In addition to filling an important role in providing for your family and others, your will or living trust can offer a way to make thoughtful charitable gifts to the ASU Foundation as part of your long-range estate and financial plans. It can be satisfying to know that a portion of your property will be put to good use in the future.
A gift made through a will or living trust can be convenient to arrange. A simple provision or amendment prepared by your attorney at the time you make or update your will or trust is all that is necessary. Gifts included in wills and living trusts are popular because they are flexible, easy to arrange, and may be changed with your life circumstances.
Ways to give through wills and trusts
- Make a gift of a specific amount. A gift of a particular amount may be designated for general use or to fund a special need.
- Provide for a gift of a particular property. Real estate, stocks, and other items of value are examples of properties that can be used to fund charitable bequests.
- Designate that a percentage of your estate be given to the ASU Foundation through your will or living trust.
- Give the remainder, or residue, of your estate—that is, what remains after all other bequests to friends and loved ones are satisfied.
- Name the ASU Foundation to receive a bequest in the event other heirs are not there to receive their legacies.
There is no limit on amounts deductible from federal gift and estate taxes for charitable gifts made by will or trust, so no tax will be due on assets given in this way. To plan a charitable bequest, inform your attorney of your wishes and ask for advice regarding the best form for your gift.
If you decide to include a gift in your estate plans, our legal name is Arizona State University Foundation and our tax ID number is 86-6051042.
Please contact the Foundation Office for suggested bequest language to take to your attorney.
Bob has been a generous supporter of Arizona State University over the years. When he revised his will 10 years ago, he decided to provide that the ASU Foundation would receive his estate should his daughter not survive him.
Today his daughter is financially independent. After careful consideration of his overall plans, especially the fact that he can now leave more to his daughter free of estate tax, Bob decides to revise his will to provide that the ASU Foundation will receive generous gifts from his estate while his daughter will still inherit the majority of his assets. The amount left to the ASU Foundation will be fully deductible for estate tax purposes and could result in a significant reduction in estate taxes that could otherwise be due under current or future tax law provisions.
Options using life insurance and retirement plans
Many people have life insurance or retirement plans with significant balances. In some cases, these assets total more than is needed for a comfortable retirement, and could give rise to future income and estate taxes.
In that case, it may be wise to consider using these funds to make charitable gifts to benefit the ASU Foundation now or in the future. A simple change of beneficiary form may be all that is required for gifts of what remains in your accounts. As in the case of gifts through wills and revocable living trusts, such gifts can be arranged to take place only if loved ones predecease you, or in the event of other circumstances you specify.
For more information on retirement plan giving and special tax incentives for those over 70½ who make gifts from these accounts, click here.
Your retirement plan benefits advisor or your life insurance professional can also provide more details upon request.
Options using bank and investment accounts
Many people have bank and investment accounts that they would like to leave directly to family, friends, the ASU Foundation, or other charitable interests at the end of their lifetime. This can often be accomplished using a “pay on death” (P.O.D.) provision for a bank account or a CD or a “transfer on death” (T.O.D.) provision for certain other investment accounts. Simply ask your bank manager or officer of your financial advisor for the appropriate form. You retain full ownership and access to the funds during your lifetime and the person or charity only receives what is left in the account.
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