Designing Charitable Gifts for Maximum Benefit

Below is a list of gift ideas, options and benefits that can make the most of your clients' support for Northwestern University while maximizing their tax and financial rewards.  Select a client's objective(s), then check the option(s) that fit his or her situation.  Click the "Compare Options" button for a summary of gift opportunities.
Your client’s
objective is to:		 Options include: Benefits usually include:
 
Make a gift this year
   Gifts by check or credit card   Maximum deductibility
    Gifts of unneeded life insurance policies   Charitable deduction for policy’s value; future premiums deductible
    Gifts of a share of your business   Large deductions plus capital gains tax avoidance and continued control of your business
    Gifts of a fraction or percentage of property   Partial deductions plus capital gains tax avoidance
    Gifts of appreciated real estate   Enhanced deductions plus capital gains tax avoidance
    Gifts of appreciated securities   Enhanced deductions plus capital gains tax avoidance
Make a gift this year but retain lifetime income
   Charitable gift annuities   Fixed payments for life, for you and/or another recipient, plus deductions and other tax benefits
    Charitable remainder annuity trusts   Fixed payments for life for you and/or others, plus a current deduction
    Charitable remainder unitrusts   Variable lifetime payments for you and/or others, with extra planning flexibility in achieving your goals
Make a gift this year of a personal residence or farmland while retaining lifetime use
   Gifts of “remainder interests” in property   Charitable deduction this year plus future federal estate tax savings
Make a gift this year that helps build your retirement nest egg
   Deferred charitable gift annuities or “flip” unitrusts   Current charitable deductions, with large payments starting in a future year
Make a gift this year that pays income to charities for a limited number of years
   Charitable lead trusts   Reduced gift taxes, estate taxes and/or income taxes; trust assets eventually return to you or family members
Make an important gift after death
   Bequests from wills or living trusts   Control of all your resources during life; potential “death tax” savings plus income tax savings if you leave “tax-burdened assets”
    Beneficiary designations on financial accounts   Control of financial resources during life; potential “death tax” savings
    Beneficiary designations on life insurance   Financial security from policy during life; potential “death tax” savings
    Beneficiary designations on IRAs or other retirement accounts   Future income tax and estate tax savings; lifetime use of accounts
    Bequests for charitable gift annuities or charitable remainder trusts   Lifetime income for a surviving spouse or other heirs; potential estate tax savings
    Charitable lead trusts that pay income to charities after death   Large estate tax savings; heirs later receive all trust assets

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