Thank you for considering a gift to help support the last drive-in movie theater in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. We know you support the U.P. Film Union because you wish to continue this small slice of Americana, but we’d also like to make sure you benefit from making a gift to us.  You may be surprised to learn that many gift types offer significant financial and tax benefits. The key feature of a planned gift is that it provides important benefits to you as well as the U.P. Film Union and the Highway 2 Community Drive-In Theater.
​We’ve designed the chart below to summarize the benefits of several common charitable gifts. You just need to think of what you want to accomplish with your gift, and there’s probably a way to do it! We’re here to answer any questions you might have about planned giving. We can examine your particular situation and, together with your attorney and/or financial advisors, help you find ways to support the Film Union while ensuring your family’s financial security. 

Beneficiary designation

will or trust

Gifts oF assets

your gift
  • A Beneficiary Designation
  • Your Will or Trust
  • Stock or Other Securities
  • Real Estate
  • Personal Property

your goals
  • Defer a gift until after your passing.
  • Maintain control of your assets during your lifetime.
  • Defer a gift until after your passing.
  • Maintain control of your assets during your lifetime.
  • Make a gift now and receive benefits
  • Make a larger gift with little or no effect on cash flow.

how YOU
​make the
​gift
  • Designate the U.P. Film Union as beneficiary of a percentage of your retirement plan, savings or brokerage account or life insurance policy.
  • Work with your attorney to add a gift in your will or living trust detailing your donation to the U.P. Film Union.
  • Give stock or securities that have increased in value directly to the U.P. Film Union
  • Donate your residence, farm or commercial property.
  • Donate tangible personal property such as art, collectibles or other items of value.

benefits
  • Maintain your current lifestyle while making a meaningful gift to support the U.P. Film Union.
  • Enjoy flexibility to change your plans as life changes.
  • Pass your retirement plan assets to the U.P. Film Union tax-free.
  • Maintain your current lifestyle while making a meaningful gift to support the U.P. Film Union.
  • Enjoy flexibility to change your plans as life changes.
  • Receive immediate income tax benefits.
  • Avoid capital gains taxes on assets that have increased in value.
  • Transfer the expense of insuring or maintaining assets you no longer need.

How to support the film union with a gift in your will

Your will allows you to control how your loved ones are provided for after your passing; it can also be an expression of your love of community and film and can create a lasting legacy of giving to the U.P. Film Union.
The easiest way to make a planned gift is to include a gift in your will.  Your gift to the U.P. Film Union may be as easy as asking your estate planning attorney to add this suggested wording to your will:
"I give and bequeath the sum of $____________ (or _______% of my estate) to the Upper Peninsula Film Union Incorporated for its general purposes."
A gift in your will may also provide more specific instructions regarding your gift, either restricting the use of the gift or granting a partial interest in the gift to others.