program to support, please feel free to contact us at info@afstjude.org or call______________.
Let us Know your plans
If you have included American Friends of The School of St Jude in your estate plans, please let us know at admin@afstjude.or or contact us at _______________. We would like to thank you for cementing the future by solidifying a gift in your Will. Your generosity will have a lasting impact and we would like to show our gratitude.

We are able to provide you with suggestions to assist in your planning. However, we cannot provide tax or legal advice. We encourage you to obtain your own independent and professional advice.

Ways to structure your gift

We recommend consulting with your financial or legal advisor to determine which approach aligns best with your goals. If you would like, we are happy to provide general information about The School of St Jude programs and opportunities to support your planning.
A Planned Gift

A Planned Gift allows you to include The American Friends of The School of St Jude in your estate plans-such as through a trust, Will, or beneficiary designation. This type of gift ensures that a cause you support and care about will continue to make an impact for years to come without affecting your current financial situation. In addition to creating a lasting legacy, these gifts may provide potential estate tax advantages and, in some cases, income tax benefits depending on how your gift is structured.

Other Strategic Giving Options

There are also effective ways to maximize your charitable impact during your lifetime.

Bunching Gifts: Combining multiple years of charitable contributions into a single tax year which may help you exceed the standard deduction threshold and maximize itemized deductions.

Donor Advised Funds (DAF): A DAF allows you to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and recommend grants to non-profits over time. These offer flexibility and simplicity.

Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs): If you are 701/2 or older, you can transfer funds directly from your IRA to a qualified charitable organization. These distributions satisfy required minimum distributions (RMDs) and may reduce taxable income.

Thank you again for your continued support of The School of St Jude. We look forward to including you in our Legacy Society when you strategically provide support through a planned gift.