What is a Charitable Lead Trust designed to benefit?

A Charitable Lead Trust is specifically structured to benefit a charitable organization. The way it works is that assets are placed into the trust, and for a defined period, the income generated from these assets is given to a designated charitable organization. After the trust's term ends, the remaining assets are typically transferred to non-charitable beneficiaries, often family members or other individuals.

This mechanism allows donors to support charitable causes while potentially reducing their estate taxes and providing a way to transfer wealth to beneficiaries later. Therefore, the primary intent of a Charitable Lead Trust is to provide financial support to charities, fulfilling philanthropic goals. The design emphasizes charitable giving rather than personal financial growth, benefits to specific family members, or directly managing investment portfolios. This clear focus on benefiting a charitable organization is what distinguishes it from other types of financial or estate planning instruments.