You may not know that you can gift cash, securities, real estate, or other property to UW in exchange for fixed annuity payments for the rest of your life. Your lifetime payment is based on the age at which you established the annuity. At the time the annuity is established, you are entitled to an income tax deductions on a portion of the gift. Typically, only a portion of each annuity payment is taxed as ordinary income. When the annuity terminates, the remaining residual passes to whatever college, department, or program on campus you designate to receive the funds. A charitable gift annuity is a great way to secure a predictable stream of income in your retirement years.

Another way in which you can make a gift and retain some income during your lifetime is through a charitable remainder trust. Ideally, a charitable remainder trust is funded with low-yielding appreciated assets. In setting up a charitable remainder trust, you can determine at the outset whether or not you prefer a variable or fixed income and whether you want the trust to continue on for your lifetime (as well as additional lives for loved ones) or whether you have a fixed period of time during which you would like to receive income. At the time the trust is established, you are entitled to an income tax deduction for a portion of the value of the gift, and when funding with appreciated assets, the inherent capital gain in those assets is avoided when the assets are liquidated by the trustee. After your lifetime or a term of up to 20 years, the remaining trust assets go to UW for the benefit of the specific program or area that you designate.

You can establish a charitable lead trust with income-producing assets, such as real estate or interests in a family limited partnership, and designate the University of Wyoming to receive an annual income stream for the benefit of a college, program, department, or scholarship on campus. Upon the expiration of the trust term, the remaining trust principal passes to your heirs (children and grandchildren) possibly free of gift or estate tax. A charitable lead trust is a great way to fulfill your philanthropic goals while at the same time passing on significant assets to your loved ones at a reduced tax cost.

You can transfer your personal residence, vacation home, or farm to UW while retaining the right to live in and utilize the property for the rest of your life. You continue to be responsible for routine expenses, such as maintenance, insurance, and property taxes. When your retained life estate ends, the property passes to the UW Foundation for the benefit of UW students and the faculty, staff, and programs that support them—and you can designate the program or area. The benefits include an immediate income tax deduction, a simplified estate administration process, and the satisfaction of making an immediate and significant gift that will benefit your university.