Introduction to Planned Gifts
Use the table and descriptions below to quickly familiarize yourself with the most common planned giving vehicles donors like you can use to make tax-smart gifts to Hoyas for generations.
| Your Gift | When to Give | Way to Give | Potential Tax Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bequest | Through Your Estate | Cash, Appreciated Securities, or Real Estate/Property | Estate Tax, Capital Gains |
| Beneficiary Designation | Through Your Estate | Cash | Estate Tax or Income Tax |
| Appreciated Securities | During Your Life or Through Your Estate | Stocks, Bonds or Mutual Funds | Capital Gains |
| IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution | During Your Life (age 70 ½ or older) | Through your IRA | Income Tax |
| Charitable Remainder Trust | During Your Life or Through Your Estate | Cash, Appreciated Securities, Real Estate/Property, or Complex Assets | Income Tax, Capital Gains, or Estate Tax |
| Charitable Gift Annuity | During Your Life or Through Your Estate | Cash or Appreciated Securities | Income Tax, Capital Gains, or Estate Tax |
| Charitable Lead Trust | During Your Life or Through Your Estate | Cash, Appreciated Securities, Real Estate/Property, or Complex Assets | Income Tax, Capital Gains, Gift Tax, or Estate Tax |
| Complex Assets | During Your Life | Multiple Options | Income Tax, Capital Gains, or Estate Tax |
| Real Estate | During Your Life or Through Your Estate | Real Estate | Capital Gains, Estate Tax, Income Tax |
| Personal Property | During Your Life or Through Your Estate | Personal Property | Capital Gains, Income Tax, Estate Tax |
Bequest
Bequests are a simple way to leave a legacy with Georgetown. Just add a provision in your will or trust designating either a percentage, specific amount, or all or a portion of the residue of your estate to the university. You can designate your gift for a specific school, program, sport, or leave it unrestricted for general use–and gifts of all sizes are appreciated.
Learn more on our Bequest Page.
Beneficiary Designation
Naming Georgetown as the beneficiary of all or a portion of a retirement account, bank or brokerage account, donor-advised fund or insurance policy, is a tax-smart way to make a gift to the University that leaves a lasting legacy while avoiding a significant built-in tax liability. When left to individuals, the value of the gift may decrease by up to 70%, but if used to make a gift to Georgetown, the funds are transferred tax-free and GU is able to realize the full value of the gift.
Learn more about Beneficiary Designations.
Appreciated Securities
By making a gift using stock, bonds, or mutual funds, you may be able to take a charitable deduction for the fair market value of the shares while avoiding capital gains taxes and making a gift to support Georgetown.
Learn more about Appreciated Securities.
IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution
If you are 70½ or older, you may be able to take advantage of your IRA to make tax-smart charitable gifts to Georgetown. By requesting a qualified charitable distribution from your IRA, you can direct up to $105,000 each calendar year to eligible charities—including Georgetown. Benefits to using your IRA for charitable giving may include lowering your taxable income, counting the distribution toward your Required Minimum Distribution, and providing support to a school or program at Georgetown that is meaningful to you. You can use a qualified charitable distribution from your IRA for pledge payments, annual gifts, or reunion class giving.
Learn more about IRA Rollovers.
Charitable Remainder Trust
A Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) is an irrevocable trust that generates fixed or variable income for you and/or other beneficiaries for life or a term of years, with the remainder of the trust becoming a future gift to the school or program of your choice.
Learn more about Charitable Remainder Trusts.
Charitable Gift Annuity
A Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) is a thoughtful way to provide reliable income for yourself and/or a loved one while also making a gift to support Georgetown. A CGA is a contract between the donor and Georgetown where the University agrees to pay you and/or a loved one a fixed amount for life in exchange for an irrevocable gift of cash or appreciated securities.
Learn more about Charitable Gift Annuities.
Charitable Lead Trust
A Charitable Lead Trust (CLT) works by first using the assets contributed to the trust to make annual payments to Georgetown for a term of years (usually 10 to 20). At the end of the term, the assets remaining in the trust pass to the non-charitable beneficiaries, usually children or grandchildren, without passing through the donor’s estate. With a CLT, you get to make a gift upfront to the school or program of your choice, then have the assets return to your beneficiaries.
Learn more about Charitable Lead Trusts.
Complex Assets
Careful planning can help unlock the power of illiquid assets allowing you to reach your philanthropic goals while realizing additional tax benefits. You may also be able to consider more significant gifts than you thought possible by using complex assets in your philanthropy.
Learn more about Complex Assets.
Real Estate
A gift of real estate property such as a residence, vacation home, or commercial property can be used to make a gift to Georgetown that may provide significant tax benefits.
Personal Property
Gifts of artwork, collections, or other valuables may provide significant tax benefits while enriching the educational experience for students.
Learn more about Personal Property.
The information on this website is not intended as legal, financial, or tax advice. Please consult an attorney, financial advisor, or tax advisor in your planning.