If I include Stanford in my will, whom do I need to tell about it?

You need not tell Stanford of your plans. However, Stanford appreciates knowing when it is included in an individual's estate plans to make sure the designated purpose of the gift will always be useful. Besides, we like to show our appreciation to donors who include us in their estate plans—in fact, we have an honorary organization to recognize these supporters of the university, the Founding Grant Society.

If necessary, how can I change my will or my revocable trust?

Stanford's planned giving attorneys can advise and help draft language relating to a gift to Stanford. It is recommended that you involve your personal tax or legal advisor at some point in the process.

What are life income gifts and why are they so popular?

A life income gift allows you to make a gift to Stanford while providing income for yourself or others for a period of time before Stanford is permitted to use your gift. You may make a life income gift to the university by irrevocably transferring securities, money, or other property to Stanford. The university then manages the investment of the assets and pays an income to you, your designated beneficiaries, or both. The income payments continue for the beneficiary's life or for a term of up to 20 years. After the income payments end, Stanford receives the fund principal. Charitable remainder trusts and charitable gift annuities are examples of life income gifts.

What are the tax advantages of life income gifts and bequests?

Gifts to Stanford, as to other charitable organizations, are not subject to gift or estate taxes. For example, a $10,000 bequest to a charity results in the charity receiving the full $10,000, free of tax. Since estate tax rates are up to 45 percent in 2009, that same gift made to an individual (other than a spouse) may result in $4,500 going to the IRS and only $5,500 to the individual. Click here for more information about the tax advantages of bequests.

In the case of life income gifts, an income tax deduction for the current value of the "remainder interest" in the donated assets is available. More important in some cases is the fact that the sale of appreciated assets after transfer to a life income arrangement does not give rise to any capital gains taxes on the sale.

How can Stanford help me with planned gifts such as life income gifts and bequests?

Stanford's Office of Planned Giving has a staff of attorneys who are experts in estate and charitable planning. Any one of them will be happy to discuss your particular needs and wishes, and to advise as to how your goals might best be met. They will:

help you decide if a bequest to Stanford is right for you.
give you options for reducing taxes and possibly providing income to you while benefiting Stanford in the future.
help you choose the best gift technique to accomplish your goals.
help you address capital gains taxes on appreciated assets.
help you become familiar with how a charitable trust benefiting Stanford might work for you.

How can a planned gift help me accomplish more than an outright gift?

You may have funds in a retirement account, real property, or other assets you have accumulated over time. It may not be easy or wise for you to use these assets to make an outright gift. They could be designated through a planned gift, which gives you the opportunity to make a larger gift in the future. Planned gifts often can achieve more estate and tax planning objectives than outright gifts.

Will I need a tax advisor to help me set up a planned gift?

Stanford can provide detailed information, including draft language, for your attorney or other advisor regarding gifts to Stanford. It is recommended, of course, that you involve your personal tax or legal advisor at some point in the process.

What are the best assets to use for a planned gift?

Securities, real property, insurance policies, retirement plans, and many other assets can be used to make a planned gift to Stanford. The Planned Giving Calculator can help you figure out how much of your income and assets you can afford to contribute to charity.

Can I direct how my gift will be used? How can I be sure it will be used as I intend?

As with any other kind of gift to Stanford, you may designate a purpose for your bequest or life income gift. Stanford carefully monitors the stated purposes of all gift funds to ensure that the donor's funds are being used only for the intended purposes.

Do planned gifts count for The Stanford Challenge?

Yes!

Life income gifts will count for The Stanford Challenge at the present value of the eventual gift to the university. Stanford determines the present value using the IRS's calculation of the income tax deduction for the gift. You can use our Planned Giving Galculator to determine what the income tax deduction would be for any life income gift you may be considering. You may also contact us for help in calculating the present value. Life income gifts also earn campaign matching funds, provided the purpose of the gift is among those for which matching funds are available.

During The Stanford Challenge, the university seeks to double the number of known bequest intentions for Stanford by identifying 1,500 such intentions. If you let us know that you have included Stanford in your estate plans, we will be able to count your bequest intention toward this goal. Remember, we are not counting the potential dollar value of bequest intentions, we simply want to know whether or not you have taken this important step to provide for a gift to Stanford from your estate. Contact us if you'd like to help us with this important effort.

Of course, the full value of proceeds from bequests that come to Stanford through December 30, 2011 will also count in the final campaign total.

What is the Atwell Match?

Thanks to a generous unrestricted bequest from Susanna Atwell, '37, MA '38, the university is able to offer the Atwell Match, a matching giving program specifically designed for annual gifts from recent graduates and current students. If you have graduated within the last ten years from one of Stanford's degree-granting programs—or if you are a current student—your gift to any of Stanford's annual funds will qualify for the Atwell Match. Outright gifts will be matched 50¢ to the dollar. Multi-year pledges, including recurring gifts charged to a credit card every month for a minimum of twelve months, are matched dollar for dollar. Donors may give to more than one annual fund, since each gift or pledge qualifies for the match. (Matching gifts are capped at $1,000 per gift or pledge payment.) Read more about the Atwell Match.

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