Leon and Andrea Nachenberg’s relationship with The Michael J. Fox Foundation stemmed from a desire to make an impact. As family and friends were diagnosed with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases, the Nachenbergs made a commitment to fund research for treatment and cures. But the Nachenbergs wanted to ensure that their gifts would be stewarded by a reputable organization. That’s what led them to MJFF.
“We’re very careful about our charitable donations,” Andrea says. “I always look up the percentage of our gift that is supporting overhead versus research. I look for organizations with more than 75 percent going to research—and that’s certainly The Michael J. Fox Foundation.”
Indeed, 88 percent of every dollar donated to MJFF goes directly to research. With this in mind, the Nachenbergs decided to make a gift that would be mutually beneficial. “Now that we’re retired, we want to live our lives without depleting our nest egg, but we also want to support causes that are important to us,” Leon says. By setting up a gift that pays lifetime income, known as a charitable gift annuity, the Nachenbergs accomplished both goals.
A gift annuity can be a tax-savvy way to dedicate unconventional assets to MJFF. The Nachenbergs’ gift came from a partnership sale that was expiring; the couple was able to support a cause that is meaningful to them and avoid the capital gains tax from the sale.
“We feel happy about giving to the Foundation,” Andrea says. “It brings us pleasure to know we’re helping the Foundation get closer to finding a cure.”
A Mutually Beneficial Gift
The Nachenbergs discovered the benefits of charitable gift annuities, and you can, too. There are ways to minimize capital gains taxes, secure lifetime income (payout rates are the highest they’ve been in years!) and enjoy tax benefits while supporting MJFF’s transformative research. To learn more, contact The Michael J. Fox Foundation at 212-509-1524 or plannedgiving@michaeljfox.org.
Patients first
We strive to make progress in Parkinson's disease in the following key areas by evaluating risk, opportunities and challenges through a patient-focused lens, including:
Treatments that can slow, stop or reverse disease
Better treatments for currently unaddressed or under-addressed symptoms
Treatments to address or avoid the debilitating side effects of current PD drugs
Patients first
We strive to make progress in Parkinson's disease in the following key areas by evaluating risk, opportunities and challenges through a patient-focused lens, including:
Treatments that can slow, stop or reverse disease
Better treatments for currently unaddressed or under-addressed symptoms
Treatments to address or avoid the debilitating side effects of current PD drugs
Our model is different
Our Foundation is a trusted strategic leader and partner to researchers, patients, thought leaders and philanthropists. With an unbiased expert perspective and a global network of contacts, our wide-ranging view of the field lets us collaborate to solve complex problems that require different talents and target resources where they are needed most — to pay off for patients faster.
It is accepted practice among private disease research funders that the most important decisions — how to allocate donor-raised dollars — are made by external scientific advisors and boards. We bucked this model from day one in favor of building an in-house team of formally trained PhDs and business-trained project managers.
We’re on a mission to meet every person with Parkinson’s online or face to face. We're committed to connecting patients and families to the robust nationwide PD community. By participating in clinical trials, advocating for Parkinson's policy or engaging in our community and Team Fox events, they are helping us carry new therapies over the goal line.
Our model is different
Our Foundation is a trusted strategic leader and partner to researchers, patients, thought leaders and philanthropists. With an unbiased expert perspective and a global network of contacts, our wide-ranging view of the field lets us collaborate to solve complex problems that require different talents and target resources where they are needed most — to pay off for patients faster.
It is accepted practice among private disease research funders that the most important decisions — how to allocate donor-raised dollars — are made by external scientific advisors and boards. We bucked this model from day one in favor of building an in-house team of formally trained PhDs and business-trained project managers.
We’re on a mission to meet every person with Parkinson’s online or face to face. We're committed to connecting patients and families to the robust nationwide PD community. By participating in clinical trials, advocating for Parkinson's policy or engaging in our community and Team Fox events, they are helping us carry new therapies over the goal line.