1. Home
  2. How to Give
  3. Inspired Giving Made Simple

Inspired Giving Made Simple

Unlock the Power of Creative Philanthropy

Creative philanthropy doesn’t have to be complicated. Looking to grow your impact?
Don’t forget to ask when, what, and how.

We are excited to be your partner in inspired giving. To speak with a member of our team, please email giving@georgetown.edu or call 202-687-1690.

Quick Links

Gift Instructions
Planned Giving

Three questions to guide your approach

Your support makes possible everything Georgetown is and aspires to be—that’s why so many of our alumni, parents, and friends give. But meaningful philanthropy isn’t just about why. It’s also about when, what, and how.

1

When would you like to give?

Learn how you can give now, spread it out, or plan for the future.

View More
2

What could you give?

Explore the possibilities—from cash to stocks, IRAs, and everything in between.

View More
3

How could a gift fulfill your goals?

Current use, endowed, or otherwise—design your philanthropy for meaningful impact.

View More

Some philanthropists want to make a singular impact; others punctuate their lives with gifts of various types and sizes. Consider when you’ll want to flex your philanthropic muscle.

GIVE NOW

Outright giving is essential to sustaining Georgetown’s momentum. Whether you’re writing a check, donating stock, or sharing a less-traditional asset, your gift will support the schools and programs that educate women and men to be reflective lifelong learners, to participate actively and responsibly in civic life, and to live generously in service to others.

Make a gift

SPREAD IT OUT

A multi-year pledge spread across up to five years can help you facilitate ongoing giving at a comfortable level with cumulative benefit and impact.

Make a pledge

PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

Resourceful donors often find that the flexibility of a planned gift enables them to make a bigger gift than they thought affordable while achieving their personal and philanthropic goals. The most forward-thinking philanthropists are starting young-and finding that the process is painless.

Learn about planned giving

If you’ve included Georgetown in your estate plans, please let us know!
Understanding your goals in advance helps us ensure we use funds for a purpose that aligns with your interests. We’d love to celebrate your generosity. Send us an email at plannedgiving@georgetown.edu or call 800-347-8067.

3 steps to grow your impact

This guide offers a simple framework for planning your philanthropy, answers key endowment FAQs, and demystifies 30+ gift planning terms.

3 steps to grow your impact: https://giving.georgetown.edu/how-to-give/inspired-giving-made-simple/#

Writing a check is always an option, but could you achieve much more through creative giving? Could appreciated securities enable you to finally endow a scholarship? Are those pre-IPO shares an overlooked chance to create your philanthropic legacy? There are countless ways to shape your gift; start by understanding these options.*

  • Cash

    No surprises here. Make a gift by check, wire, or credit card—via the web, mail, or phone.

    Giving from outside the United States? You may be able to significantly increase the value of your gift by taking advantage of charitable giving options specific to your region. Giving from the UK? Learn more about the UK Friends of Georgetown Limited.

    DID YOU KNOW?

    If you have a donor-advised fund, you can of course use it to fund direct gifts to Georgetown during your lifetime, but you can also make Georgetown a future beneficiary.

    INCREASE YOUR IMPACT WITH A MATCHING GIFT

    Don’t forget—many companies and foundations will match the value of charitable gifts made by employees and their spouses, board members, and retirees. Ask your employer’s benefits team if they offer a match—or seek assistance from a Georgetown giving specialist at giving@georgetown.edu or call 202-687-1690.

  • Stocks, Bonds, and Mutual Fund Shares

    Donating appreciated securities is a powerful—and too often overlooked—way to give while offsetting your personal tax liability. In gifting stocks, bonds, or mutual fund shares that you have owned for longer than one year, you receive the same income tax savings associated with a cash gift and avoid tax on the capital gains built up in donated securities.

    Cash Gift Stock Gift
    Amount $10,000 $10,000
    Charitable Tax Savings $3,960 $3,960
    Capital Gain Tax Savings $0 $1,904
    Net “Cost” of Your Gift $6,040 $4,136

  • Real Estate

    Real estate can be a surprisingly flexible way to give. Whether you have a partial interest in—or complete ownership of—a principal residence or vacation home, a farm, a commercial building, a subdivision lot, or even unimproved land, you may have an untapped source of philanthropic support.

