Planning with Purpose: Wills and Living Trusts

Estate planning is more than a legal task—it’s a powerful way to reflect your values, protect your loved ones, and support causes close to your heart.

At Sanctuary for Families, we believe estate planning is more than a legal task — it’s a powerful way to reflect your values, protect your loved ones, and support causes close to your heart. As we kick off our planned giving series, we’re starting with two essential tools: wills and living trusts.

What’s the Difference?

A will lets you outline how your assets should be distributed after your passing. You can name beneficiaries, appoint guardians, and designate an executor. However, wills typically go through probate—a court process that can be time-consuming and public.

A living trust holds your assets during your lifetime and distributes them according to your wishes when you pass. Trusts generally avoid probate, allowing for quicker, more private distribution. They can also provide asset management if you become incapacitated.

Why Include Sanctuary?

Naming Sanctuary for Families in your will or living trust is a meaningful way to support survivors of gender violence beyond your lifetime. By designating a specific amount, percentage, or the remainder of your estate, you help ensure our life-saving work continues for generations.

Planned gifts can also offer tax benefits and allow you to make a lasting impact without affecting your current finances. No matter which path you choose, your legacy will reflect a deep commitment to justice, safety, and empowerment.

Getting Started

Estate planning can seem daunting, but guidance is available. An estate attorney can help you choose the best approach, and Sanctuary offers resources to align your giving with your values.

To learn more about how your legacy can support survivors and promote change, visit our planned giving website.

This article is part of our ongoing series on planned giving options. Stay tuned for future installments exploring beneficiary designations, charitable trusts, and more.

Remembering Burt Tansky: A Champion of Sanctuary and a Legacy of Excellence

Sanctuary honors the life and legacy of Burt Tansky, a visionary leader in luxury retail and a devoted advocate for philanthropy, who passed away on March 16, 2025.

Sanctuary honors the life and legacy of Burt Tansky, a visionary leader in luxury retail and a devoted advocate for philanthropy, who passed away on March 16, 2025. His generosity and unwavering support of Sanctuary strengthened our mission in meaningful ways, profoundly impacting the lives of survivors.

Born to immigrant parents in Pittsburgh, PA, Burt graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and rose from the stockrooms of Kaufmann’s to the executive suites of Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, and ultimately, as President and CEO of the Neiman Marcus Group. His leadership earned him some of the industry’s highest honors, including the Gold Medal Award from the National Retail Federation, recognition from the CFDA, and the Legend of Luxury Award.

Beyond retail, Burt was deeply committed to philanthropy, supporting causes such as Jupiter Hospital, Temple Judea, The Kind Kitchen, FAU Honors Program, The University of Pittsburgh, and many others.

His generosity extended to Sanctuary, where his contributions reflected his deep commitment to supporting survivors of gender violence.

In recognition of Burt’s commitment to our work, Sanctuary honored him and his wife, Rita, at our Zero Tolerance Benefit in 2014. Burt took great pride in his deep connection with Sanctuary and introduced many new friends to the organization—many of whom continue to support our mission to this day.

Burt was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. Despite the demands of his remarkable career, he never lost sight of what mattered most—love, connection, and community.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Rita; children Hyla (Eric) Weiss and Michael (Ellen) Tansky; grandchildren Emily, Coby, and Sascha; sister Eva Blum (Norman Wolmark); and countless loved ones.

Burt’s impact on fashion and philanthropy will be felt for generations. Sanctuary is deeply grateful to have been touched by his compassion, vision, and generous spirit.

Standing Up for Reproductive Rights & Survivors in Matter of L.B.

Sanctuary for Families and gender justice advocates urge the NY Court of Appeals to overturn Matter of L.B., a ruling that threatens survivors’ rights and reproductive autonomy.

Earlier this month, Sanctuary for Families, alongside leading domestic violence and gender justice organizations, filed an amicus brief in the New York Court of Appeals in Matter of L.B. The brief challenges a longstanding and dangerous legal doctrine holding that a father can be found responsible for child neglect under New York law for failing to control the mother’s drug use during pregnancy. If allowed to stand, the doctrine would have devastating consequences for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) and reproductive autonomy across the state.

Drafted with the invaluable support of Rower LLC, our brief urges the Court of Appeals to review and reverse this harmful ruling, which empowers abusers, endangers survivors, and undermines decades of legal progress.

