Newly diagnosed? Connect with the Foundation Fighting Blindness for education, managing your condition, and finding support.

Learn More!
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Foundation Fighting Blindness homepage
Search
My Chapter:
View Chapter
Donate
  • Stories & Resources
    • Beacon Stories
    • Music to Our Eyes Concert Series
    • Low Vision Resources
    • National Chapter Vision Webinars
    • Retina Doctors
    • Accessibility Statement, Tips & Guidelines
    • Beacon V.I.P. Brand Ambassadors
  • Retinal Education
    • Information for Newly Diagnosed
    • An Eye on Education Video Series
    • Achromatopsia
    • Bardet-Biedl Syndrome
    • Best Disease
    • Choroideremia
    • Leber Congenital Amaurosis
    • Macular Degeneration
    • PRPH2-Associated Disease
    • Retinitis Pigmentosa
    • Refsum Disease
    • Stargardt Disease
    • Usher Syndrome
    • X-Linked Retinoschisis (XLRS)
    • Other Retinal Conditions
    • Glossary
  • Genetic Testing
    • Why Genetic Testing is Important
    • Genetic Testing Program
    • Genetic Testing FAQs
    • My Retina Tracker Registry
    • For Eye Care Professionals
  • Research
    • Our Research
    • Clinical Trials
    • Clinical Trial Pipeline
    • Scientific Grants and Awards Programs
    • Funded Grants
    • Preclinical and Translational Research Webinar Series
    • Virtual Workshop on Inflammation in Viral Gene Therapy of the Retina
    • Access to Retinal Disease Eye Tissue
  • Local Chapters
    • Find a Chapter
    • Fundraise with VisionWalk
    • Raising Our Sights DIY Fundraising
  • Ways to Give
    • Donate Now
    • Facebook Fundraisers
    • Raising Our Sights DIY Fundraising
    • Vision Warriors / Tough Mudder
    • Legacy Gifts
    • Donor Advised Funds
    • Shop to Support
    • Workplace Giving
    • Employer Matching
    • Corporate Partnerships
  • Shop Fighting Blindness
  • About Us
    • About the Foundation
    • Mission & History
    • Board of Directors
    • Leadership & Management
    • Strategic Council
    • Scientific Advisory Board
    • For Eye Care Professionals
    • Financial Reporting
    • Annual Reports
    • Careers
    • Corporate Partners
  • Foundation Events
    • Dinners & Receptions
    • VisionWalks
    • Vision Seminars & Chapter Events
    • Foundation National Events
    • Vision and Eye Health Awareness Calendar
    • View All Events
  • News
    • The Foundation in the News
    • Eye On The Cure Research News
    • Partner News
    • Press Releases
    • Insights Forum
    • Foundation Podcasts
    • For Media
    • In Focus Newsletter
    • Legacy Newsletter
    • RSS Feeds
    • Sign Up for Emails
Change colorTheme

No Cost Gifts

  • Email
  • Share on Facebook
  • Tweet

Jump to Section

  • Will or Trust Gifts
  • Beneficiary Designation Gifts

Will or Trust Gifts

Your gift can be your final statement about what you believe to be important and worthwhile, such as the research supported by the Foundation Fighting Blindness.

Charitable gifts may take several forms. It can be a specific amount, a percentage of your estate, or the remainder of your estate after expenses and gifts to loved ones. They can include cash, securities, real estate, and personal property such as valuable collections, art, or jewelry.

An infographic describing the step of adding the Foundation to your will or trustL 1. Include the Foundation in ayour will or trust. AFter your death, the will or trust distributes your bequests to your heirs and the foundation -- A gift that cost you nothing during your lifetime.

The most common types of gifts you may want to consider:

Percentage – Designates the percentage of your estate you want distributed to the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
Specific – Designates a specific dollar amount or a specific asset to the Foundation.
Residual – The Foundation will receive the remainder of your estate, or a designated percentage, after all necessary costs and bequests to others have been satisfied.
Contingent – Assumes that you want to leave your entire estate to family and friends. However, if you outlive any beneficiary, you can instruct that the Foundation receives that portion of the estate.

View Sample Legacy Gift Language

Beneficiary Designation Gifts

Even if you don’t have a will, you can leave a gift to the Foundation Fighting Blindness from your retirement accounts, insurance plan, or other assets that allow you to designate a named beneficiary and may not be needed by your heirs. It’s simple. Start by contacting the company that holds your account to ask for a beneficiary form. Then fill out the form, sign it and return it to the company. This beneficiary form takes precedence over any contradictory language that may be in your will or trust.

As with all Gift Planning, you should consult with your tax advisor and attorney to determine what strategy is best for you. Consulting estate planning professionals will help ensure that your family is well cared for and that you have a chance to make a lasting impact on the causes you care about.

Retirement Funds

Retirement fund assets are some of most highly taxed assets when left to those other than a spouse. But when you name the Foundation Fighting Blindness as a beneficiary of your retirement account, the full amount goes directly to finding a cure for blindness.

You can give the Foundation a percentage of what remains in your account or you can name the Foundation as a contingent beneficiary, where we only receive the funds if your primary beneficiaries are no longer living.

An infographic describing the steps of naming the Foundation beneficiary of your retirement plan. The Foundation recieves the balance of plan funds after your death.

Life Insurance

A gift of life insurance can be made by transferring the ownership of an existing policy, assigning the Foundation as a charitable beneficiary, or purchasing a new policy with the Foundation as the owner. Various tax savings are generated by insurance gifts.

Contact John (information below) for more information.

We Are Here to Help

John Corneille, J.D.

Director of Legacy Giving

+1 (952) 314-7578

jcorneille[at]fightingblindness.org
chevron-thin-up scroll to top
Foundation Fighting Blindness homepage

The urgent mission of the Foundation Fighting Blindness is to drive the research that will provide preventions, treatments and cures for people affected by retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, Usher syndrome and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases. The Foundation is a beacon for those affected by these blinding diseases. Join the fight and help us accelerate our mission.

NORD 2022 Platinum Member GuideStar 2020 Platinum Seal of Transparency Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity Charity Navigator WCAG 2.1 compliant, level double A

The Foundation Fighting Blindness meets all 20 Better Business Bureau Charity Standards.

Sign Up to Receive Updates and Communications from the Foundation!

Sign Up

Get in Touch

  • Facebook.
  • Twitter.
  • YouTube.
  • Instagram.
  • Linkedin. linkedin
  • Tiktok. tiktok

Foundation Fighting Blindness

Phone: (800) 683-5555

6925 Oakland Mills Road, #701, Columbia, MD 21045.

Donations can be mailed directly to:
Foundation Fighting Blindness, P.O. Box 45740, Baltimore, MD 21297-5740

Retinal Education

  • Information for Newly Diagnosed
  • An Eye on Education Video Series
  • Achromatopsia
  • Bardet-Biedl Syndrome
  • Best Disease
  • Choroideremia
  • Leber Congenital Amaurosis
  • Macular Degeneration
  • PRPH2-Associated Disease
  • Retinitis Pigmentosa
  • Refsum Disease
  • Stargardt Disease
  • Usher Syndrome
  • X-Linked Retinoschisis (XLRS)
  • Other Retinal Conditions
  • Glossary
  • Stories & Resources
  • Genetic Testing
  • Research
  • Local Chapters
  • Ways to Give
  • Shop Fighting Blindness
  • About Us
  • Foundation Events
  • News
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Media
  • Accessibility Tools
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

© 2023 Foundation Fighting Blindness, All Rights Reserved. The Foundation Fighting Blindness is a qualified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible. EIN 23-7135845.