FALL 2024

FINANCIAL AND ESTATE PLANNING OPTIONS FOR FRIENDS OF INTERVARSITY 

Year-End Giving: Perspectives and Strategies

Welcome to our refreshed newsletter, Faithful Generosity—Financial and Estate Planning Options for Friends of InterVarsity. If you are considering providing new or additional support for our vital campus presence, we thank you! Faithful Generosity is a good way to explore gift options that may fit most effectively into your existing financial and estate plans—gifts with useful tax and planning benefits for you and your heirs.

The end of the year is a time of reflection and celebration. This deeply meaningful season provides a reason for families and friends to gather, share meals, reminisce, and reconnect. In remembering your connection to InterVarsity and your ongoing belief in our ministry, you may be considering a year-end gift that would make an eternal difference in the lives of students and faculty.

We are grateful for the many ways our donors thoughtfully support our ministry to invite future leaders to follow Jesus today. Read how Bob and Marcy Grant have done this in their story, "Entrusting Resources for God’s Glory." Please contact us if we can provide gift planning information or serve you. Be sure to ask for our free giving guide, Seven Strategies for Year-End Giving.

Best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving!
InterVarsity Estate & Gift Planning Team

“All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:15

Strategies for Making an Impact

Knowing your options before you give can provide personal benefits associated with how you give. In other words, before you make a traditional cash gift, it is worth considering the features and advantages associated with different gift options.

Make a difference today

You can make a gift now, before the end of the year, that will have an immediate impact on our work. Consider the following options.

Appreciated stock. If you own appreciated stock you have held for over one year, you might consider using it to make a powerful donation. Like a gift of cash, this gift qualifies for a charitable income tax deduction for the stock’s full value (if you itemize). But there is an extra benefit as well—no capital gains tax is due on the stock’s appreciation.

Example: Several years ago, George and Ramona purchased stock in a small green energy company that has performed quite well. Their $15,000 investment is now worth $35,000. If they give us the stock before year end, they enjoy a double tax benefit:

1. The gift qualifies for an itemized charitable deduction of $35,000 on their 2024 return—the full current value of the stock.
2. They owe no capital gains tax on the $20,000 appreciation.*

Appreciated real estate. A gift of appreciated real estate held for over one year (a second home, commercial property, undeveloped land, etc.) provides the same tax benefits as a gift of appreciated securities but requires a bit more time and planning.

An IRA distribution. If you are an IRA owner age 70½ or older, you can make a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from your IRA directly to InterVarsity. No tax is due on the transferred amount (up to the annual aggregate limit of $105,000 in 2024), and your gift counts toward your required minimum distribution (RMD) if one is due—generally, starting at age 73. This can be a smart alternative to giving cash.

Example: Celia, age 80, must take an IRA distribution of $10,000 this year. She decides to make a QCD of $10,000 directly to us. The tax-free distribution counts toward her RMD, and we can use the gift right away. Celia can do this every year if she chooses.*

IRA owners age 70½ or older who want to create another income stream in retirement might consider the special one-time QCD option. This uses your tax-free distribution (up to $53,000 in 2024) to create a charitable gift annuity (CGA) or a charitable remainder trust (CRT). The transfer counts toward your RMD, and you receive a lifetime income stream for you and/or your spouse. Spouses may combine distributions from their own IRAs into a single CRT or joint-life CGA. Contact InterVarsity for additional information.

A donor-advised fund. Perhaps, like so many of our ministry partners, you have already set aside money for charitable giving in a donor-advised fund (DAF). If so, it is easy to support InterVarsity before year end by requesting a grant from your DAF. There is no disruption to your current budget or financial plans since the gift comes from funds already earmarked for charitable purposes. Please notify us if you make a grant so we can acknowledge the gift and thank you for your generosity.

*Examples are for illustrative purposes only.

Bob and Marcy Grant:
Entrusting Resources for God’s Glory 

When Bob and Marcy moved to Madison, Wisconsin for graduate school, they found themselves attending a church with many InterVarsity staff including then president, Dr. John Alexander. As their friendships with InterVarsity staff grew, so did their love for InterVarsity’s ministry. From that time, they have been deeply involved in the ministry, first as graduate students, then giving faithfully to support InterVarsity staff, and now as members of InterVarsity’s Legacy Fellowship.

Both Bob and Marcy grew up in families that valued tithing. When they got married, using their resources to further God’s kingdom wasn't even a question, the act was assumed. Nearly 50 years ago, long before they retired, they included InterVarsity in their estate.

“We give because we are profoundly grateful to God for His constant provision. He has been so gracious with us. The breadth and depth of InterVarsity’s ministry makes the investment worth it.”

Planning Tip for 2025

In this time of reflection and planning, as we consider where we are headed, it is important to keep scheduled tax changes in mind. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 made significant changes to tax provisions, which are set to expire or “sunset” at the end of 2025. Now is the time to consider how that could impact you beginning in 2026. Among many noteworthy changes, two key areas of potential impact are:

1. the sizeable reduction of the federal gift and estate tax exemption amount, which means more estates will be subject to the federal estate tax

2. a decrease in the standard deduction amount, which means more taxpayers will itemize their taxes and utilize deductions allowed for charitable gifts

Even if Congress extends the TCJA provisions or passes new legislation, your personal planning may still be affected. Fortunately, there is still time to learn about the upcoming changes, review your plans, talk to your estate and financial professionals, and make any suitable adjustments to minimize the impact.

Opportunities in Every Season

Do you want to increase your impact on our mission and shape your legacy? We are grateful for your thoughtful consideration and generosity! Please reach out—we are happy to answer any questions, help you explore your options, or send you our free useful guide, Seven Strategies for Year-End Giving. Contact us by email at giftplanning@intervarsity.org or by calling 608.443.3748.

We wish you a joyful Christmas season and a blessed New Year. Working together, we can make the coming year transformational for students and faculty members on campuses nationwide!