Ways to Give
Every gift finds its way to a student, a lab, a scholarship, a future. Explore the route that fits your goals while putting dreams into practice.
Your generosity, in motion.
Whether you want to provide immediate resources through a cash gift or secure a lasting legacy through an estate plan, we offer flexible paths to match your financial goals. Explore the ways you can partner with us to shape bright futures for generations of UM-Dearborn Wolverines.
One of the most impactful and straightforward ways to support UM-Dearborn students is through a cash gift. Whether you choose to give by check, credit card, or money order, your contribution provides immediate resources to address our most pressing needs and advance our educational mission. With your gift, you’ll see the real difference your generosity makes, and you may also benefit from a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize.
Donating appreciated securities or mutual funds that you’ve held for more than one year is a powerful and tax-smart way to support UM-Dearborn. By making a gift of stocks or mutual funds, you can help secure a bright future for our students while enjoying significant financial benefits. When you give appreciated assets, you may reduce or eliminate capital gains taxes on the transfer, and you may also qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction based on the current fair market value of your gift.
This means you receive the same income tax benefits as a cash donation, with the added advantage of potentially avoiding capital gains taxes that can reach up to 20 percent. Supporting UM-Dearborn with a gift of securities allows you to make a meaningful impact while maximizing the value of your contribution.
If you want to make a lasting impact at UM-Dearborn while keeping the flexibility to adjust your plans as life changes, you can do so with a gift in your will. In just a single sentence, you can include the University of Michigan-Dearborn and help ensure we continue shaping bright futures for generations of students.
If you prefer a more flexible option than a traditional will or estate gift, consider naming UM-Dearborn as a beneficiary of your IRA or retirement plan, life insurance policy, donor-advised fund, or commercial annuity. This simple choice allows you to support our mission while preserving your ability to adapt to whatever the future may hold.
Support UM-Dearborn and secure your financial future with a charitable gift annuity—a giving option that provides dependable income for your retirement years. When you establish a charitable gift annuity, you make a meaningful gift to us and, in return, receive fixed annual payments for life (for yourself and a loved one, if you choose). At the end of the annuity, the remaining funds advance our mission, enabling us to continue shaping bright futures. Depending on how you fund your gift, you may qualify for significant tax benefits, including a federal income tax deduction and reduced capital gains taxes when using appreciated property. If you’re 70½ or older, you can even fund your annuity directly with IRA assets—helping satisfy required minimum distributions while reducing income tax liability.
For those with larger estates seeking both a reliable income and a meaningful legacy, a charitable remainder trust may be an ideal solution. This giving option provides you with regular payments for life or a set term, after which the remaining assets support UM-Dearborn’s mission. Charitable remainder trusts can offer valuable tax benefits and help you create a lasting impact for future generations.
A Special Opportunity for Those 70½ and Older
If you are age 70½ or older, you can make a tax-free gift of up to $108,000 per year directly from your IRA to a qualified charity like UM-Dearborn. This is known as an IRA charitable rollover, also referred to as a qualified charitable distribution (QCD). Your gift can be put to work right away, making an immediate impact while allowing you to see the difference you’re making in the lives of our students. Starting at age 73, your QCD can be used to satisfy all or part of your required minimum distribution (RMD)—without increasing your taxable income. This can help lower your annual income level, potentially reducing your Medicare premiums and the taxable portion of your Social Security. Since the transfer doesn’t generate taxable income or a tax deduction, you benefit even if you don’t itemize deductions.
Other IRA Giving Options
- If you’re 59½ or older, you can take a distribution from your IRA and make a charitable gift without penalty—and if you itemize, you may qualify for a charitable deduction on your tax return.
- At any age, you can name the University of Michigan as a beneficiary of your IRA. Upon your passing, your gift will be transferred tax-free, creating a lasting legacy that supports future generations. Setting this up is simple—just request a beneficiary designation form from your IRA administrator.
Tip: Please let us know if you’ve named U-M as a beneficiary or made an IRA charitable gift. Retirement plan administrators typically don’t notify the university, and we want to honor your intentions and express our gratitude for your generosity. We’re here to help ensure your gift has the impact you envision.
Your treasured possessions—such as valuable antiques, stamp or coin collections, artwork, vehicles, boats, and other personal property—can become meaningful charitable gifts to support UM-Dearborn, either now or as part of your legacy. The financial benefits of your gift depend on how the university utilizes the property. If the item supports our mission directly (for example, artwork donated to an art museum), you may be eligible for a deduction equal to its full fair market value. For property considered unrelated to our mission, the tax deduction is limited to the lesser of its fair market value or your tax basis in the item.
Please note that if you wish to claim a federal income tax deduction greater than $5,000 for your gift of tangible personal property, you will need to obtain an appraisal from a qualified appraiser and submit a special IRS form with your tax return. We are happy to help you navigate these requirements and maximize the impact of your generosity.
A donor-advised fund (DAF) functions like a charitable savings account, giving you the flexibility to support UM-Dearborn and other qualified charities on your own terms. With a DAF, you can recommend grants—either one-time or recurring—to have an immediate impact, or save and direct gifts in the future as your philanthropic goals evolve.
You can also create a lasting legacy by designating UM-Dearborn as the beneficiary of your entire DAF or a percentage of your fund. If you choose to leave a percentage, you have the option to name loved ones as your successors, empowering your family to continue your tradition of charitable giving for years to come. To set this up, simply contact your fund administrator for a beneficiary designation form.
If your employer offers a matching gift program, you can maximize the impact of your support for CASL—potentially doubling or even tripling your gift. Simply request a matching gift form from your company, complete and sign it, and send it along with your donation. We’ll take care of the rest. Many companies also match gifts made by retirees and spouses, so be sure to explore all available opportunities to enhance your generosity.