Planned Giving Program

A gift in your will or living trust

Interested in helping Davenport University prepare students to achieve their career dreams through agile, innovative programs in healthcare, technology, business and education that respond to talent demands, but feel overwhelmed by the thought of writing another check or giving up your assets today?

A simple, flexible and versatile way to ensure we can continue our work for years to come is a gift in your will or living trust, also known as a charitable bequest. Estate planning attorneys for individuals with a will, or trustors for individuals with a living trust can include a provision in your will or trust that leaves a lasting gift to our organization. The bequest can be a gift of specific assets, a dollar amount, or a percentage of your estate. A bequest could also be made from the residue of your estate or what is left after all gifts have been made to your heirs. 

By including Davenport in your will or living trust, you are ensuring we can continue our mission for years to come. Your gift also entitles your estate to an unlimited federal estate tax charitable deduction.

Beneficiary designations

Passionate about helping support Davenport University and its students beyond your lifetime, yet prefer to bypass the estate planning approach? A beneficiary designation, through a retirement plan (i.e., IRA, 401K, 403b) or an insurance policy, is a simple process. Just name Davenport University as a beneficiary of one of your plans through your financial advisor or designated plan representative. You fill out a form that is entirely separate from your will—which makes this approach an easy way to give.

Not only is it an easy way to give, it’s flexible—you aren't locked into the choices you make today. You can review and adjust beneficiary designations anytime you want.

Direct Gift from Your IRA

Looking for a tax-advantaged way to meet your financial and philanthropic goals this year? RMDs have been reinstated this year for everyone 72 years and older. While you still must distribute money from your IRA, you can do it in a tax-advantaged way. If you are age 70 ½ or older, you can contact your IRA administrator and ask them to make the distribution directly to Davenport University. When you do:

• You do not pay income tax on the distribution (but you also receive no income tax deduction)
• You satisfy your RMD up to $100,000
• If you and your spouse have your own IRA, both of you can use the IRA charitable rollover

Charitable gift annuities

Are you concerned about fluctuation in the markets? Are you looking for security now or in the future? One gift that allows you to support Davenport’s mission while receiving fixed payments for life is a charitable gift annuity. Not only does this gift provide you with fixed income and leverage our further work, but when you establish a charitable gift annuity with Davenport you can receive a variety of tax benefits.  

Donor Advised Funds

Use your donor advised fund to leverage a grant or key program of interest at Davenport! A donor advised fund is like a charitable investment account, for the sole purpose of supporting charitable organizations you care about. When you contribute cash, securities or other assets to the fund at a public charity, you are generally eligible to take an immediate tax deduction. Then those funds can be invested for tax-free growth and you can recommend grants to virtually any IRS-qualified charity, like Davenport University.

Giving Incentives in 2021

The CARES Act passed in 2020 included several charitable tax provisions to encourage giving. Congress has extended these provisions for 2021 including:

• A deduction for charitable donors who do not itemize when filing their tax returns. If you do not itemize but make a cash gift to charity, you will be allowed to take a special tax deduction, up to $300 ($600 for joint filers), to reduce your tax liability.
• An increase in the deduction limit up to 100% of a donor’s annual income for cash gifts (previously the deduction was capped at 60% of annual income). If you make a gift you will be able to deduct more this year.

Return of the IRA Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)

With the return in 2021 of the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), there’s great potential for donors age 72 and older to maximize their impact through a charitable gift. The IRS requires you to take a distribution or “withdrawal” from your taxable IRA, commonly referred to as RMD’s, based on your age. You will have to pay taxes on the money you withdraw, unless you take a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD).

A QCD allows individuals who are 70 ½ years old or older to donate up to $100,000 total to one or more charities directly from a taxable IRA instead of taking their required minimum distributions. As a result, donors may avoid being pushed into higher income tax brackets and prevent phase outs of other tax deductions, though there are some other limitations.