Continue Supporting Our Work After Your Lifetime
Beneficiary Designations
Passionate about supporting the University of Denver with our mission even after your lifetime? It's not only possible, it's easy to do with a beneficiary designation. Just name the University as a beneficiary to receive assets such as retirement plans and life insurance policies after you're gone. You simply fill out a form that is entirely separate from your will—which makes this approach an easy way to give.
If you name your children as the beneficiaries of your retirement plan assets, federal income taxes may erode up to 39.6 percent of the amount they receive from your plan. In contrast, as a nonprofit organization, the University of Denver is tax-exempt and eligible to receive the full amount and bypass and federal taxes.
A gift of life insurance also has benefits. Your life insurance policy is a contract and therefore cannot be changed by unhappy heirs. If you name the University of Denver as the beneficiary of an existing policy, you may receive a federal income tax charitable deduction and reduce your future estate tax liability. For a new policy, with us named as the owner and beneficiary, your premium payments may be deductible as charitable gifts.
Not only is it an easy way to give, but it's also flexible—you aren't locked into the choices you make today. You can review and adjust beneficiary designations anytime you want.
Meet Bob and Vicki Gray
Bob (BSBA '66) and Vicki (BSBA '62 and MPA '66) Gray know that they wouldn't have had the opportunities they've encountered in their lives without the education they both received at DU.
Interactions with faculty members were a big part of their college experience. Two professors—J.J. (Jimmy) Johnston (business and law) and Lee Evans (building industries and real estate)—made especially strong impressions on the couple. J.J. provided Bob legal advice following a speeding ticket, and Lee loaned the newly married couple a cabin at his ranch for their honeymoon.
"When we discovered that both of these gentleman had established endowments to provide scholarships for deserving students, we decided to participate," Bob and Vicki say.
The couple named the University as the beneficiary of their IRA. An added bonus: Because the University is a nonprofit organization and enjoys a tax-exempt status, DU will receive the asset without paying any taxes, which means that more of Bob and Vicki's gift will support students.
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 Deferred Gift Annuities: Plan Now, Benefit Later.
Calculate Your Benefits
Learn More
Want to learn more about making tax-wise gifts? Download our FREE guide Beneficiary Designations: Easy Ways to Leave Your Legacy.
View My Free BrochureInformation 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. 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. 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. Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.