WAYS TO GIVE
Direct Gifts
If you want to give FIU appreciated property (securities, mutual funds, real estate, vehicles, books, art, etc.) that you've owned for more than a year, you can deduct the full fair market value of the gift from your income taxes, without paying the capital gains tax or brokerage commission you'd have to pay if you sold the property and gave FIU the proceeds. Call before making your gift to insure you get the greatest tax advantage possible. |
Why should I call FIU (305-348-2531) before making my securities gift?
Calling ahead helps us advise you on the best method of transfer, ensure that your gift is used as you designate, makes sure that your gift and your tax deduction is completed in the appropriate tax year, and provides us with the time to acknowledge your generosity in a timely manner.
Before making a securities gift of any kind, please contact FIU first so we can make sure the transaction is handled to your specifications and satisfaction, and that you receive proper gift credit and acknowledgment for it. You can reach Kristina at 305-348-2531 or send an e-mail to Kristina.Gregg@fiu.edu to help you through this process or answer any questions you may have.
How to Give Cash Gifts
- Make a gift or pledge using our secure online form.
- Write a check to FIU Foundation and send it, along with clear instructions about its designation, to: Kristina Gregg, Director of Development, FIU College of Architecture + The Arts, Modesto A. Maidique Campus, PCA 283B, Miami, FL 33199
- Call the College of Architecture + The Arts Development office at 305-348-2531 or the Annual Fund Office at 305-348-3623 if you prefer to give credit card information by phone.
Back to the Top
Other Ways to Give
PLEASE CALL US FIRST: Before making your gift, it is very important that no signed contract for sale of the gift property be in existence when the property is given to FIU. If so, this will cause you to incur all capital gains and associated taxes, even though the title passes to FIU.
Back to the Top
Real Estate
Real property, whether residential or commercial, developed or undeveloped, can make an excellent gift, either outright or to fund a life income plan. As every piece of land is unique, each parcel must be evaluated separately by the FIU Planned Giving Office. To be suitable for donation, title to the land must be clear and marketable, and the property must be unencumbered by mortgage or other liens. It must also be clear of environmental problems. An independent, professional appraisal and environmental study will be done prior to gift acceptance to establish appropriate gift credit for the property’s fair market value. According to IRS guidelines, the appraisal must be done no more than sixty days before the date of the donation.
Again, it is very important that no signed contract for sale of the property be in existence when the property is given to FIU, for the donor to avoid capital gains.
Back to the Top
Personal Property
FIU accepts gifts of tangible items which can be used in ways related to our educational mission (art which can be added to the university’s art collection, or additions to the university library, or items which can be sold and the proceeds used to fund other needs in the college, such as scholarships, building funds, or excellence funds.) Gifts of these kind are accepted on a case-by-case basis. IRS guidelines which govern the deductibility and documentation of such gifts are complex and subject to change, so please call 305.348.2531 so I can help you specifically.
Back to the Top
Life Insurance
Naming FIU College of Architecture + The Arts as death beneficiary of a policy on your life is simple and can be done through your insurance agent or the company office. No immediate income tax deduction is available for such a designation, however, we also accept gifts of whole-life insurance policies on a case-by-case basis, and donating a policy does create a charitable deduction. You may need to have the policy appraised to substantiate your tax deduction, and if there are loans on the policy you may need to pay them off prior to donation to avoid realizing a taxable gain. Different insurance companies have different procedures for transferring ownership of such policies, and the Planned Giving Office will be happy to help you with this process: Call Robert Conrad, Vice President, University Advancement, MARC 540
(phone) 305-348-6298, (fax) 305-348-3337, (email) rconrad@fiu.edu
Back to the Top
Retirement Plan Accumulations
An easy way to make a planed gift is by making the College of Architecture + The Arts at FIU the residuary beneficiary of an IRA, 401(k), 403(b), TIAA-CREF, Keogh, or other retirement plan accumulation, or a qualified corporate benefits program.
Charitable beneficiary designations like these do not result in an immediate income tax deduction, and withdrawals from almost all retirement plans are taxed as current income, even if they are “rolled over” directly into a charitable gift. They can, however, be made without modifying your will, and like bequests they remove property from your taxable estate, which can save estate taxes. For more information on how to make or change these designations, you should contact your retirement plan administrator or fund custodian directly. If you have any additional questions call Kristina at 305-348-2531.
Back to the Top
Matching Gifts
Many companies match employees gifts to higher education. If you or your spouse work for a matching gift company, the advantages may be substantial and include the opportunity to double or triple your gift to the College of Architecture + The Arts at FIU. Please call Kristina (305-348-2531) if you or your spouse work for a matching gift company. To see if your company participates as a matching gift company, click here.
Back to the Top
Stocks, Bonds, and Other Securities
Giving shares of appreciated stock, bonds, mutual funds, and other securities can be an excellent way to make a gift to the College of Architecture + The Arts at FIU. Securities gifts are an easy way to fund annual contributions, endowment gifts, scholarships, lectureships, and can make your dream of naming a building, scholarship fund, or program possible.
When you donate securities in lieu of cash, you do not pay any capital gains tax on the appreciation in the securities, while you receive a deduction for their full market value on the date of your gift.
If you need to be sure that your gift takes place before the end of the calendar year, call before December 1 to make gifts of stock or bond certificates or mutual fund shares. Call by December 15 if your stock gift is in a brokerage account and you intend to transfer it electronically. The transfer arrangements can be made ahead of time so you can make the gift at your convenience, which allows you time to decide on a certain number of shares to give.
Back to the Top
Kristina Gregg, Director of Development
College of Architecture + The Arts, PCA 283B
Phone: 305-348-2531
Fax: 305-348-6716
E-mail: Kristina.Gregg@fiu.edu |
