Cash and Securities
The simplest method of donating to the Collections is with an outright gift of cash or securities. A gift of cash is the most popular way of supporting the Collections. Next to cash, appreciated securities that are readily marketable are the assets most commonly donated. When you donate appreciated securities, you generally do not realize any capital gains tax.

Bequests
A bequest provides for the Collections’ future while the amount of the bequest is deducted from the taxable portion of your estate. Including the Collections in your will permits maximum use of funds today and provisions for the Collections tomorrow.

Charitable Gift Annuities
Charitable gift annuities are one of the simplest and safest life income plans available. Beginning at age 60 you or one other beneficiary will receive fixed payments for life from the University’s Development Foundation in return for a gift of $10,000 or more. The size of the annuity payment will vary depending on the size of the gift and age of the annuitant(s). Once the beneficiaries of the annuity are no longer living, your gift will be used to support programs or endowments of your choosing.

Charitable Lead Trusts
A lead trust may be particularly beneficial in transferring assets to your heirs with favorable estate tax consequences. Income generated from assets placed in a charitable lead trust is paid to the Collections for a period of years, after which the assets are distributed to your designated beneficiary or beneficiaries.

Charitable Remainder Trusts
The charitable remainder trust is similar to other types of trusts except that the amount distributed at its termination (the remainder) is paid to a charity. You would transfer property irrevocably to a trust and specify the amount of payments to be distributed, the duration of payments (a period of years or the beneficiary’s lifetime), and the charity or charities that will receive the remainder.

Life Insurance
You can make a gift of an existing life insurance policy or buy a new life insurance policy and name the Collections as the beneficiary. Your policy payments are deductible from your federal income tax if you also make the University’s Development Foundation owner of the policy.

Retirement Plans
To preserve retirement assets after your lifetime rather than relinquish a large portion to taxes, consider the benefits of using them as a source for charitable giving. This can be accomplished through a direct gift (that is, your account can pass directly to a charitable organization as your primary beneficiary), or it can be transferred to a deferred giving arrangement that will pay income for life to you, or another beneficiary. Upon your death the remaining assets will transfer to the University’s Development Foundation

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