Charitable Gift Annuity
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.
There's a way for you to support American 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 us to further our work. 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 $50,000 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.
Deferred Gift Annuity Request Form
Video contains text and narration about Charitable Gift Annuities. Charitable Gift Annuity the gift that gives back now, and for the rest of your life. When you create a charitable gift annuity with us you can support a cause you believe in and you and another person of your choosing can receive fixed payments for life. Sound too good to be true? Let's back up and look at how this works. You provide for the future of our organization with a gift of cash, securities, or other assets today. In return, when you make the gift you'll receive not only our sincere gratitude and the warm fuzzy feeling you get from doing good for others but if you itemize your deductions you will also receive an income tax charitable deduction that year. And that's not all -- the next year, and for the rest of your life, you'll receive fixed payments based on a percentage of your original gift a portion of these payments will be tax free. This gives you peace of mind knowing you'll receive steady payments throughout your retirement while supporting something you truly believe in. And the best part? The process for setting up a charitable gift annuity is a piece of cake. And you provide us with your birth date and that of another beneficiary if you choose We'll figure out the details, such as the amount and schedule of payments. Then it all comes together in a simple contract. Want to find out how you can have your cake and eat it too? Download our brochure Strengthen Your Future With a Charitable Gift Annuity from this website, to learn more about charitable gift annuities and how you can benefit from the gift that gives back now, and for the rest of your life. The information in this material is not intended for tax or legal advice. Please consult with your professional advisor before making a gift.
Mehdi Heravi, SIS/PhD '67
For Mehdi Heravi, SIS/PhD '67, supporting American University's School of International Service is about more than giving back, it is about encouraging students to perform at their highest level. In his eyes, the new light-filled School of International Service building is an inspiration for anyone who wants to promote global peace, social justice, and economic well-being—key tenets of the school. In appreciation for the new SIS building and the principles its design embodies, Heravi provided leadership building support and funds to endow the school's first internship award. The SIS building's Nebraska Avenue entrance and undergraduate academic affairs suite have been named in Heravi's honor.
A native of Iran, Heravi was schooled in England, but was inspired by American culture. He successfully petitioned his father to allow him to pursue higher education in the United States, where he received a BA from Utah State University and a PhD from American University's School of International Service. SIS, he says, helped expand his world view, "I don't see politics, people, or social economics in terms of extremes; there are a variety of perspectives to all of them." This appreciation for the views of others guided Heravi through his work at the National University of Iran and Razi University where, prior to the 1979 Iranian revolution, he held senior administrative posts including vice president and provost.
Today Heravi's philanthropy helps support several causes, including the School of International Service and an orphanage in Iran, each motivated by a deep desire to create opportunity and promote education. Financially savvy, Heravi has chosen to combine outright charitable contributions with the establishment of charitable gift annuities, intended to provide him with lifelong income, and the university with significant residuals to support the programs he cares for so deeply.
SIS dean James Goldgeier praises Heravi's foresight, "Mehdi is committed to encouraging young academic talent. His support of SIS serves to ensure the vibrancy of our student environment and programs. His philanthropic creativity to combine major current and significant future estate support speaks to his long-term vision."
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Contact Seth D. Speyer at 202-885-3411 or speyer@american.edu for additional information on charitable gift annuities or to chat more about the personal benefits of creating an annuity with AU.
Seek the advice of your financial or legal advisor.
If you include AU in your plans, please use our legal name and federal tax ID.