Ways to Give

If you have a loved one who has a close connection to Mason, establishing a memorial or tribute gift is a meaningful way to honor your loved one or celebrate a special occasion such as a reunion while supporting future Patriots. Your gift will be a lasting tribute to your loved one and make a difference in the lives of George Mason students. Learn more.

When you donate appreciated securities or bonds you have held more than one year, you can reduce or even eliminate federal capital gains taxes on the transfer. You may also be entitled to a federal income tax charitable deduction based on the fair market value of the securities at the time of the transfer.

Want to make a big gift to George Mason without touching your bank account? Consider real estate. Such a generous gift helps us continue opening doors of opportunity for our students for years to come. And a gift of real estate also helps you. When you give appreciated property you have held longer than one year, you qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction. This eliminates capital gains tax. Plus, you no longer have to deal with that property's maintenance costs, property taxes or insurance. You don't have to hassle with selling the real estate. You can deed the property directly to the George Mason University Foundation or ask your attorney to add a few sentences in your will or trust agreement. Learn more.

CEHD offers numerous other ways to give that can be smart strategies for donors and also make a lasting impact on for our faculty, staff, and students of our college and continue to grow CEHD’s profile. If you would like to discuss which options work best for you, please call Director of Advancement Shirley Hartman at (518) 810-8021.

If you are 70 ½ years old and older you can give any amount (up to a maximum of $100,000) per year from your IRA directly to a qualified charity such as the George Mason University Foundation without having to pay income taxes on the money. Gifts of any value $100,000 or less are eligible for this benefit and you can feel good knowing that you are making a difference at the Foundation. This popular gift option is commonly called the IRA charitable rollover, but you may also see it referred to as a qualified charitable distribution, or QCD for short. Learn more.

George Mason University has been important in your life, and you want to recognize that relationship by leaving a gift in your will. Yet you also want the flexibility to change your will in the event that life circumstances change. You can do both. In as little as one sentence, you can complete your gift. This type of donation in your will or living trust helps ensure that we can continue educating tomorrow's leaders and innovators for years to come. Learn more.

Some prefer the increased flexibility that a beneficiary designation provides by using: IRAs and retirement plans, life insurance policies and commercial annuities. Learn more.

There are two ways that charitable lead trusts make payments: A charitable lead annuity trust pays a fixed amount each year and is more attractive when interest rates are low. A charitable lead unitrust pays a variable amount each year based on the value of the assets in the trust. With a unitrust, if the trust's assets go up in value, for example, the payments go up as well. Learn more.

There's a way for you to support George Mason University and feel confident that you have dependable income in your retirement years. You can do this with a charitable gift annuity. This type of donation can provide you with regular payments and allow George Mason to help our students succeed, enrich the life of our community and contribute to solving some of the most complex global problems of our time. You can also qualify for a variety of tax benefits, including a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Learn more.

If you have built a sizable estate and also are looking for ways to receive reliable payments, consider a charitable remainder trust. These types of gifts may offer you tax benefits and the option for income. There are two ways to receive payments and each has its own benefits: The annuity trust pays you, each year, the same dollar amount you choose at the start. Your payments stay the same, regardless of fluctuations in trust investments. The unitrust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. The amount of your payments is redetermined annually. If the value of the trust increases, so do your payments. If the value decreases, however, so will your payments. Learn more.

A donor advised fund, which is like a charitable savings account, gives you the flexibility to recommend how much and how often money is granted to the George Mason University Foundation and other qualified charities. You can recommend a grant or recurring grants now to make an immediate impact or use your fund as a tool for future charitable gifts. Learn more.