A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT THAT ENABLES ABUSE

Survivors of IPV know that abusers often seek to control every aspect of their lives, including their reproductive choices. Many report being coerced into pregnancy, having birth control sabotaged, or facing violence when seeking abortion or prenatal care.

The First Department’s ruling gives abusers a legal excuse to exert coercive control over their partners during pregnancy and ignores the realities of IPV—where survivors often have little control over their own lives, let alone their partner’s behavior.

The risks are real and can be deadly. Homicide is one of the leading causes of death for pregnant people in the U.S., and pregnancy increases the likelihood of IPV. Between 2020 and 2023, domestic violence incidents in New York rose by more than 20%, even as other crime rates fell. This ruling provides another tool of abuse that could be used to justify violence, surveillance, and reproductive coercion.

WRONGFULLY PUNISHING SURVIVORS

The ruling also punishes, rather than protects, survivors. Research shows that IPV survivors are more likely to use substances, often to cope with trauma. Yet rather than addressing the systemic failures that prevent them from getting care, this ruling exacerbates the power imbalance at play.

Forcing prospective fathers to control their pregnant partners doesn’t protect children—it creates more barriers to safety, medical care, and support for survivors. It also discourages survivors from seeking help, fearing that their partner could retaliate if they are blamed.

A DIRECT THREAT TO BODILY AUTONOMY

New York has long been a leader in reproductive rights and gender justice. But this ruling threatens that progress by reviving outdated legal concepts that treat pregnant people as objects of control rather than individuals with rights.

In Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), the U.S. Supreme Court warned that states “may not give to a man the kind of dominion over his wife that parents exercise over their children.” The First Department’s ruling does exactly that—effectively mandating paternal control over pregnant people and violating fundamental rights.

At a time when reproductive rights are under attack nationwide, New York must not allow IPV survivors to be further stripped of their autonomy under the guise of child protection.

SANCTUARY FOR FAMILIES STANDS WITH SURVIVORS

This case is about more than legal theory—it is about protecting survivors from harm and upholding their rights. With the support of Rower LLC, we are urging the Court of Appeals to overturn this decision and reaffirm New York’s commitment to survivor safety, autonomy, and justice.

Click here to read the full amicus brief and learn more about this case. 

READ AMICUS BRIEF

Discover Meaningful Ways to Support Survivors

Learn about the many impactful ways you can contribute to Sanctuary’s life-saving work and make a difference in the lives of survivors.

At Sanctuary for Families, we are committed to ending gender violence and empowering survivors. Your support is essential in helping us achieve this mission. There are many impactful ways you can contribute to our life-saving work: making a one-time or monthly gift, volunteering your time, attending our events, or making a future or “planned” gift to ensure Sanctuary’s work continues for generations.

Over the coming months, we will share a series of articles exploring various planned giving options available to you. These resources are designed to help you make informed decisions that align with your personal, family, and financial goals.

Below is an overview of some of the most effective ways to make a planned gift:

Wills and Living Trusts >

Include Sanctuary in your will or trust by designating a specific amount, percentage, or the remainder of your estate.

Beneficiary Designations >

Name Sanctuary as the beneficiary of your retirement accounts, pension, or life insurance to make a gift while potentially reducing income and estate taxes for your heirs.

Charitable Remainder Trusts >

Create a trust that provides income for you or a loved one, with the remaining assets donated to Sanctuary. This offers tax deductions and removes the assets from your estate for tax purposes.

Real Estate >

Donate property through a deed transfer, will, or Donor Advised Fund, potentially reducing capital gains and estate taxes.

Charitable Lead Trusts >

Reduce estate taxes by transferring assets to a trust that pays Sanctuary for a set period or your lifetime, with the remaining assets going to your heirs.

In addition to planned gifts, there are other ways to give that allow you to make an impact now while also receiving benefits:

Gifts from Your IRA >

If you’re 70 ½ or older, you can make tax-free gifts up to $100,000 annually from your IRA to Sanctuary through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). This allows you to meet your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) without increasing your taxable income.

Donor Advised Funds >

Contribute to a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) to receive an immediate tax deduction and recommend grants to Sanctuary at your convenience.

Stock Gifts >

Donate appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual funds directly to Sanctuary to avoid capital gains tax and still receive income tax deductions.

By exploring these giving options, you can find the approach that works best for you and your unique situation. To learn more, visit sffny.myplannedgift.org or email us at donations@sffny.org.

Together, we can create a brighter, safer future for survivors of gender violence. Thank you for your generous support.