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Gift Planning at South Carolina

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Charitable Gift Annuity

There's a way for you to support University of South Carolina or one of its affiliated foundations or one of its affiliated foundations and feel confident that you have dependable income in your retirement years. You can do this with a charitable gift annuity. A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and USC or one of its affiliated foundations where you agree to make a gift to USC or one of its affiliated foundations or one of its affiliated foundations 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.

The minimum for a charitable gift annuity is $50,000 with a payout capping at 7%. The USC Educational Foundation will take a five percent (5%) gift annuity reserve fee at the time the gift annuity is funded; this does not affect the payout rate. For the complete gift annuity policy, effective July 1, 2016, please click on this link [pdf].

This type of donation can provide you with regular payments and allow us to give our students a world-class education at a top-tier research university. It helps keep that education affordable and accessible to all deserving students. When you give a charitable gift annuity to USC, you help create a college experience that takes students beyond the classroom and develops leaders. You may also receive a variety of tax benefits, including a federal income tax charitable deduction.

Deferred Gift Annuity Request Form

A Real-Life Example: Meet Edwin Pearlstine

Edwin PearlstineEarning a degree from Carolina is not a prerequisite to becoming a diehard Gamecock. Just ask Edwin Pearlstine, who started attending USC football games about 40 years ago with good friends who introduced him to the Garnet & Black fraternity of fans at Williams-Brice Stadium. He's been a member in good standing ever since.

Pearlstine, a Charleston native and businessman, attended the "other" Carolina, but his allegiance is solidly with this one. So much so, in fact, that he's designated a generous charitable gift annuity to ultimately benefit USC's Athletics Department. This gift will not only ensure his support for the Gamecocks for a long time to come, but it will also provide him with guaranteed income payments for life.

Gift Planning Resources

Get Payments for Life

Learn more about charitable gift annuities in our FREE guide Strengthen Your Future With a Charitable Gift Annuity.

View My Guide

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 Plan for Retirement With a Deferred Gift Annuity.

Calculate Your Benefits

Submit a few details and see how a charitable gift annuity can benefit you.

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Contact Us

Our expert development officers is here to help you tailor your gift to benefit you and the university.

Office of Gift Planning

803-777-1601

giftplan@mailbox.sc.edu 

Contact us for our federal tax ID number.

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to University of South Carolina or one of its affiliated foundations 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, [name], of [city, state, ZIP], give, devise and bequeath to University of South Carolina or one of its affiliated foundations [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 USC or one of its affiliated foundations 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 gift 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 receive an immediate federal income tax charitable deduction. 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 USC or one of its affiliated foundations as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and receive an immediate federal income tax charitable deduction. 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 USC or one of its affiliated foundations 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 USC or one of its affiliated foundations where you agree to make a gift to USC or one of its affiliated foundations 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.
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