Invest in the Future

The 12 Trust is a dynamic group of dedicated citizens who contribute $1,000 or more annually to Colorado Public Television to ensure that CPT12 remains Colorado’s most trusted resource for informative, thought-provoking, and entertaining programming.

Find out more about becoming one of CPT12's most generous patrons.

You can make a gift to Colorado Public Television through your will, or via a codicil to your will. This is a bequest. You can bequeath a specific sum, or a percentage of your estate or specific property. A bequest enables you to make a lasting gift to public broadcasting, while providing the security of knowing that you have complete access to your assets should you need them for medical or other expenses. A bequest may also enable you to reduce estate taxes.

A charitable gift annuity is a contract between you and the Colorado Public Television Endowment whereby you transfer cash or securities to the Endowment and, in exchange, the Endowment agrees to pay you (and/or another beneficiary) a guaranteed fixed income for life. You receive a current income tax deduction and a portion of the income you receive is a non-taxable return of principal. If the gift annuity is funded with long-term appreciated property, capital gains tax is avoided on part of the gift and deferred on the balance.

If you need current income, or future income for your retirement years, a charitable remainder trust can provide income to you (and/or a loved one) for life or for a term of years. You may also qualify for an income tax deduction and avoid the capital gains tax on the property used to fund the trust. There are two types of charitable remainder trusts. In the unitrust, the annual income to the donor is variable, based on a fixed percentage of the value of the assets in the trust. In the annuity trust, the annual income is a fixed percentage of the trust’s initial value and provides income of a fixed dollar amount.

Another type of trust, the charitable lead trust, can be established to provide income to public broadcasting for a period of years, before passing the assets back to the donor or to the donor’s family.

When you make a gift of your home or farm now, you can receive a current tax deduction, while retaining the security of knowing that you can live there as long as you wish and having the satisfaction of making a significant gift to public broadcasting. You continue to care for the property, pay the taxes and even receive any income it generates. Upon your death (or that of a loved one), the property goes to the Colorado Public Television Endowment without passing through your probated estate, thereby saving unnecessary expense and delay.

Many people have securities that have increased greatly in value since their purchase. By using these stocks for charitable giving, donors can conserve cash for other uses and maximize the value of their gifts. Donors can deduct the full fair market value of appreciated securities and pay no capital gains on their transfer to public broadcasting. This can reduce the cost of making a gift or increase the amount you can afford to give. See Give A Gift of Stock for more details.

A simple way to make a significant future gift is to name the Colorado Public Television Endowment as the beneficiary to receive all or a portion of the proceeds of a life insurance policy no longer needed for its original purpose, or to purchase a new policy for the benefit of Colorado Public Television. You should contact your insurance agent to discuss how best to make such a gift. He or she can work with Colorado Public Television Endowment staff to meet your charitable giving goals.

Any of the planned giving ideas discussed here can become an enduring tribute to a family member or other loved one. A member of the Colorado Public Television Endowment staff would be glad to assist you in choosing an appropriate commemoration for your gift in memory or honor of someone special. In addition, you may want to celebrate a special event  or person through the “Endow a Day” of Public Broadcasting  program, leaving a legacy for generations to come. Honor a life, celebrate grandchildren, or highlight a holiday or special organization by specifying a station program or annual day of programming for endowment.