Ways to Give
Ways to Give | Outright Gifts | Gifts to Endowment | Matching Gifts
Deferred or Planned Gifts
- Bequests
- Charitable Lead Trusts
- Charitable Remainder Trusts
- Life Insurance
- Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
- Charitable Gift Annuities
- Pooled Income Fund
You can play an important role in George Mason's future by including a gift to the George Mason University Foundation in your estate plans. Such gifts can result in significant tax advantages for your estate. A planned gift includes contributions made through a bequest, charitable lead trust, charitable remainder trust, life insurance policy, individual retirement account, charitable gift annuity, pooled income fund, and combinations of these gift vehicles.
For an extensive discussion of bequests and other forms of deferred giving, please see our Planned Giving Guide.
We would be happy to talk to you or your advisor about opportunities to support Mason through planned or deferred giving. Please contact us.
Bequests
A bequest is the most frequent form of planned giving and can be as easy as writing a codicil (addition) to your will. There are several ways to make a charitable bequest:
- donate specific property, such as real estate, securities, tangible personal property, or cash
- designate a percentage of your total estate be given to the George Mason University Foundation
- designate all or part of your estate after all other bequests are satisfied
- name the George Mason University Foundation in a contingent bequest, taking effect only if the primary beneficiaries are not able to receive their bequests
Through bequests, you can make a gift in support of George Mason's general fund or to an area of specific interest. For more information on making a bequest, please contact us.
Charitable Lead Trusts
A charitable lead trust is a planned giving vehicle which gives the George Mason University Foundation income from a trust established by you, the donor, for an allotted number of years. At the end of that time period, the trust can revert back to you or be transferred to your beneficiaries. For more information on setting up a charitable lead trust, please
Charitable Remainder Trusts
A charitable remainder trust is a planned giving vehicle that allows you to make substantial gifts of cash, securities, or real or personal property to the George Mason University Foundation, yet permits you or your beneficiaries to keep the income earned by the trust for life.
There are two types of charitable remainder trusts:
- the charitable remainder annuity trust, which pays the donor a fixed income for life; and
- the charitable remainder unitrust, which pays the donor a variable income for life.
For more information about establishing a charitable remainder trust, please contact us.
Life Insurance
A gift of life insurance offers you an opportunity to make a significant contribution to George Mason University and receive an immediate charitable deduction for the policy's value. You may choose to designate the George Mason University Foundation as the beneficiary, cobeneficiary, remainder or residual beneficiary of a life insurance policy. Or, you may choose to transfer a new or existing policy, designating the George Mason University Foundation as both owner and beneficiary. For more information about making a gift of life insurance, please contact us.
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
The George Mason University Foundation may be named as the beneficiary of an IRA, a 401(k), or another company-sponsored retirement program you may designate. The George Mason University Foundation can be the sole beneficiary or share in a percentage of these funds. For more information on naming the George Mason University Foundation as the beneficiary of your IRA, please contact us.
Charitable Gift Annuities
Charitable gift annuities pay you, or a designated beneficiary, a fixed annual income for life, part of which is not taxable. You would receive a charitable tax deduction on a portion of the amount contributed. Your age, or your beneficiary's, and the amount of the gift will determine the level of income received. For more information about charitable gift annuities, please contact us.
Pooled Income Fund
The George Mason University Foundation's pooled income fund allows you and other donors to invest in a large diversified portfolio. This vehicle works much like a mutual fund in that the income you receive from the investments is proportionate to the value of your shares or contribution. For more information about the George Mason University Foundation's pooled income fund, please contact us.
