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Give in Many Ways Throughout Your Lifetime

With a passion for library and information science, information management, data science, technology development, and other areas of INFO College education and research, alumni and friends have chosen to support the college by endowing a scholarship, fellowship, or professorship—or in their estate plans. Estate planning provides the college with a long-term funding capacity, and at the same time potentially generates income for you or your loved ones. If you are interested in creating an endowment or supporting an existing fund, a planned gift through your estate can provide a significant impact that establishes a lasting change.

If you are interested in supporting the INFO College through these methods, please contact us at SupportINFO@umd.edu.

Annual Gifts by Cash, Check, or Credit Card

Cash, check, and credit card offer convenience, and gifts made with these methods return a charitable income tax deduction equal to the amount donated. Checks should be made out to the University of Maryland College Park Foundation and include the designation of your choice in the memo line.

Please visit our Giving page to explore various giving opportunity designations.

Checks should be made out to the University of Maryland College Park Foundation, mailed to:

University of Maryland
College of Information
4130 Campus Drive
Hornbake Library, Rm. 0201
College Park, MD 20742-4345

Gift of Appreciated Securities

They often represent the best value for donors who want to make an impact with their giving by keeping cash flow intact. Stock bought at a substantially reduced cost has the potential of increasing the value of your gift over time, as well as providing you with added tax advantages.

There are no hard and fast rules for selecting a stock as a gift, but the best choices will depend on the overall makeup of your portfolio. Here are a few general points to consider:

  • Stocks with appreciated value will give you the maximum leverage for an untaxed profit
  • By giving stocks in which you may have an over-weighted position in your portfolio, you may receive valuable tax relief while lightening your position.

Stocks with potential for increased value as charitable gifts now may allow you important tax savings if you consider your future capital gains tax liability.

Gift of Liquid Assets

Real estate, land, personal property, non-publicly traded shares, artwork, and other illiquid assets offer donors the double benefit of a fair market value charitable deduction and the ability to avoid long-term capital gains taxes—with the additional added convenience of not having to be involved in the sale.

Estate or Planned Gifts

These gifts are planned now but completed later—usually after the donor’s life—and are revocable by the donor in the meantime. Examples include:

  • Provisions in a will or living trust giving the university a specific amount, a percentage of the estate, or a specific asset
  • Beneficiary designations of retirement funds, like IRAs and 401(k)s and life insurance
  • Bequests to:
    • Fund an endowment or make a larger gift than is possible during life
    • Plan a gift that will only happen after and if other estate goals are met
    • Make a gift but keep it revocable Long-term relationship with the university
    • Create a lasting legacy.

Learn more about including a gift in your estate plan.

Pooled Income Fund
  • In a pooled income fund, your contribution is invested along with other contributions, similar to a mutual fund. These funds pay quarterly income to you or a beneficiary of your choice, based on the fund’s earnings, either for life or for a period of time, which you may determine.
  • Please contact your financial or tax professional to discuss which option best suits your needs.
  • By including the INFO College in your estate plans, you will join a special group of donors who are leaving their legacies, with perpetual giving through a planned gift. Equally important to note, you should choose now how you want your estate to be distributed rather than another party when you are unable to make these decisions.
Life Income Gifts

You can also irrevocably donate an asset but keep a benefit for yourself or your family. Donors can give assets while retaining:

  • Income from the asset either in fixed or variable payments. This is done through a Charitable Gift Annuities or Charitable Remainder Trust.
  • The asset itself. This is made possible by donating the income from that asset to the university for a set period of time, with the asset returning to the donor or family at the end of the term through a Charitable Lead Trust. Charitable Lead Trusts deliver immediate, usable cash to the university.
  • The use of the asset, if it is a personal residence—including vacation properties and second homes—or farm. The donor can transfer ownership but live in and use the property for life via a Retained Life Estate gift.
Life Insurance

If you are carrying more insurance coverage than your family obligations now require, you may find a hidden gift asset in a surplus, paid-up policy.

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