TESTAMENTARY CHARITABLE REMAINDER TRUSTTESTAMENTARY CHARITABLE REMAINDER TRUST

What is a Testamentary Charitable Remainder Trust?

The trust is funded at the time of the donor's death.  It makes regular payments to the donor’s surviving spouse or other named income recipients for life, a term of up to 20 years or both.  The amount remaining in the trust at the end of the trust’s term will go to the donor's choice of funds at the LCF, benefitting charities or areas of charitable work recommended by the donor.  The Lutheran Community Foundation (LCF) is available to act as trustee for testamentary charitable remainder trusts that will benefit the donor’s fund at the Foundation.  In order for LCF to act as trustee, a few requirements must be met. Please contact a Gift Planner at the LCF to discuss these requirements (800/365-4172).

Current minimums for charitable remainder trusts range from $50,000 to $200,000, depending upon the specific type of charitable remainder trust (CRAT or CRUT) and the gift asset(s) used to create it.

Target Audience

  • Clients who are looking to reduce estate taxes.
  • Clients who want to provide an income to loved ones after death.
  • Clients who want to ensure a gift to charity after death.

Tax and Financial Benefits for Your Client

  • Client receives an estate tax charitable deduction.
  • Client’s loved ones receive regular payments for life, term or years, or both.
  • Client may avoid income and estate taxes imposed on retirement assets.

Benefits to you, the Professional Advisor

LCF will support you with a full range of charitable products and services, and you'll be compensated for your efforts by Thrivent or American Funds. (details)

More on Testamentary Charitable Remainder Trusts

The trust is created through specific language included in the donor’s will or living trust by the donor’s attorney.  The LCF will provide this special language. Upon the donor’s death, the executor or trustee of the estate transfers assets to the trustee of the charitable remainder trust. 

This type of trust can be established with virtually any type of asset(s), such as life insurance, commercial annuities or retirement assets.  By using retirement plan assets to establish the trust, the donor may be able to bypass possible income and estate taxes imposed on retirement assets. 

How to Establish a Testamentary Charitable Remainder Trust at the LCF


1) Call the LCF and speak with a Gift Planner (phone 800/365-4172).  The Gift Planner will prepare a customized illustration for your client showing the income and tax benefits of creating this type of trust.

2) Along with the illustration, we will send sample language for the donor’s attorney to insert into the will or living trust.

3) If the donor wishes to proceed, he/she will need to complete and return the LCF Fund Workbook.  We will then draft a Fund Agreement for the donor’s review and signature.

4) If the asset used to establish the trust is from IRA or retirement plan assets, appropriate paperwork to make the beneficiary designation change must be completed by the donor.

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