Charitable
Gift Annuities
One of the simplest
and most popular charitable gifts is a charitable gift annuity. This gift option
is a combination of an investment and a gift and provides life income to the donor
(and another recipient if desired - the annuitants). The designated charity accepts
the gift and in return obligates itself to pay a fixed and specified dollar amount
to the annuitant(s) for life. A charitable gift annuity immediately becomes
the property of the charity and is an irrevocable gift. The charity is legally
bound to fulfill its commitment to pay the annuitant(s) for life. Some
states have regulations regarding the issuance of charitable gift annuities. Please
contact us regarding any questions. There
are two types of charitable gift annuities - immediate and deferred. An immediate
annuity begins paying income immediately after the annuity agreement is signed.
A deferred charitable gift annuity begins the income payments at a specified date
in the future. A deferred charitable gift annuity will generally provide a larger
charitable deduction than the immediate annuity and, as the funds will have an
opportunity to grow without income distributions for a period of years, the income
rate will generally be larger. Gift Annuity BenefitsAs a portion
of the annuity is a gift, you'll receive an income tax deduction for the gift
if you itemize. - A portion of the annual annuity income is exempt
from Federal taxes.
- You may save tax on the capital gain (profit from
an investment).
- You avoid estate taxes, probate, and costs on the amount
involved.
- The charity will have the use of the funds after the beneficiary's
lifetime.
- The payments are fixed and will not fluctuate with interest
rates.
- Your annuity is as safe as the organization you invest with,
for the total assets of the organization stand behind their agreement to make
payments to you.
- Generally the funds used to set up a charitable gift
annuity may be structured as an unrestricted gift or to fund a particular item
or program that is important to you (with the consent of the charity).
Return to the Charitable Gift Annuities story or to
the glossary. 
Please
note, individual financial circumstances will vary. The information on this site
does not constitute legal or tax advice. Donor stories and photographs are for
purposes of illustration only. As with all tax and estate planning, please consult
your attorney or estate specialist. All material is copyrighted and is for viewing
purposes only. Use of this site signifies your agreement with the terms
of use. The content in this Planned Giving section has been developed for
Cuesta College Foundation by Future Focus.
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Revised: July 29, 2005 18:04.
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