Dharma Lamp Circle

Support SFZC now and into the future!
Leave a lasting legacy by joining the Dharma Lamp Circle and help sustain SFZC’s Dharma teachings and practice for generations to come.
How to become a member of the Dharma Lamp Circle
We want to celebrate your generosity now!
If you are considering naming SFZC as a beneficiary in your will, trust, estate, or retirement plan, we invite you to join the Dharma Lamp Circle, a community of legacy donors helping to keep the Dharma alive far into the future and provide lasting support for our teachers, students, and practice centers at Tassajara, City Center, and Green Gulch Farm.
Legacy gifts of any size are powerful. You do not have to choose between providing for loved ones and supporting SFZC. There are many skillful ways to care for both family and sangha, often while realizing meaningful tax benefits. Every gift —large or small—reflects an intention to sustain practice for generations to come.
Gifts that cost you nothing now
Bequests (Wills & Trusts)
The most common way to make a legacy gift is to make a bequest through a will or trust. You may leave a specific amount, a percentage of your estate, or the remainder (residue) after other gifts have been made.
Sample language: “I give, devise, and bequeath to San Francisco Zen Center ____% of my estate or $_____ to be used for its charitable purposes.”
Residue bequest: “All the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, I give, devise, and bequeath to San Francisco Zen Center, to be used for its charitable purposes.”
Life Insurance
You may name SFZC as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy. This option is especially useful for paid-up policies no longer needed for family protection.
Bank & Brokerage Accounts
You can name SFZC as a pay-on-death (POD) or transfer-on-death (TOD) beneficiary on checking, savings, CDs, and brokerage accounts.
Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) and Family Foundations
If you have a donor-advised fund or family foundation administered through a community foundation or brokerage (such as Fidelity or Schwab), please consult your advisor or legal counsel about legacy or grant recommendations. Let us know of your intention so we may recognize and honor your generosity appropriately.
Gifts That Provide Income
Charitable Gift Annuity
A charitable gift annuity allows you (or a loved one, age 65 or older) to make a gift to SFZC while receiving fixed, guaranteed income for life. Payment rates increase with the age of the beneficiary at the time the gift is established.
Charitable Remainder Trust
A charitable remainder trust provides you with income for a set term (or for life). At the end of the trust term, the remaining assets pass to SFZC. These gifts may offer tax benefits and remove assets from your taxable estate.
Gifts That May Reduce Taxes
Real Estate
You may donate real estate outright or make a retained life estate gift, allowing you to continue using the property during your lifetime while receiving an immediate charitable income tax deduction. Real estate may also be gifted through your will or trust.
Appreciated Stock
Donating appreciated securities such as stocks, bonds, or mutual funds directly to SFZC allows you to avoid capital gains tax while receiving a charitable income tax deduction for the full fair market value of the asset, as allowed by law. Stock Donation Form (pdf).
Retirement Assets
IRAs, 401(k)s and 403Bs are among the most tax-efficient assets to leave to charity. When inherited by individuals, these accounts may be heavily taxed. By naming SFZC as a beneficiary (either primary or secondary), you may reduce tax burdens on your heirs while ensuring your gift fully supports your charitable intentions. You can also make gifts from IRAs during your lifetime while realizing potential tax advantages. An IRA QCD (Qualified Charitable Distribution) is a direct transfer of funds from your IRA to a charity, allowing you to meet your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) without paying income tax on the withdrawal—a tax-saving move for those 70½ or older.
Charitable Lead Trust
A charitable lead trust provides income to SFZC for a fixed term, after which the remaining assets pass to you or your designated beneficiaries. This type of gift can support SFZC now while transferring assets to family with potential tax benefits.
Ready to Get Started?
If you have not yet included SFZC in your will or trust, you can begin today:
- Use FreeWill, a free, online tool that allows you to create or update your estate plan in about 20 minutes.
- Prefer collaborating with an attorney or financial planner? FreeWill can help you organize your intentions before your appointment, saving time and money.
For questions and assistance with any of these giving options, please contact development@sfzc.org.
Nannette Mickle, Director of Development
SFZC is a registered religious public charity. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
This information is not intended as legal or tax advice. Please consult your attorney, financial planner, or tax advisor when considering any planned gift. Laws governing charitable giving, wills, and trusts vary by state and are subject to change.
