Planned Giving

The Ex Solo Ad Solem Society honors contributors who have made provision for the support of Bryn Mawr through a planned gift. The society is comprised of alumnae, parents, parents of alumnae, grandparents, and friends of the school whose gifts encompass a broad range of deferred giving options, including intended bequests.

The following information introduces some ways to make a planned gift:

Bequests

Remembering The Bryn Mawr School in your will is easy. The school may become a beneficiary through a specific bequest, a contingent bequest, or a residuary gift. An example of a specific bequest would be: "I leave $25,000 to The Bryn Mawr School." A contingent bequest might say: "I bequeath 10 acres of land in Baltimore City to The Bryn Mawr School should I have no family living to inherit the land." A residuary gift might say: "I give the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate to The Bryn Mawr School to be used for its general purposes."

Donative Sale

Donors can sell a piece of property to The Bryn Mawr School for less than the value of the property. This transaction is known as a donative sale because it is part gift and part sale. The amount of the gift would be the excess of the fair-market value of the property over the sale's proceeds. Donors would report any gain incurred on the sale portion of the property and would receive a charitable deduction on the portion of the property that was a gift.

Remainder Interest in Personal Residence

Donors may make a gift of a personal residence, farm, or vacation home to The Bryn Mawr School and continue to live there for the rest of life. Donors will receive an immediate income tax deduction for the value of the remainder interest that will eventually go to Bryn Mawr. The charitable income tax deduction is based on the donor's age (and the age of any other lifetime beneficiary) and the value of the property.

Gift Annuities

In making a gift annuity, donors transfer cash or other property to The Bryn Mawr School in exchange for a commitment by the school to pay the donor a specific amount each year during the remainder of the donor's life (and/or another beneficiary). This transaction is both a purchase of an annuity and a charitable contribution; the charitable deduction is based on the donor's age and the size of the annuity. A portion of each annuity payment is tax-free because the donor is allowed to "recover" the investment in the annuity. In addition, if the annuity is funded with appreciated property, the gain is reported ratably over the donor's life expectancy. The tax savings generated by the charitable deduction often offset any capital gains resulting from the transfer of appreciated property for a gift annuity.

Charitable Remainder Trust

Donors can create income for life or for a period of time up to 20 years by transferring assets to a trust that pays the donor or another beneficiary an income amount annually. Later, the assets of the trust are given to The Bryn Mawr School. Donors get a charitable deduction the year the trust is created based on the donor's (and any other income beneficiary's) age and the amount to be paid. No capital gains are incurred when appreciated property is used to fund a charitable remainder trust. Charitable remainder trusts can be established by will.

Charitable Lead Trust

A charitable lead trust works in the opposite manner of a remainder trust in that the donor gives property to a trust, creating an income interest in favor of The Bryn Mawr School for a period of years, and then the remainder interest either reverts to the donor or is given to non charitable beneficiaries, often family members. A charitable lead trust is a creative way to make annual gifts to Bryn Mawr while transferring property that is about to appreciate to children or grandchildren at a reduced tax value. Charitable lead trusts, like remainder trusts, can be established by a will.

Life Insurance

If a donor owns a life insurance policy, the donor may give it to The Bryn Mawr School and name the school as beneficiary. Donors will receive an income tax deduction for the cash value of the policy plus any premiums the donor continues to pay. Bryn Mawr will receive the future proceeds from the policy.

For more information about planned giving, please contact Director of Development, Julie Smith Marshall '89 at marshallj@brynmawrschool.org or 410-323-1118, ext. 1315.