There has been talk lately that gift annuities are not turning out to be the sound investments they should be. An article in the Personal Journal earlier this month highlighted large problems with two charities going under and not paying annuity payments to the donors. Basically, a charity or gift annuity is similar to other annuities, but when the donor passes away all remaining monies are left to help the charity continue its services to the community.
Unfortunately, this article with only two examples of poor investments might do unjust harm to the overall charity and gift annuity process. The American Council on Gift Annuities has over 1,200 charitable organizations that pay their donor’s annuity payments on time and work just as they are meant to, according to the Wall Street Journal. Investors/donors need to do their research just like with everything else, not letting a few bad apples ruin it for everyone.