Gifts That Pay You Income
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.
Putting Planning into Action
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.
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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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Gifts That Pay
Your payments depend on your age at the time of the donation. If you are younger than 60, we recommend that you learn more about your options and download this FREE guide Plan for Retirement With a Deferred Gift Annuity.
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Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.