How To Give

Maximizing the impact, while streamlining the process

People enjoy and benefit when they support the causes that they care about most, with contributions through their will or trust, or other type of planned gifts.

Often, planned gifts are implemented after the passing of the donor. There are many ways to make a planned gift, but most planned gifts come from wills or living trusts, with other blended gifts that can include life insurance, retirement assets, real estate, and securities.

By working with your legal or financial professionals, the FGCU Planned Giving team will help you identify gift opportunities that will have the greatest impact to support students, faculty and those initiatives that you are most passionate about.

Want to talk now? Please call Bill Rice 239-590-1077

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There are multiple options for supporting FGCU that can help you make a lasting contribution, including opportunities that may benefit you with tax savings and/or continued income.

These include:

Gifts through a will
Gifts that supports FGCU and provides you income
Gifts through a trust that protect your assets

Bequest/Beneficiary Designation
Gives you the opportunity to support FGCU without affecting your cashflow during your lifetime.

Charitable Bargain Sale
This is a part-gift/part-sale option that gives you a charitable deduction plus cash to use however you choose.

Charitable Gift Annuity - Immediate
Receive a fixed payout and significant tax benefits to reduce tax liability.

Charitable Gift Annuity - Deferred
Often an attractive option for younger donors to build retirement earnings for the future.

Charitable Lead Trust
This option provides innovative ways to make a gift, while retaining the ability to pass appreciating assets on to family members.

Remainder Annuity Trust
Enables you to make a substantial gift while receiving a fixed-income payout each year.

Remainder Unitrust
Make a substantial gift while creating a flexible source of retirement income.

Retained Life Estate
Maximize your tax benefits by gifting a residence to FGCU while retaining the ability to live there for life.

Testamentary Life Income Gifts
One gift in your estate can benefit both your family and FGCU.

Learn about bequests and wills
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Giving through a will or bequest allows you to leave a lasting legacy that can change the lives of students far into the future. Additionally, this is a charitable giving method that can reduce tax liability on your family. There may be benefits that provide estate tax savings. We encourage donors to consult with their financial and estate planning professionals for the most updated tax information.

How do I make a bequest?
A bequest is one of the easiest gifts to make. With the help of an advisor, you can include language in your will or trust specifying a gift be made to family, friends or Florida Gulf Coast University as part of your estate plan.

What are my options? A bequest can be made in several ways:
- You can gift a specific dollar amount or asset
- You can gift a percentage of your estate
- You can gift from the balance or residual of your estate
- You can make a beneficiary designation of certain assets
Examples of bequest language
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Bequest of a Specific Dollar Amount

I hereby, give, devise and bequeath $DOLLARS to Florida Gulf Coast University and the Florida Gulf Coast University Foundation, Inc. a not-for-profit organization and a direct support organization of Florida Gulf Coast University located at 10501 FGCU Boulevard South, Fort Myers, FL, 33965-6565, Federal Tax ID #65-0403969, for Florida Gulf Coast University's general purpose.

Bequest of Specific Personal Property

I hereby, give, devise and bequeath DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY to the Florida Gulf Coast University Foundation, Inc. a not-for-profit organization and a direct support organization of Florida Gulf Coast University located at 10501 FGCU Boulevard South, Fort Myers, FL, 33965-6565, Federal Tax ID #65-0403969, for Florida Gulf Coast University's general purpose.

Bequest of Specific Real Estate

I hereby, give, devise and bequeath all of the right, title and interest in and to the real estate located at ADDRESS DESCRIPTION to the Florida Gulf Coast University Foundation, Inc. a not-for-profit corporation and a direct support organization of the Florida Gulf Coast University located at 10501 FGCU Boulevard South, Fort Myers, FL, 33965-6565, Federal Tax ID #65-0403969 for Florida Gulf Coast University's general purpose.

Bequest of Percentage of Estate

I hereby, give, devise and bequeath PERCENTAGE OF ESTATE to the Florida Gulf Coast University Foundation, Inc. A not-for-profit corporation and a direct support organization of Florida Gulf Coast University located at 10501 FGCU Boulevard South, Fort Myers, FL, 33965-6565, Federal Tax ID #65-0403969, for Florida Gulf Coast University's general purpose.