  • Complex Assets

    You were creative in building your business, and now you’re able to be creative with your philanthropy. Careful planning can help you unlock the power of illiquid assets—restricted stock, hedge fund interests, pre-IPO shares, part ownership in emerging ventures, and other closely held business interests—to realize your philanthropic goals.

  • Retirement Plans and Insurance Policies

    Whether you’ve been saving for years or you’re just starting to build your nest egg, consider naming Georgetown as a beneficiary of a specific amount or percentage of your retirement account (e.g., IRA, SEP, 401(k), 403(b), ESOP).

    DID YOU KNOW?

    If you are 70½ or older, you can direct up to $100,000 each year to charity from a qualified IRA. The distribution is tax-free and counts toward your required minimum distribution—with the added bonus of providing a gift to Georgetown. Note: distributions must be sent directly to Georgetown from your IRA administrator.

    Life insurance also may be an affordable way to realize your philanthropic ambitions. It’s possible to name Georgetown as the beneficiary of all/part of your life insurance policy.

  • Personal and Intellectual Property

    Could the rare books in your basement be used to complement Georgetown’s curriculum? A treasured asset may take on a whole new life in becoming a significant gift to Georgetown. Here are just a few of the inventive ways some donors create their philanthropic legacy: artwork, boats, collections, patents, copyrights.

    DID YOU KNOW?

    Some gifts of personal property, real estate, and other assets are given with the understanding that the university will retain them; others are given with permission to sell some or all of the gift in the future with the proceeds used to benefit the donor’s area of interest at Georgetown.

    If you decide to make this type of gift to Georgetown, your wishes would be discussed in advance and committed to by the university as part of a binding gift agreement.

    Our team has experience with wide range of assets and would be pleased to help you explore the possibilities. Learn more or contact us at plannedgiving@georgetown.edu.

*Note: Some gift types may be subject to Gift Acceptance Committee review and approval.

The best giving strategies take a holistic view, providing outsized benefit to all involved. Design your philanthropy in advance with an eye toward how you want to have an impact.

  • SEE IMMEDIATE IMPACT

    Current use gifts—directly expendable funds—allow Georgetown to say “yes” to good ideas and ensure continued growth as a leading global university. These flexible gifts have full and immediate impact.

    Learn more about current use gifts

  • PROVIDE PERMANENT SUPPORT

    Endowment income is the principle source of dedicated, long-term financial support for the university. It lends fiscal stability and enables the university to make dependable, long-term investments in high-quality academic programs and top faculty, as well as to ensure that the brightest students have access to a Georgetown education.

    Learn more about endowed funds

  • CREATE A HYBRID

    Some donors establishing endowments choose to commit a portion of their gift—or an additional annual gift—for current use, funding that can be distributed immediately in support of their goals as they are making pledge payments to build up an endowed fund.

    Learn more about hybrid gifts

  • ESTABLISH AN INCOME STREAM

    Life income gifts satisfy several goals: They provide philanthropic support while generating both a charitable income tax deduction and income for you or your loved ones. There are several types of life income gifts, including charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts.

    Learn more

Giving Options At-A-Glance

View our gift planning table to find the approach that best matches your needs and goals.

Download PDF
Giving Options At-A-Glance: https://giving.georgetown.edu/how-to-give/inspired-giving-made-simple/#

It’s your gift. Let us help you make the most of it.

Once you’ve considered the why, when, what, and how, you get to decide where. Explore what your support could mean for Georgetown’s university-wide priorities and schools and programs.

To speak with a member of our team, please email giving@georgetown.edu or call 202-687-1690. We will respond within one business day.

We are excited to be your partner in meaningful philanthropy and sincerely appreciate your generosity, wherever it may lead you.

This is not intended as, and should not be considered as, legal, tax, financial, or other professional advice. Georgetown strongly encourages you to seek independent professional advice to find the right giving strategy for your goals and circumstances.