Making a gift of appreciated assets—property or stock, for example—is one way to further causes you care about at the University of Minnesota. Consider the following tax-wise options for making a gift that will benefit students, faculty, research, or outreach programs now and in the future.

GIVING REAL ESTATE
Personal residences, vacation homes, farms, or other land can be a great gift. In most instances, the University of Minnesota Foundation will sell the property for you. The proceeds will then be used to benefit the college, campus, or program you choose. There are several ways to make a gift of real estate:

As an outright gift
Outright gifts of real estate provide an immediate benefit to the University. By giving appreciated property held more than a year, you can avoid paying capital gains tax on the appreciation and receive an income tax deduction for the fair market value (subject to applicable limitations). 

As a gift through a will or trust
If you wish to give real estate to the U of M and control the property during your life, consider an estate gift. You can include a provision in your will or trust giving the property, or the proceeds from the sale of the property, to the University of Minnesota Foundation.

Through a charitable remainder trust
A charitable remainder trust allows you to support the University while retaining income for yourself or others. By transferring real estate to a trust, you receive an immediate income tax deduction and avoid paying upfront capital gains tax. At the end of the trust term, the remaining assets support the charities you’ve chosen.  

Through a retained life estate
With a retained life estate, you can give your home to the University now, receive an income tax deduction, and continue to use the property for the rest of your life. 

Because each property is unique, the foundation needs to conduct a review before accepting it as a gift. Contact the foundation’s Planned Giving staff at [email protected] or 612-624-3333 to learn more.

GIVING APPRECIATED STOCKS, BONDS, OR MUTUAL FUNDS
By giving the University appreciated securities that you’ve held for more than a year, you receive double the tax benefit:

• You avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation that would be due upon sale.
• You also can receive a charitable income tax deduction for the current fair market value of the asset—up to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income.

In addition, you can carry forward any unclaimed portion of the deduction for up to five years, subject to the annual limit.

Your gift can be directed to any U of M college, campus, or program you choose. 

To learn more about making a gift, or how to designate your gift in a way that is most meaningful to you, please contact the University of Minnesota Planned Giving staff at [email protected] or 612-624-3333.