WQED Connects the Community

Make a Big Impact With a Future Gift

By Deborah L. Acklin, President and CEO

Deborah L. AcklinThank you! Community is at the heart of WQED, and you, our donors, have allowed WQED to flourish over the past 65 years. Because of your vital support, WQED is a national leader in education, produces and showcases programs that entertain you and allow you to explore the world, and brings you uplifting classical music for your listening pleasure.

Your generosity allows WQED to harness the power of public media and community partnerships to create and share outstanding programming—free to the public. And our methods are very modern—our programming is now delivered over five television channels, three radio frequencies, streaming online at WQED.org, through our apps, through WQED Passport, and through our social media channels.

WQED, the first educational television station in the country, continues to be a national leader in education. Our acclaimed initiatives like Ready To Learn, our nationally televised iQ: smartparent program, and our partnership with community libraries for the Inquire Within program, help families and children to build critical skills that will allow them to reach their full potential.

Many of you tune into WQED-FM because you enjoy listening to classical music. You also learn about our vibrant arts community because WQED-FM highlights local musicians, composers, and groups and gives them meaningful exposure. Pittsburgh Symphony Radio, a series produced by WQED-FM is distributed through Public Radio International to more than 100 radio stations nationwide.

In 2019, WQED celebrated 65 years of serving the community by encouraging kindness to all through a multiplatform campaign, WQED+Kindness. We recognized Jim Cunningham's 40th anniversary at WQED-FM. We continued the 50th anniversary celebration of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, and WQED's building and the Fred Rogers Studio were used to film portions of the Tom Hanks film, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.

As we gear-up for a 66th year of service, you play an important part in ensuring that our community will thrive. Your gifts, large and small, given today or deferred as a planned gift, are vital to WQED.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, and feel free to explore the giving options highlighted on our planned giving website. Please get in touch with Jui Joshi at (412) 622-1386 or jjoshi@wqed.org, to discuss ways for you to strengthen and sustain WQED. Thank you for your loyal support and commitment to wonderful, one-of-a-kind WQED!

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to WQED a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

"I hereby give $x.xx to WQED Multimedia, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, incorporated in Pennsylvania with its headquarters at 4802 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213."

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to WQED or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to WQED as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to WQED as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity is a simple contract between you and WQED where you agree to make a gift to WQED and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.
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