50th Reunion Gift Planning Materials

What are Planned Gifts and How Do They Fit into the 50th Reunion Giving Program at Williams?

Planned gifts can help you and your classmates make larger gifts – and leave a greater legacy – than you might have thought possible. Williams’ Office of Gift Planning works with you to implement creative strategies to leverage your charitable giving, making your gift go further and accomplish more. We offer a variety of gift vehicles that may reduce your taxes and adjusted gross income, as well as address your unique retirement, estate planning, and family situations.

Frequently, but not always, planned gifts are made from assets as opposed to income. While the majority of planned gifts are funded with cash and securities, we also work with you (and your advisors) to consider gifts of complex assets such as real estate, business interests, and personal property.

Some planned gifts are outright gifts and may be used by Williams immediately upon receipt. Planned gifts that become available for the college’s use upon the donor’s death are called “deferred gifts.” Deferred gifts typically account for 30% – 60% of a class’s 50th Reunion Gift.

Ephs can participate in class fundraising at any level with Bequest gifts. Through the Williams Today & Tomorrow gift vehicle you can combine a gift today of any size with a future bequest from your estate. Two additional popular deferred planned gifts are Charitable Gift Annuities and Charitable Remainder Unitrusts, which provide lifetime income to up to two beneficiaries and save on capital gains tax. You may find these charts: Popular Assets for 50th Reunion Giving and Popular 50th Reunion Gift Planning Vehicles useful as you consider your philanthropy. You can also read about Pooled Income Funds and Charitable Lead Trusts and Donor Advised Funds.

An increasingly popular outright gift vehicle is the IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). Using your IRA you can make a tax-free gift to Williams and it can count against your RMD. The QCD has been expanded to allow a one-time gift of up to $50,000 allowing donors to use their IRA to fund a CGA.

NEW: Effective January 1, 2023, Congress passed the Legacy IRA Act as part of an omnibus spending bill. The new legislation allows for donors to use an IRA to fund a one-time life income gift (CGA or CRUT) up to $50,000 per person (indexed to inflation.) Additional changes include increasing the age to 73 for when required minimum distribution must begin. 

The most effective way to determine the best gift for you is by talking with the staff at Williams Office of Gift Planning; we welcome the chance to help you increase the impact of your personal philanthropy. Please contact us with your questions and requests for more information – including personalized gift illustrations.

• Telephone: (413) 597-3538
• Email:gift.planning@williams.edu
• Fax: (413) 597-4039