The Safety and Security of Charitable Gift Annuities at the WTRC Foundation
by Roger Ellison, CFP

An American tradition for over 150 years, charitable gift annuities are a very popular form of giving and receiving for friends of the Rehab. They are safe and secure, providing high income that is constant and dependable. It’s no surprise that so many find joy and comfort with their Rehab annuities.

A gift annuity with the Rehab is safe because it is designed that way. We, as do most U.S. charities, use rates recommended by the American Council on Gift Annuities.  Those rates are reviewed annually by the Council and based on realistic life expectancies, conservative investment portfolios and prudent practices meant to protect donors and charities alike.

Wise and astute stewardship of each gift annuity is the hallmark of the Rehab Foundation’s Investment Committee, guided by professional investment counsel. The entire gift is placed in the Foundation and not fully available to support the Rehab’s work until all obligations to income recipients are fulfilled. While the gift annuity is not insurance, nor regulated by the state or protected by a guaranty association, every gift annuity is backed by the sizeable assets of the Rehab’s Foundation.

Perhaps even more important is that income payments are constant, most on a quarterly basis at the end of March, June, September and December. Each check is the same amount every time and never lower because interest rates have fallen or gift annuity rates have changed. Each gift annuity is described in a personalized contract that we scrupulously honor.

Safe and secure, constant and dependable, gift annuities remain very popular to friends of the Rehab. Our professional staff is available to answer your questions about this form, or any other, of giving and receiving. As always, there is no cost or obligation and a commitment from us to be truly helpful, even counseling against an annuity when not in the best interests of one of our friends or the Rehab.