Estate Gifts

As part of their estate planning process, donors may choose to support A-B College while realizing significant tax advantages through the following ways:

Bequest
A bequest is made when a donor provides in a will or living trust for the transfer of a specific amount, a specific asset or a portion of the remainder of an estate to A-B.  Assets may be cash, stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares, real estate or personal property.  Bequests benefiting A-B avoid estate taxes.

Retirement Assets
Gifts from a retirement plan or IRA are made by naming A-B College as a beneficiary after a donor's and/or spouse's lifetime.  Retirement assets can also be transferred to a charitable remainder trust to benefit A-B (see "Charitable Remainder Trust" below).  Gifts of retirement funds avoid estate and income taxes that would otherwise be paid if assets were distributed directly to family.

Planned Gifts-Life Income Gifts
The life income gifts described below can provide very attractive benefits to donors by paying income to a donor or other beneficiary while ultimately benefiting the College through a charitable gift.  Specific tax benefits are available from these types of gifts as well.

Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) 
Click here to calculate your Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) for one or two lives (deferred) using PhilanthroCalc.

A donor may create a charitable gift annuity at A-B (minimum $10,000) by transferring assets such as cash, stocks, bonds or mutual fund shares to College in exchange for a guaranteed, fixed life income.  Payments can begin immediately or at a specified future date (for a deferred gift annuity).  Income received by the donor may be partially tax-free.  Donors are entitled to income tax deductions based upon the value of gifts and payment terms, and they also avoid estate taxes.  This gift type is especially attractive to those whose highly appreciated assets may be turned into additional income.  (NOTE:  The establishment of a CGA is contingent upon the laws in your state.)

Charitable Remainder Trust 
Click here to calculate your Charitable Remainder Trust for one or two lives using PhilanthroCalc.
Click here to calculate your Charitable Remainder Trust for a term certain using PhilanthroCalc.

In this income arrangement, a donor transfers cash, securities or real estate to a trust for which the College is named as beneficiary after his lifetime.  A fixed or variable income is paid to the donor and/or other beneficiary for life or for a specified term of years.  Donors are entitled to income tax deductions based upon the value of the gift and the trust terms.  The College or another may serve as trustee and may manage and administer the trust assets.  Such gifts avoid capital gains and estate taxes.  Such an arrangement is attractive to donors who wish to make a charitable gift and continue to receive income from investment of the gift assets.

Charitable Lead Trust 
Click here to calculate your Charitable Lead Trust for one or two lives using PhilanthroCalc. 
Click here to calculate your Charitable Lead Trust for a term certain using PhilanthroCalc.

To establish this type of gift commitment, a donor transfers cash, stocks, bonds or income-producing real estate to the College as trustee.  For the term of the trust, income from these assets benefits the College.  Thereafter, the trust principal is typically returned to the donor or passed to the donor's family.  Lead trusts enable donors to pass assets to family at  significantly reduced value for gift and estate tax purposes and also can enable donors to reduce taxable income during the trust term.

Remainder Interest in Real Estate 
Click here to calculate your Life Estate Agreement for one or two lives using PhilanthroCalc.
Click here to calculate your Life Estate Agreement for a term certain using PhilanthroCalc.

A donor's residence, vacation home, timberland or farm may be transferred to the College while reserving use of the property for the donor's or another's lifetime.  An income-tax deduction is earned based upon the value of the property and the donor's life expectancy.  Capital gains and estate taxes are avoided.  Remainder interest gifts generate current income-tax savings while allowing donors to continue lifetime use of their real estate.

Bargain Sale
A donor may enter into a written agreement for the sale of stocks, bonds, real estate or tangible personal property to the College below market value, making a gift to A-B of the difference between the current value and the sale price.  The donor receives a lump sum or installment payment of the sale price.  There is a tax deduction for the gift portion of the transaction.  The donor may be taxed on the capital gain attributed to the sale portion; capital gains taxes are avoided on the gift portion.

Life Insurance
To make a life insurance gift, a donor names A-B as both owner and beneficiary of a new or existing life insurance policy.  Donors are entitled to income tax deductions for new policy premiums or the cash value of an existing policy.  The cash value of the policy may be used as designated by the donor-for scholarship support or other College purposes.

The Elkanah Hulley Society
Donors of planned gifts are entitled to membership in The Elkanah Hulley Society, a recognition society for those who have made such provisions for our future.  If you have made such an arrangement for the benefit of the College, we hope you will inform us so that we can convey our recognition and appreciation.

If you have questions about estate gifts, contact:

Rev. Dr. Carl W. Gittings, Assistant Vice President of Advancement and Major Gifts
Ph. 304.457.6368
gittingscw@ab.edu

Nikky (Scott) Luna '05, Vice President for Advancement 
Ph. 304.457.6203
lunajn@ab.edu

Annette Fetty, Director of Development Services
Ph. 304.457.6322
fettyma@ab.edu