The Homefront Bridge  •  Office of Stewardship

Legacy of Honor

Planned Giving & Sacred Trust

"The measure of a life well lived is not what we accumulate, but what we leave behind for those who stood watch so that we could sleep safely."

— Col. Robert J. Sterling (Ret.), Chairman of the Board

HomeLegacy & Estate Giving

An Invitation to a Sacred Trust

A Final Act of Service

Planned giving is among the most powerful and enduring forms of philanthropy available to those who believe in the mission of The Homefront Bridge. A legacy gift ensures that your commitment to America's deployed heroes — and the families who carry the weight of their sacrifice — extends far beyond your lifetime.

The following instruments represent the most common and tax-advantaged methods by which our most dedicated supporters have chosen to make a permanent mark on this mission. Each has been structured to honor both your intentions and the dignity of those you serve.

Instrument I

Bequests

A Testamentary Gift Through Your Will or Revocable Trust

A charitable bequest is a gift made through your last will and testament or revocable living trust that designates The Homefront Bridge as a beneficiary of a portion — or the entirety — of your estate. Bequests may be structured as a specific dollar amount, a percentage of residual estate, or a contingent gift should named beneficiaries predecease you.

Bequests are fully deductible from your gross estate for federal estate tax purposes under IRC § 2055, without limitation. A bequest does not reduce your available assets during your lifetime, allowing you to retain complete control over your wealth while affirming a final commitment to this mission.

Suggested Bequest Language

"I give, devise, and bequeath to The Homefront Bridge, a nonprofit corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of [State], with its principal offices at 1100 North Fort Myer Drive, Suite 500, Arlington, Virginia 22209, Federal Tax ID No. 81-4529348, the sum of $____________ [or ___% of the residue of my estate] to be used for its general charitable purposes."

Instrument II

Beneficiary Designations

Retirement Accounts, Life Insurance & Transfer-on-Death Assets

One of the most tax-efficient planned gifts available is naming The Homefront Bridge as a full or partial beneficiary of a qualified retirement account — including IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and pension plans. Because these assets are typically subject to both estate tax and income tax when passed to individual heirs, they represent among the most costly assets to transfer. When directed to a 501(c)(3) organization, they pass entirely free of both taxes.

Similarly, you may designate The Homefront Bridge as a full, partial, or contingent beneficiary on life insurance policies, bank accounts (via Payable-on-Death designation), or investment accounts (via Transfer-on-Death designation). These gifts are non-probate transfers — they pass directly and immediately without delay, legal cost, or public disclosure.

To complete a beneficiary designation, contact your plan administrator or financial institution and provide the following information:

Designation Details

Legal Name
The Homefront Bridge
Federal Tax ID (EIN)
81-4529348
Organization Type
501(c)(3) Public Charity
Mailing Address
1100 North Fort Myer Drive, Suite 500, Arlington, Virginia 22209

Instrument III

Qualified Charitable Distributions

IRA Direct Transfers for Donors Age 70½ or Older

A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) — also referred to as an IRA charitable rollover — allows individuals age 70½ or older to direct up to $105,000 per year (indexed for inflation per SECURE 2.0 Act provisions) from their Individual Retirement Account directly to a qualified 501(c)(3) charity such as The Homefront Bridge, completely free of federal income tax.

Unlike a standard IRA withdrawal — which is recognized as ordinary income — a QCD is excluded entirely from your adjusted gross income (AGI). This exclusion is particularly advantageous because it reduces your AGI regardless of whether you itemize deductions, thereby potentially lowering Medicare premium surcharges (IRMAA), reducing the taxable portion of Social Security benefits, and maintaining eligibility for income-based deductions and credits.

For donors subject to Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), a QCD satisfies all or part of the annual RMD obligation without the associated tax burden. The transfer must be made directly from the IRA custodian to The Homefront Bridge — funds distributed first to the account holder and subsequently donated do not qualify as a QCD under IRS regulations.

QCD Eligibility Summary

  • Donor must be age 70½ or older at time of distribution
  • Transfer must be made directly from IRA custodian to the qualified charity
  • Maximum annual exclusion: $105,000 per individual ($210,000 for married couples filing jointly from separate IRAs)
  • Applies to Traditional IRAs and inherited IRAs; does not apply to 401(k) or 403(b) plans
  • Satisfies Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) obligations dollar-for-dollar
  • No charitable deduction is claimed; the tax benefit is the AGI exclusion itself

Confidential Stewardship Inquiry

We Welcome Your Conversation

For confidential inquiries regarding estate giving, please contact our Office of Stewardship. All correspondence is handled with complete discretion and the same integrity we bring to every aspect of our mission.

Contact the Office of Stewardship

mission@thehomefrontbridge.org

Tax-Exempt Status

The Homefront Bridge®

Recognized as a 501(c)(3) Public Charity under the Internal Revenue Code

Federal EIN

81-4529348

Founded

1998

Headquarters

Arlington, Virginia

All gifts to The Homefront Bridge are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. This communication is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Donors are encouraged to consult with qualified legal and financial advisors regarding their individual estate planning circumstances.