The Ben Rude Heritage Society

Will you consider a bequest to IWMF?

We thank you each and every day for contributions to the IWMF mission, however the truth is that planned giving choices to fund IWMF can elevate your charitable impact to a whole new level.

The Ben Rude Heritage Society recognizes individuals who give charitable legacies to IWMF, distributed after their lifetimes.  Often legacy gifts do not require a will change, and you maintain complete control of assets in the event you need to make changes. There can be capital gains and estate tax savings with these planned gifts.  Whether a bequest, listing IWMF as a life insurance policy beneficiary, or donating a qualified planned asset (such as a 401k or IRA), every single gift invests in research, education and support programs for countless patients and caregivers in the future.

No amount is too small. Legacy gifts are an important component of the financial health of IWMF. Since the establishment of the Ben Rude Heritage Society in 2008, bequests of $4 million-plus have enabled the organization to expand programs and research commitments significantly. There is no minimum requirement to join the Ben Rude Heritage Society, with current legacies ranging in value from $100 to $1,000,000.

Who Was Ben Rude?

Ben Rude was the second president of IWMF and the Ben Rude Heritage Society was established in memory of his legacy of leadership. IWMF is a patient-driven organization and members such as Ben have placed treasure in the organization’s hands to ensure that those with the disease down the road, experience increasingly positive life trajectories.

“Ben passed away In January of 2005, but his legacy is carried on, thanks to the leadership demonstrated by members of this Society. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the founding and current members of the Society­ named after my late husband and second president of this great organization-who placed their treasure in our hands. It is members such as these who are keys to the future legacy of this Foundation.”
-Laurie Rude Betts

How Can I Help?

Ben Rude Heritage Society Members Can Make the Following Legacy Gifts:

Please let us know about your bequests to the IWMF.

Wills & Trusts

Take advantage of our partnership with FreeWill, a free online process for updating a will or other estate planning document.

Consider a Qualified Charitable Distribution, and support IWMF without changing your will.  If you are age 70½ or older, an IRA Charitable Rollover, otherwise known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution or QCD, allows you to contribute up to $100,000 from your IRA each year directly to IWMF.  There is no tax on the withdrawal. If you are subject to a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), your Qualified Charitable Distribution can help meet your minimum, without increasing your taxable income.

Assets passed to beneficiaries outside of a will are called non-probate assets. Non-probate assets include IRAs, 401(k)s, pensions, life insurance policies, and certain bank and brokerage accounts. When beneficiaries are properly assigned to non-probate assets, ownership transfers faster than assets defined in a will. The FreeWill online tool can help you designate IWMF as a non-probate asset.

Stocks

Our partnership with FreeWill makes it easy to gift stocks to IWMF.

How Can I Help?

Ben Rude Heritage Society Members Can Make the Following Legacy Gifts:

Please let us know about your bequests to the IWMF.

Wills & Trusts

Take advantage of our partnership with FreeWill, a free online process for updating a will or other estate planning document.

Consider a Qualified Charitable Distribution, and support IWMF without changing your will.  If you are age 70½ or older, an IRA Charitable Rollover, otherwise known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution or QCD, allows you to contribute up to $100,000 from your IRA each year directly to IWMF.  There is no tax on the withdrawal. If you are subject to a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), your Qualified Charitable Distribution can help meet your minimum, without increasing your taxable income.

Assets passed to beneficiaries outside of a will are called non-probate assets. Non-probate assets include IRAs, 401(k)s, pensions, life insurance policies, and certain bank and brokerage accounts. When beneficiaries are properly assigned to non-probate assets, ownership transfers faster than assets defined in a will. The FreeWill online tool can help you designate IWMF as a non-probate asset.

Stocks

Our partnership with FreeWill makes it easy to gift stocks to IWMF.

The Ben Rude Heritage Society Members