Leaving a gift to Americans for Ben-Gurion University on behalf of BGU in a will or trust is the most common and easiest option. You may designate an amount to support specific educational and research interests, or allow the University to use it where it is needed most. Charitable bequests qualify for a 100 percent charitable deduction for estate tax purposes.

Sample language for leaving an unrestricted general bequest:

I bequeath to Americans for Ben-Gurion University, 1001 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10018, the sum of ($) (Dollars) for its general charitable and educational purposes.

An Americans for Ben-Gurion University Charitable Gift Annuity is a wonderful way to support BGU in the future while receiving high, fixed-rate lifetime income now. Gifts of cash, marketable securities or other property, including real estate may be made in exchange for a fixed-rate lifetime annuity for one or two individuals.

A portion of the gift is deductible as a current charitable gift, and a substantial portion of the annual annuity may be paid tax-free. Americans for Ben-Gurion University’s gift annuity rates are among the highest in the country.

See CGA rates and request your personalized gift annuity illustration >>

Outright gifts of real estate qualify for an appraised value charitable deduction for income tax purposes and avoid any long-term capital gains taxes. You may also transfer your primary or secondary residence by deed to Americans for Ben-Gurion University, reserving the right to live in the property for life.

The latter allows you to receive an immediate income tax charitable deduction for the present value of the charitable remainder interest in the property, while avoiding probate and estate tax on the property at the time of death.

Transferring a new or existing life insurance policy into the ownership of Americans for Ben-Gurion University entitles you to a charitable deduction in the year of the transfer for a calculated value of the policy.

If you make contributions to Americans for Ben-Gurion University to pay policy premiums, those amounts are fully deductible for income tax purposes in the years the contributions are made. You may also make Americans for Ben-Gurion University a full or partial beneficiary of a life insurance policy you will continue to own

When you make Americans for Ben-Gurion University the primary or partial beneficiary of your pension plan, retirement plan or IRA (401k, 403b) after your passing, both income and estate taxes may be avoided.

The plan’s assets can be used to establish a charitable remainder trust that will provide benefits for your spouse or other heirs as beneficiaries of the trust’s annuity payments, thereby reducing estate and/or income taxes otherwise charged to the plan at the end of the owner’s lifetime.

When you begin to consider ways to preserve your estate for retirement, or when you are faced with a capital gain that will result in substantial taxes, you may want to consider establishing a charitable remainder trust (CRT) with Americans for Ben-Gurion University. A CRT lets you commit funds for Americans for Ben-Gurion University in the future while preserving your financial security now.

A CRT is irrevocable, is usually funded with appreciated assets to avoid tax on the capital gain, and may provide substantial financial, tax and estate-planning advantages, including fixed-rate payments for life.

Contributions of art are deductible at their appraised value as a charitable contribution if the art is used by Ben-Gurion University for educational purposes or displayed in a gallery or other public space. When art is contributed to Americans for Ben-Gurion University, the donor is not required to recognize or pay tax on any long-term capital gain.