TYPES OF PLANNED GIFTS
The Planned and Major Gifts Program at the UW-L Foundation offers numerous and innovative opportunities to make gifts:

• CASH. Easy and simple as writing a check. The gift is made on the date it is hand delivered or placed (preferably postmarked) in the U.S. Mail. A charitable deduction makes the net cost of the gift lower than its face amount. (Important caveat: gifts of cash or cash equivalencies to a public charity, such as the UW-L Foundation, are deductible up to 50% of Adjusted Gross Income while gifts of appreciated property, such as stocks or real estate discussed below, are deductible up to only 30% of AGI; in either case, there is usually a 5 year carryover available for large contributions creating a total window of up to 6 years to deduct the gift.)

• CREDIT CARD. Quick, convenient and a charitable deduction the date the charge is posted on your account (not the date the credit card bill is actually paid).

• PLEDGE. Create a larger gift with smaller planned payments at regular intervals over a set period of time. This also works well with payroll deduction or regular monthly charges authorized on a credit card. The pledge itself is not deductible, but each payment is on the date paid.

• EMPLOYER MATCHING GIFTS. Many companies offer programs that will match employee gifts to qualified educational charities such as the UW-L Foundation. An employer match can double and sometimes even triple the size of a gift!

• MAKE A GIFT NOW. Go to On-Line Giving and complete the necessary information (including possible matching gifts) to make a gift that will benefit UW-L.

• STOCKS, BONDS, MUTUAL FUNDS. Such assets, including stock or ownership interests in closely held companies, which have appreciated in value and been owned for at least one year, represent a most effective and tax-wise way to make a gift. In addition to a charitable deduction for the full fair market value, the donor pays no capital gains, nor will the UW-L Foundation when it sells the stock since it is tax exempt.

• LIFE INSURANCE. Save potential estate tax by naming the UW-L Foundation as a partial or a contingent beneficiary. For an income tax deduction as well, give an existing or new policy to the Foundation as beneficiary and owner. In addition, your future gifts (which the Foundation uses to pay premiums) are also deductible. Click here for Suggested Language.

• WILL or TRUST. Making a specific, residuary or contingent charitable gift (bequest) in documents which dispose of property at death (such as a will, living trust or, in Wisconsin, marital property agreement) can reduce potential estate taxes. These documents allow you to enjoy the assets while you are alive and are flexible so that they can be altered or amended to reflect changing interests, priorities and circumstances. Click here for Suggested Language.

• RETIREMENT ASSETS. Such things as IRA's, qualified retirement plans and U. S. Savings Bonds are known as IRD (Income in Respect to the Decedent) assets because after death they are subject to both estate and income tax. Special rules apply, but a properly drawn bequest (for savings bonds) or beneficiary designation (for IRA's or retirement plans) can maximize philanthropic impact and reduce tax liabilities. Click here for Suggested Language.

• REAL ESTATE. There are great opportunities for outright gifts, bargain sales, retained life estates or assignments of rent, but gifts of appreciated real estate owned for more than one year require time and special planning because of such things as title or description questions, payment of real estate taxes, ability to sell and environmental concerns. For more information, click here and order Gifts of Real Estate: Benefits and Concerns.

• PERSONAL PROPERTY. Gifts of long-term capital gain tangible personal property (such as art, rare books, jewelry, antiques, stamp or coin collections, etc.) are, like all gifts, subject to acceptance by the Foundation and any charitable deductions defined by the IRS "related use" standard, i.e., fair market value if property related to charity's exempt purpose and only cost or basis if unrelated.

• CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY. A simple contract: the purchaser/donor (and a joint or successor beneficiary if desired) receives annual income of a fixed dollar amount equal to a percentage (set by the Foundation) of the purchase price. The purchaser/donor also receives a tax deduction determined by IRS rules. The minimum for a UW-L Foundation Gift Annuity is $10,000. For more detailed information, go to The Planned Gift Calculator.

• DEFERRED PAYMENT CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY. Same as above, except the purchaser/donor and the Foundation agree to begin income payments at a later date; perhaps, at retirement age to supplement other retirement income. The time between purchase and payment of benefits will increase the annual payout amount and the size of the charitable deduction at purchase.

• POOLED INCOME FUND. This type of charitable mutual-like fund can be operated only by a qualified public charity such as the UW-L Foundation. Net income goes to the purchaser/donor (or a joint or successor beneficiary) for life and, thereafter, the remainder value of the units goes to the UW-L Foundation. Charitable deductions are determined by tax tables based on age and the fund's earning experience. For more detailed information, go to The Planned Gift Calculator.

• CHARITABLE REMAINDER ANNUITY TRUST. A trust established and funded by a donor or donors which pays to designated beneficiaries a fixed annual percentage (dollar amount) of the initial market value of the trust. After death of the life income beneficiaries, the remainder left in the trust goes to the named charitable beneficiary or beneficiaries. The UW-L Foundation requires a minimum of $50,000 to fund such trusts. For more detailed information, go to The Planned Gift Calculator.

• CHARITABLE REMAINDER UNITRUST. Same as the Annuity Trust above, except additional contributions can be made at a later date and the fixed percentage annual payout is based upon the net fair market value of trust assets at the beginning of each year. For more detailed information, go to The Planned Gift Calculator.

• CHARITABLE LEAD TRUSTS. As determined by the donor, these trusts provide annuity or unitrust (see above) type payments to the charity for a set number of years after which the remaining assets are distributed to beneficiaries named by the donor at their appreciated value with no further gift or estate tax. For more detailed information, go to The Planned Gift Calculator.