Payments for Life

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

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Charitable Gift Annuity

Gifts That Pay You Income

There's a way for you to support Syracuse 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 Syracuse University to continue our teaching and research for years to come. 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 Deferred Gift Annuities: Plan Now, Benefit Later.

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Deferred Gift Annuity Request Form
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Payments for Life

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

View My Guide

See How It Works

An Example From Syracuse University

Allen BergerAllen Berger ’57, G’66 has always been a strong proponent of the written word, and of sharing the joys of reading with others. For several years, he taught high school English and reading, then he was offered the opportunity to earn a doctorate in education from Syracuse University.

To honor his parents, Henry and Goldie Berger, who built a successful tailor shop and dry cleaning business in his hometown, Berger recently established the Dr. Allen Berger Endowed Scholarship. Funded through a planned gift, the scholarship will provide financial assistance to graduate students enrolled in the School of Education, with preference given to literacy education students.

“Syracuse University changed my life,” he says. “When I was considering endowing a scholarship, I thought about the different places where I worked, and decided I would give to Syracuse. I was very fortunate to have a graduate assistant job when I was there, and that was wonderful. I want someone else to be able to have the same experience.”

Read his full story.

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Personal Estate Planning Kit

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Your Next Steps

  1. Contact the Office of Gift Planning at 888.352.9535 or GiftPlan@syr.edu for additional information on charitable gift annuities or to chat more about the personal benefits of creating an annuity with Syracuse University.
  2. Seek the advice of your financial or legal advisor.
  3. If you include Syracuse University in your plans, please use our legal name and federal tax ID.

Legal Name: Syracuse University
Address: 640 Skytop Road, 2nd Floor, Syracuse, NY 13244-5160
Federal Tax ID Number: 15-0532081

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to Syracuse University 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 Syracuse University, a nonprofit corporation currently located at 640 Skytop Road, 2nd Floor, Syracuse, NY 13244-5160, 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 Syracuse University 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 Syracuse University 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 Syracuse University 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 Syracuse University where you agree to make a gift to Syracuse University 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

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eBrochure Request Form

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