Media Contact:
Carrie Conko
Director of Communications
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Office: 703-993-4899
Email: cconko@gmu.edu
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Making a Planned Gift
Your estate plans can signify far more than the distribution of assets you have accumulated over a lifetime-they can reflect the principles you cherish and hope to perpetuate. It is important to act today to preserve your values for generations to come.
A planned gift to Mercatus will allow you to provide for the long-term economic security of the people and causes you hold dear, as well as meet your current and future financial goals. Additionally, when you make a planned gift to Mercatus, you will join many other supporters in the Legacy Circle.
Whether you would like to take advantage of reductions in estate, income, or capital gains taxes, or to benefit from an increased income stream, there is a planned gift that suits every purpose. The following chart lists some of the gift opportunities available to help you meet your goals.
If you would like to find out more about the planned giving opportunities described below, please submit our online planned-giving form or contact Julie Burden at jburden2@gmu.edu or 1-800-815-5711.
Thank you for your support of the Mercatus Center!
Your Goal | Your Gift | Your Benefits |
Increase income | Charitable gift annuity | Current and future income |
Defer a gift until | Bequest in will | A donation exempt from estate taxes |
| Secure a fixed and often increased income | Charitable remainder annuity trust | Immediate income tax |
| Create a long-term hedge against inflation | Charitable remainder unitrust | Immediate income tax |
| Reduce gift and estate taxes on assets passing to heirs | Charitable lead trust | Reduce size of taxable estate, keeps property in family, often with reduced gift taxes |
| Make a large gift with little cost to yourself | Life insurance gift | Current income tax |
| Avoid twofold taxation of retirement plan assets | Retirement plan gift | Avoidance of heavily |
Giving Through Charitable Gift Annuities
A gift annuity is a simple, contractual arrangement between you and the Mercatus Center. Through an annuity, you make a gift of cash or other appropriate property, and we pay you a generous fixed quarterly payment for life. Your payment is based on your age at the time of the gift and will never be lowered, cancelled, or delayed.
With a gift annuity, you are entitled to an income-tax deduction in the year of your gift. Additionally, a portion of your annuity payment is tax-free, so the effective rate of return, including tax savings, is often higher than other market rates.
Giving Through Your Will
It is possible to make the Mercatus Center a beneficiary of your estate through your will. If you are making a new will, you can simply include Mercatus among the beneficiaries of your estate. If you already have a will, you can add Mercatus as a beneficiary of your estate through a codicil.
When making Mercatus a beneficiary of your will, you have several options. You could specify a specific amount of your estate to be given to Mercatus, a percentage of your estate, a residual or "what's left" of your estate after providing for your loved ones, or a particular asset that you believe will be useful to us. If your estate is subject to estate taxes, a bequest to Mercatus in your will can be deducted from your estate and can result in significant tax savings.
If you choose to make this gift, it is important to name the beneficiary as the Mercatus Center and to include our address: 3301 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 450, Arlington, VA 22201.
Giving Through Charitable Trusts
The concept of a trust was developed to help in the transfer of property over time when multiple interests and objectives are involved. A trust is best thought of as an "artificial person" that is allowed to own and manage property for a specified period of time.
A charitable trust may be appropriate if you have cash or other property valued at $50,000 or more. There are several trust arrangements that allow you to make a substantial gift to Mercatus and provide for your and your loved ones' financial needs, each with its own tax savings opportunities.
Giving Through Life Insurance
There are a couple ways you can support the Mercatus Center with a gift of life insurance. One method is for you to purchase a while life insurance policy and designate Mercatus as the owner and beneficiary of the policy. In this case, you can receive a charitable income tax deduction for your annual premium payments.
Another method is to transfer ownership of a fully paid life insurance policy that you no longer need to Mercatus. In this case, you can receive an income tax deduction for the cash surrender value of the policy.
Giving Through Retirement Plans
Though your retirement plan is designed to support you in your retirement, high estate and income taxes can be imposed on the owner and beneficiary if you pass away before the funds are exhausted. You can reduce or eliminate this tax burden by naming the Mercatus Center as beneficiary of all or part of your retirement plan.
