Outright Gifts
The quickest and easiest way to make a gift is outright, either by check or credit card. Outright gifts have the most immediate benefit to GSAS, because they can be applied right away to the purpose for which the gift is made. Outright gifts may also be made using appreciated securities. Many people have stock holdings that have appreciated significantly. If some of these shares were sold, they would be subject to capital gains taxes. A gift of appreciated securities allows the individual to avoid capital gains taxes on the contributed shares and to be credited with a gift valued at the full fair market value of those shares. Giving Online.

Life Income Gifts
Federal tax laws provide for ways to structure a gift that provides a stream of income to the donor and/or another beneficiary the donor may name, while giving the donor a charitable deduction for his or her philanthropy. Among the most commonly used of such gift vehicles are charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts. Life income gifts provide an immediate charitable deduction to the donor, even though GSAS's use of the contributed assets is deferred until the term of the gift vehicle has expired. With life income gifts, it frequently is possible to improve the level of the donor's annual income, even while expressing one's philanthropic interest in GSAS. Through such charitable gifts, a donor may also actually improve the value of the estate he or she wishes to leave to heirs. In the final analysis, the potential advantages of such gift arrangements often enable individuals to make charitable gifts at levels much higher than they thought possible.

Life Insurance
Frequently, donors own a life insurance policy that is no longer needed for its original purpose. Such a policy can be contributed to GSAS by irrevocably transferring ownership of the policy to Boston College and designating GSAS as the beneficiary. In general, gift credit is given for the cash surrender value and that value may be claimed as an income tax deduction in the transfer year.

Bequests
Donors may include GSAS as a beneficiary of their estate. Bequests may be made for a specific amount or for a percentage of the residual estate after all specific bequests have been fulfilled. To discuss any options that may interest you, please contact the Development Office at Boston College. Donors are encouraged to discuss their philanthropic plans with their attorney or tax advisor, especially before undertaking one of the more complex approaches.

The information on this site is not intended as legal, tax or investment advice.  For such advice, please consult an attorney, tax professional, or investment professional.