The North Carolina Mason

A s Masons, we gladly obligate ourselves to provide relief to brothers in need. Supporting our elder brothers has been a key charitable focus for Masons for centuries. To help us as a fraternity better meet this important obligation, the Grand Lodge and the North Carolina Masonic Foundation have created the Fraternal Friendship Fund. This fund provides Masons and Eastern Star sisters a helping hand, if needed, to ensure that their needs are met in their senior years. This could be helping with the costs of living in an assisted living community such as our own WhiteStone in Greensboro, or any such facility around the state. The fund can also provide resources to help our elder brother and sisters with the costs of aging in their own homes. The Fraternal Friendship Fund is a program that consolidates previous giving programs, such as giving to WhiteStone or the MESH LLC, into one convenient fund that can easily support brothers and sisters as their needs require wherever they live in North Carolina. Imagine growing this fund to where all North Carolina Masons could rest assured that if they or their family every needed a helping hand in their senior years, they will be covered, and imagine us growing this fund to the point that in addition to helping Masons and Stars, community aging programs could apply for grants such that Masons offered a helping hand to ALL seniors throughout North Carolina. As you consider your personal philanthropy, as well as planning your lodge's, please consider making the Fraternal Friendship Fund one of your priorities for giving in 2024 and beyond. One hundred percent of the funds raised go to provide assistance to elder brothers and sisters in need. If you have questions about the Fund, please reach out to Brother George Marut (gmarut@mfnc.org) at the North Carolina Masonic Foundation. FRATERNAL FRIENDSHIPS: The Gift that Lasts Forever By George Marut, Chief Development Officer, North Carolina Masonic Foundation Income stream for the rest of your life Immediate (partial) tax deduction, based on your life expectancy and the anticipated income stream Potential for a portion of the income stream to be tax-free Possibility of donating many types of assets: cash, securities plus personal property Reduced or eliminated capital gains tax liability for gifts of appreciated securities and personal property Supporting an organization you care about Embark on a journey of securing your future and making a difference. Charitable Gift Annuities: Create a Lasting Legacy BENEFITS: WHAT IS A GIFT ANNUITY AGREEMENT? KEY TAKEAWAYS George Marut and Chris Richardson would love to connect with you. Schedule a virtual meeting with them, or meet with them in person. Different from a trust, a gift annuity agreement is a permanent contract between a single nonprofit firm and someone (or couple). The term of the contract determines the rate, timing and amount of payment the annuitant(s) receive. Contact the Foundation team to discuss your charitable gift annuity and the rate. 20 mins is all it takes for you to complete you plan Leave a mark with North Carolina Masonic Foundation and support children and elderly across North Carolina. Protect What Matters Ensure the safety and care of the people, pets, and communities you cherish. Ease for Loved Ones Offer your family clarity and reduce complications by detailing how your estate should be managed. Le gacy with NCMF Already included us in your will, or need to get started? Visit FreeWill.com/NCMF Contact us: 5.6% Legacy current rates (November 2023) a Freemason's legacy is measured not by the wealth amassed, but by the good deeds done POTENTIAL DRAWBACKS: Parting irrevocably with funds donated to create the annuity Subject to income tax on the income stream (payments from the annuity) Payments are fixed and won't be adjusted for inflation Payments may be lower than with a non-charitable annuity because the primary purpose is for nonprofit support Cannot be used to support multiple charities unless you set up multiple annuities YOUR NEXT STEPS: gmarut@mfnc.org crichardson@mfnc.org FA L L 2 0 2 3 | 19

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