A gift to The Fourth School can benefit both you and the school. For you, planned gifts generate income for life or for a specified period of years, convert low-yielding assets into a higher income stream, obtain significant income tax deductions and reduce or eliminate capital gains and estate taxes. For The Fourth School, your planned gifts help ensure that the kind of education we are known for will continue in the future.

Bequests to Fourth can be unrestricted, or restricted to benefit a specific area of the donor’s interest. The purpose of the Development Office at Fourth School is to help donors consider an array of options in a helpful, confidential environment. While we value the public declaration of support of Fourth through a planned gift for its inspiration to others, requests for anonymity will be honored. We welcome the opportunity to talk with you about the most advantageous ways of giving for you.

What Is Planned Giving?

Planned giving is philanthropy that involves estate and financial planning. In general, planned gifts have the following characteristics:

A planned gift benefits both the donor and the school. The donor reduces taxes, increases income or satisfies another personal financial need. The school receives a significant gift.

Planned gifts, which may be outright or deferred, are based on the donor’s timetable—often when he or she is making an estate or financial plan, anticipating retirement or celebrating the birth of a grandchild; a charitable or lead trust or a gift of readily salable real estate or personal property produces income now. The income from a charitable remainder trust or bequest is deferred.

Planned gifts may be revocable or irrevocable. There are three kinds of planned gifts: those irrevocably committed to the Fourth School; those irrevocably committed to charity (providing the donor with significant tax benefits), but not irrevocably committed to our school; and those which are revocable, such as a bequest.

Planned gifts often satisfy other personal financial needs, including reducing income taxes and/or avoiding gift, estate or capital gains taxes, passing assets to other generations, or increasing income at retirement.

Life Insurance

Life insurance policies, both those that are paid and those on which premiums are still being paid, can offer important tax benefits.

Wills and Bequests

Bequests permit donors to commit assets, which they might need during their lifetime, allowing significantly larger gifts, and reducing estate taxes.

Gifts That Provide You with Income

Charitable Gift Annuity
A charitable gift annuity enables you to transfer cash or marketable securities to the charitable organization in exchange for a current income tax deduction and the organization’s promise to make fixed annual payments to you for life. Annuity payments can begin immediately or can be deferred to some future date.

Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust
A charitable remainder annuity trust is a custom-designed and individually-managed trust that enables you to retain a fixed income for your lifetime or a fixed term of years, claim a current income tax deduction, and make a future gift to charity.

Charitable Remainder Unitrust
A charitable remainder unitrust is a custom-designed and individually-managed trust that enables you to retain a variable income for your lifetime or a fixed term of years, claim a current income tax deduction, and make a future gift to charity.

Pooled Income Fund
A pooled income fund is a trust, operated by a charitable organization, that enables you to retain a life income, claim a current income tax deduction, and make a future gift to charity. Because pooled income funds combine the contributions of all donors in a single investment fund, they are ideal for smaller contributions.

Gifts That Provide Income to Charity

Charitable Lead Annuity Trust
A charitable lead annuity trust is a custom-designed and individually managed trust that enables you to give a fixed annual amount to charity for either a fixed term of years or the life of one or more individual. Upon conclusion of the measuring term, the trust terminates and, according to the terms of trust instrument, distributes its remaining assets (called the remainder interest) back to you or to one or more individuals that you have specified.

Charitable Lead Unitrust
A charitable lead unitrust is a custom-designed and individually-managed trust that enables you to give a variable annual amount to charity for a fixed term of years or the life of one or more individuals.

Next Steps

If you are prayerfully considering planned giving to Fourth School, now is the time to consult your financial planner. Your planner can help you include the Fourth School in your estate planning in a way that best suits your unique needs and desires. We also encourage you to contact the school's Business Office, which can begin to help you with the process of matching the school’s unique needs with your own requirements.