Ways of giving

You can select the appropriate way to make your contribution to the University of Aberdeen Development Trust USA from a variety of methods that take into consideration your wishes, the size and duration of your planned gift, and your personal financial circumstances. You can download a donation form, contact our office or below are some further suggestions which you may wish to consider:

Gifts of Securities

By gifting substantially appreciated securities (including mutual fund shares that have been held for at least 12 months) to the UADT USA you realize a dual benefit. You avoid paying capital gains tax that would have applied to the appreciation when the securities were sold, and you may qualify for a charitable deduction on the market value of the gifted securities. Here it is very important that the securities be transferred directly to the Trust and not sold first, so as to avoid paying any capital gains tax.

Charitable Remainder Trusts

A charitable remainder trust provides a stream of income to you or someone you designate for life or a term of years (up to 20). At the end of the trust term, the assets are distributed to the UADT USA. There are two kinds of charitable remainder trusts: the more popular unitrust (CRUT), which pays a variable amount from year to year based upon annual valuation of the trust principal, and the annuity trust (CRAT), which pays a fixed dollar amount annually.

Charitable Lead Trusts

This kind of trust pays income to UADT USA for a specified period of years, after which time the assets in the trust can either revert to you, or pass to beneficiaries you designate. It is typically funded with income producing assets that are expected to appreciate in value.

A Charitable Lead Trust might be the most appropriate when dealing with closely held stock and where maintenance of family ownership and control is a major consideration.

Charitable Bequests

For those who want to make a meaningful contribution to the UADT USA, but do not want to relinquish the control and use of your assets and income during your lifetime, the inclusion of a bequest in your will or codicil, designating the UADT USA as a beneficiary, is an excellent way to accomplish this goal, and may also result in tax savings for both your estate and its heirs. This method can also be used with retirement plans, life insurance policies, and trusts (including the charitable trust described above).

Other methods of giving

In addition to the methods outlined above, there are other ways to make tax beneficial gifts to the UADT USA:

• Charitable Gift Annuities
• Gifts of Real Estate and Personal Property
• Life Insurance
• Retirement Accounts

Contact us for more information on any of these methods of gifting to the UADT USA, including our free brochure on Tax Effective Giving.