Life Income Gifts

Many donors elect to make arrangements during their lifetimes that aid The Cooper Union while enabling them to receive ongoing income plus:

• Get a generous charitable income tax deduction
• Eliminate the capital gains tax
• Reduce estate tax and probate costs

Charitable Gift Annuities

Of all the gifts that pay you back with a life income, the charitable gift annuity may be the simplest and most affordable. You contribute a gift directly to The Cooper Union, which agrees to pay you a fixed income for life. The annual annuity rate is determined by the age of the annuitant(s) at the time payments begin. Gift annuities are simple (most agreements are one page or fewer) and secure (your income is based on The Cooper Union's overall assets, not just by the principal amount of your gift). Best of all, they can be created for as little as $10,000. For more information, click here.

Charitable Remainder Trusts

Charitable remainder trusts have a higher minimum requirement but can be structured to maximize your benefits. A unitrust aims to provide the greatest possible annual income. An annuity trust enables you to lock in the amount of money that will be paid to you. There are various reasons for choosing one over the other, and we would be happy to discuss them with you.

Online Gift Calculator

Do you want to know more about how a planned gift would work for you? Use our online gift calculator for specifics about charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts.

For more information on these and other gifts, including contributions of appreciated securities to fund planned gifts, please contact Michael Governor at (212)353-4172 or govern@cooper.edu.

Bequests

A bequest is a common planned giving vehicle that gives you the opportunity to make an important gift to the college while preserving assets during your lifetime and reducing federal taxes on your estate. A bequest can be made through a will or revocable trust, or by designating the college as a beneficiary of your insurance policy or retirement plan. There are several types of bequests, which can be made in specific amounts or tangible assets or as a percentage of your total estate.

If you are considering including The Cooper Union in your will, we recommend you discuss options and sample language with your advisors.

If you have already included The Cooper Union in your financial or estate plans, please inform the college of your thoughtful intentions. You can do so by completing this form or contacting Michael Governor at (212)353-4172 or govern@cooper.edu.

Get more information about planning a bequest for The Cooper Union and about estate planning as a whole. To receive a copy of our brochure, Your Will, Your Legacy by mail, or to discuss planned giving options, please contact Michael Governor.

The Society of 1859

Named in commemoration of the year of The Cooper Union's founding, The Society of 1859 recognizes loyal and generous alumni and friends who have made planned gifts, bequest intentions, and gifts for endowment purposes. Although it was the extraordinary vision and benevolence of a single individual—Peter Cooper—that brought the college into being, it's through the farsightedness and generosity of many that the institution is sustained and kept vital. For more information, click here.