Skip to Main Content

Charitable Gift Annuity

Gifts That Pay You Income

There's a way for you to support the University of Michigan and feel confident that you have dependable income in your retirement years. You can do this with a charitable gift annuity. 

With a charitable gift annuity  you agree to make a gift to U-M and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life. The balance is used to support our work.

Request a personalized illustration

This type of donation can provide you with regular payments for life  and allow U-M to further our mission. You can also qualify for a variety of tax benefits depending on how you fund your gift.

If you fund your gift annuity with cash or appreciated property, you qualify for a federal income tax deduction if you itemize. In addition, you can minimize capital gains taxes when you fund your gift with appreciated property.

And now, you can fund your gift using your IRA assets. If you are 70½ and older, you can make a one-time election of up to $53,000 to fund a gift annuity. While your gift does not qualify for an income tax deduction, it does escape income tax liability on the transfer and count toward all or part of your required minimum distributions.

Gifts That Pay

Your payments depend on your age at the time of the donation. If you are younger than 60, we recommend that you learn more about your options and download this FREE guide Plan for Retirement With a Deferred Gift Annuity.

Please provide the following information to view the brochure.

Deferred Gift Annuity Request Form
First name is required
Last Name is required
Please include an '@' in the email address

Fund Your Donation With:

Payments for Life

Learn more about the many benefits of a charitable gift annuity in our FREE guide Gifts That Give Back.

View My Guide
Personal Estate Planning Kit

Not Sure How to Begin Planning?

Download My FREE Personal Estate Planning Kit

Meet John Herring

John HerringGrowing up wasn’t easy for John Herring. "I was born into the Great Depression,” he recalls. Despite the difficult circumstances of his childhood, John excelled in school and eventually enlisted in the United States Air Force before settling in Michigan and earning his master’s degree in business. His career track eventually brought him to the University of Michigan, where he supervised special projects and mentored graduate students and fell in love with Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan.

But John wasn’t the only Herring to fall in love with U-M. His son, David, earned two degrees from the university. To honor his son’s achievements and work, John set up a charitable gift annuity. “I feel it’s a fitting tribute,” John says, reflecting on he and David’s desire to help those in need. 

Read John's Full Story

See How It Works

Next Steps

  1. Contact the Office of Planned Giving at (734) 615-2022 or giving2@umich.edu for additional information on charitable gift annuities or to chat more about the personal benefits of creating an annuity with the University of Michigan.
  2. Request a personalized illustration.
  3. Seek the advice of your financial or legal advisor.
  4. If you include U-M in your plans, please use our legal name and federal tax ID.

Legal Name: Regents of the University of Michigan
Address: 3003 S. State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Federal Tax ID Number: 38-6006309

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to the University of Michigan a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

"I give to the University of Michigan, a nonprofit corporation currently located at 3003 S. State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, or its successor thereto, ______________ [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose."

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to U-M or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate, or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property, or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to U-M as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to U-M as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and U-M where you agree to make a gift to U-M and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.

Personal Estate Planning Kit Request Form

Please provide the following information to view the materials for planning your estate.

First name is required
Last Name is required
Please include an '@' in the email address

eBrochure Request Form

Please provide the following information to view the brochure.

First name is required
Last Name is required
Please include an '@' in the email address