SCHOOL of INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

American University · Washington, D.C.

OPTIONS FOR GIVING

Giving to the School of International Service

Development Priorities for SIS are: 1) Leadership gifts for the new SIS building, and 2) Gifts of every size toward student scholarships. There are many useful ways you can make gifts to the School of International Service. Each of them has possible advantages for the prospective donor. Tax savings can be an important consideration, especially as several different forms of taxation may apply (ordinary personal income tax at state and federal levels, future-year tax savings, estate taxes and others). The specifics of tax savings should be carefully planned with one's own tax adviser prior to making a formal commitment of a gift in any specific form. For gifts of any of the following types, please contact Tina Maynigo, Assistant Director of Development, at 202-885-3632.

Cash or Negotiable Securities

Gifts of cash or securities ready for immediate sale by the University are the most common form of giving, particularly to the unrestricted fund of the School of International Service, to the Annual Fund, or to specific projects that require funds to be immediately spent. Stocks and bonds are the most common form of negotiable securities, so long as they are publicly traded at prices that can be verified for the purposes of your tax records.

Pledges

Pledges of future-year gifts can extend your annual giving plans as far as five years into the future. Doing so makes it possible to take advantage of the larger total commitment for tax purposes, allows you to secure a permanent endowed fund (minimum $50,000), enables you to help the School rise to an unusual challenge, or otherwise helps you to enhance the impact of your generosity but hold your commitment within planned annual amounts.

Charitable Gift Annuities and Charitable Trusts

A charitable gift annuity offers you a secure income for life and is useful for persons desiring a fixed return on a planned gift. The University will not realize the gift until the demise of the donor or other parties for whom life income is guaranteed. A charitable gift annuity can be created for the lifetime of one or two persons, for example, you and your spouse. Similar benefits can be achieved via a "Charitable Remainder" trust or "Charitable Lead" trust. The former provide life income as an annuity does, but at variable rates of return to the donor. Lead trusts reverse the process with tax savings that usually apply to the current year income of the donor and to estate taxes payable by heirs.

Property

Real property or other forms of negotiable property may be donated to the School of International Service. For tax purposes, the value of the gift must be documented with a formal appraisal. In most cases, property such as art works, vehicles, aircraft, watercraft, or real estate will be sold by the University to produce cash for endowment or other needs. Personal homes may be donated with provisions for donor lifetime use plus maintenance at the expense of the University.

Estate Gifts

A bequest commitment to the School of International Service can be a most important form of gift, and many of the best-endowed universities have been generously supported over many years by alumni and friends who make bequest commitments. Reviewing such plans with one's own tax adviser is critical to the mutual benefits for the estate of the donor, for one's heirs, and for the School. Persons who have made bequest commitments are encouraged to report them to the School in order to qualify for membership among the distinguished benefactors participating in the Helen Palmer Kettler Society.