There are many gift planning options that can actually help you lower your estate tax bill, leave more to your children and grandchildren, and provide meaningful support to your favorite charities, including Drexel University and it’s A.J. Drexel Autism Institute. Here are some examples:

Gifts Anyone Can Make

Retirement Funds

You can name Drexel University as the beneficiary or contingent beneficiary of your remaining retirement plan assets after your death. Because the funds are not distributed until your passing, they are not subject to estate or income tax. As a result, your heirs avoid the expense of double taxation and the University receives the entire balance tax-free.

Life Insurance

As your financial situation changes, you may find that you no longer need all the life insurance you purchased earlier. You can transfer ownership of a paid-up life insurance policy to Drexel. Or, if you’re still making payments on the policy, you can name the University the beneficiary and claim a charitable tax deduction on the annual payments you continue to make.

Income-Producing Gifts

Charitable Gift Annuity

Charitable gift annuities are easy to establish with gifts as low as $10,000, a portion of which may be deductible for income tax purposes. Drexel will manage your donated cash, securities or other assets and distribute a fixed payment for life to one or two beneficiaries. The balance remaining when the contract ends passes to the University. You will receive an immediate tax deduction for a portion of the gift and a portion of your annuity payment will be tax-free.

Charitable Remainder Trust

A charitable remainder trust offers another way to contribute to the future of Drexel University and increase your current income. If you have set up the trust as a unitrust, you will receive variable income based on a percentage of the value of the trust assets as determined each year. An annuity trust will pay you a fixed amount each year. At the termination of the trust agreement, the remaining assets are transferred to the University.

Other Giving Options

Donor Advised Fund (DAF)

The Drexel DAF provides a convenient, cost effective opportunity for charitable giving, particularly the gifting of appreciated assets, like stocks or mutual funds, which would otherwise be difficult or inconvenient to split between your favorite charities. Give now; recommend charities later. And you receive just one concise receipt for income tax purposes.  Drexel will manage the funds for you, and the University receives 50 percent of each distribution made from your Fund.

Gifts in Kind

An in-kind donation is a gift of tangible assets, such as artwork, equipment, software, printed materials, food, beverages or other items used for hosting events, etc. You may receive a tax deduction based on the appraised value of the gift. (Please note that donations of services are not tax deductible, per IRS guidelines.)

Gifts of real estate

You may donate real property to Drexel and receive an immediate tax deduction for the fair market value of the property.  Or, with the retained life estate option, you may transfer the title of your property to Drexel and live there for the rest of your life (or a specified time). Afterwards, the property and its value will pass to the University; however, you’ll be eligible for an immediate income tax deduction for a portion of the appraised value of your property at the time you make the gift.

Go here to learn more about these and other ways to make your mark on the future by creating win-win solutions for you and Drexel.