Making It Count – Legacy Gifts

The Importance of Legacy and Estate Giving for Nonprofit Sustainability

At Youth Horizons, the heartbeat of our mission is to plant the seeds that grow hope and potential in vulnerable children and teens from the community. Through the generosity of visionary Christian donors, we have witnessed firsthand how legacy and estate giving can create a lasting impact that will ripple through generations. Two profound examples are the Kinloch Price Boys Ranch and the Wren House—both of which stand as testaments to the life-changing power of strategic giving.

A Gift of Stability for Boys in Foster Care

The Kinloch Price Boys Ranch, serving 28 boys in foster care across four homes on 77 acres, was a transformative gift from the late Dick and Harriett Price. These homes provide more than just shelter; they offer stability, a sense of belonging, and a Christian environment where boys can work toward healing the mental and physical trauma wounds they carry. They may not thrive on day one at Youth Horizons, but we know from several recent alumni testimonials that we are making an impact now for them to actualize in adulthood. The generosity of the Price family ensured that Youth Horizons could not only serve these young men today but continue this mission for years to come. Their legacy lives on in every single boy who finds hope and healing on this ranch property and in these homes.

A Safe Haven for Girls in Foster Care

Similarly, the Wren House property, serving 10 girls across two homes on 50 acres, was gifted from the estate of Keith Wren before his passing. This incredible act of generosity created a sanctuary for girls who have endured the instability and trauma of being displaced from their family home, physical and mental abuse, sex trafficking, or bounced from one foster placement to another. Instead of a risk-filled transient existence, the girls that come to Wren House now have the chance to flourish in a home environment that prioritizes their well-being, education, future, and Christian values.

The Power of Home Environments

In an industry often characterized by impersonal facilities and frequent moves, home environments are essential. Children in foster care frequently experience disruption and instability—moving from facility to facility, foster home to foster home. These transitions can hinder their ability to form healthy attachments, trust others, and feel safe. By providing stable, nurturing homes, Youth Horizons is trying to change the narrative for these children.

The Kinloch Price Boys Ranch and the Wren House exemplify what can happen when nonprofits have access to resources that prioritize home-like environments. These are places where children and teens can experience stability, build lasting relationships, and grow into resilient, thriving adults.

Legacy Giving: A Partnership in Purpose

Legacy and estate giving are not just financial transactions; they are partnerships in purpose. They allow donors to align their values with the missions they care deeply about. By including nonprofits like Youth Horizons in their estate plans, donors ensure that their impact continues long after they are gone.

The gifts from the Price and Wren families highlight the potential of legacy giving to address long-term needs. They provide not only the physical spaces necessary for our work but also the security to plan for future growth and sustainability. These gifts allow us to focus on what matters most—transforming lives.

Expanding Our Vision with a Continuum of Care

While the Kinloch Price Boys Ranch and the Wren House have been transformative, we recognize that our work is far from done. Many of the children we serve face immense challenges when they age out of our programs. Without continued support, they are at the highest risk of immediate homelessness and instability. To address this gap, we are researching a continuum of care component to Youth Horizons.

This initiative will provide transitional support for youth who are aging out of foster care, ensuring they have access to housing, life skills training, and mentorship as they navigate into adulthood. Our vision is to create a bridge that helps these young adults thrive beyond their time in our homes. By investing in a continuum of care, we can extend our impact and offer these youth the tools they need to build stable, successful futures.

A Brighter Future

As we look to the future, we invite others to consider the transformative power of legacy giving. Whether it’s through the donation of property, financial contributions, or other planned gifts, these acts of generosity lay the foundation for sustainable impact. At Youth Horizons, we are committed to stewarding these gifts with care, ensuring they continue to serve the purpose for which they were given.

If you’re inspired by the stories of the Kinloch Price Boys Ranch and the Wren House, we encourage you to explore how you can leave a legacy of hope and transformation. Together, we can create a brighter future for the children who need it most.

For more information about legacy giving and how you can make a difference, please contact us directly. Let your legacy be a partnership in purpose with lasting impact.

Useful Terms

Legacy giving or donations refer to the act of leaving a charitable contribution through a will, trust, or other estate planning vehicles, often intended to support causes or organizations after a person’s passing. Some common terms related to legacy giving include:

1. Bequest: A gift made through a will or trust. It can be a specific amount, asset, or a percentage of the estate.
2. Planned Giving: A donation that is arranged in advance, often as part of a donor’s estate planning. This could involve bequests, charitable remainder trusts, or life insurance policies.
3. Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT): A trust where a donor contributes assets, receives income from those assets for a set period, and then the remainder of the assets goes to a charity.
4. Charitable Lead Trust (CLT): A trust where the charity receives income from the trust for a set period, and then the remaining assets go to other beneficiaries (often heirs).
5. Endowment: A fund that is typically established with a principal amount of donated funds, with the income generated supporting an organization or cause in perpetuity.
6. Life Insurance Giving: Donating a life insurance policy to a charity, either by naming the charity as the beneficiary or transferring ownership of the policy.
7. Donor-Advised Fund (DAF): A fund that allows donors to make contributions to a charitable account, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants to specific charities over time.
8. Residual Bequest: A donation made from the remainder of an estate after other bequests and expenses have been fulfilled.
9. Specific Bequest: A donation that involves leaving a specific dollar amount or particular item (such as real estate or stocks) to a charity.
10. Testamentary Gift: A gift that is made through a will or trust and takes effect after the donor’s death.
11. Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA): A financial arrangement where a donor makes a gift to a charity in exchange for a lifetime income stream.
12. Irrevocable Trust: A trust that cannot be altered or revoked after its creation, often used in legacy giving to ensure that assets will go to a specific charitable cause.

These terms often come up when discussing how to leave a legacy through charitable giving. Some of them can offer tax benefits, while also providing long-term support to the causes important to the donor.

FREE WEBINAR! Want to know more? Plan to attend the free Estate Planning Essentials webinar on May 14 with Wichita-based Converse Team Financial Services.