Ways To Give

Planned charitable gifts create a win-win situation for Georgia Southern and the donor. The conservation of income and considerable tax savings often combine to make possible a gift that might not have been made otherwise. This act of philanthropic support leaves a memorable legacy and an example for others to follow.

Will Bequest – A will bequest is the most popular way of making a planned gift to the Georgia Southern University Foundation. A bequest through your will may be expressed in terms of either a specific sum or a percentage of the residuary estate.

Charitable Gift Annuity – A charitable gift annuity is a wonderful way to make meaningful gifts while enjoying income and tax benefits that enhance your future financial well-being. A charitable gift annuity is an agreement between you and the GSU Foundation, under which you give us a specific sum of cash, appreciated securities or other property that you have held for more than one year. In return, you are guaranteed a fixed annual income for life. Part of the transfer is treated as a gift to us, providing you with tax benefits.

Gifts of Life Insurance – A life insurance gift generates substantial current tax savings. You receive an income tax charitable deduction when you make a gift of a life insurance policy by naming us as the beneficiary and transferring ownership to us.

Charitable Remainder Unitrust – A charitable remainder unitrust may be established by irrevocably transferring assets to a trust, which then pays income to you and/or other named beneficiaries, either for life or for a period of time not to exceed twenty years. Upon the death of the last surviving beneficiary, or at the expiration of the established time period, the trust assets are used for a charitable purpose designated when the trust was created.

Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust – A charitable remainder annuity trust is similar to the unitrust except that it pays you an amount determined when the trust is established. This type of trust carries all the same income and tax advantages as a charitable remainder unitrust.

Charitable Lead Trust – A charitable lead trust is the opposite of the charitable remainder trust in that the charity receives a gift of income rather than principal. The income is payable at least annually for a term of years, or the life or lives of individuals living at the date of transfer, after which time the property reverts to you or passes to beneficiaries designated by you.

Revocable Charitable Trust – If you believe in the mission of the Georgia Southern University Foundation, but do not wish to make an irrevocable gift now, please consider a revocable charitable trust. You will receive income for your life. You can revoke the trust or change its terms, add to it or withdraw some or all of the trust assets. The assets in the trust at your death (if it has not been revoked) will belong to the Georgia Southern University Foundation.

Gifts of Personal Residence – Persons who own a home may, under a retained life estate plan, give the property to us and receive the benefit of a current income tax charitable deduction, yet continue to use the property for the duration of their lives. A survivor can also enjoy life occupancy, if you like. The amount of your tax savings depends on your age and the value of your home.