A gift of life insurance that you no longer need can be an easy way for you to provide generous support to Brandeis University.

A gift of life insurance could be right for you if:

  • Your life insurance policy is paid up or has substantial cash value.
  • You have no loan outstanding against the policy.
  • Your family is well-provided for by other means.
  • You would like to make a generous gift to Brandeis.

How it works

You designate Brandeis University as a beneficiary of your policy. 
When your policy ends, Brandeis will receive some or all of your policy's death benefit, as you have designated. Your benefits will include:

  • The death benefit of your policy will not be included in your estate, which may save estate tax if your estate exceeds the applicable exemption amount.
  • No change in your cash flow.
  • The satisfaction of making a generous gift to Brandeis.

This option offers the additional benefit that you can change your mind about your gift at any time should circumstances in your life change. 

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How It Works

Option 1: Give your policy to Brandeis

When Brandeis becomes the owner of your policy we can cash it in and use the proceeds. Alternatively, if you continue to pay the premiums, we could maintain the policy until it ends and then receive the full death benefit amount. In addition to the satisfaction of making a generous gift to Brandeis with no immediate cost, you will receive an immediate income tax charitable deduction for the value of your policy (or the total premiums you have paid, whichever is less) and an additional income tax deduction if you continue to pay premiums.

In order to make your gift, you must assign Brandeis all ownership rights to your policy and make Brandeis the irrevocable designated beneficiary of the policy. 

The life is the donors, but the charity owns it, and get bene rights.

This can be easily accomplished by completing a simple form from your insurance company. Be sure to identify us as: Brandeis University, 415 South St., Waltham MA 02453, Federal Tax Identification Number: 04-2103552.

Example

Tanisha Hobbs bought a $250,000 life insurance policy on her own life shortly after the birth of the first of her four children. They are now in their 40s and 50s and no longer need the financial protection the policy provides. The cash value of her policy is now over $90,000, and she’s paid a total of $75,000 in premiums over the years.

Tanisha has enjoyed a relationship of many years with Brandeis, and would like to make a significant gift, but is reluctant to use her liquid assets. Shelly is delighted to learn that her insurance policy can be put to a new and productive use. She arranges with her insurance agent to donate her policy.

Benefits:

  • Tanisha’s gift will entitle her to an income tax charitable deduction for the lesser of the value of the policy or the total premiums paid, $75,000 in this example.
  • She has the satisfaction of making a generous gift to Brandeis University without affecting her current income.
  • As the policy owner, Brandeis can either cash in the policy and have $90,000 to work with immediately or, if Tanisha continues to pay premiums, hold the policy and receive $250,000 as a legacy gift from Tanisha.

Option 2: Designate Brandeis University as a beneficiary of your policy

You can designate Brandeis to receive some or all of your policy’s death benefit but retain ownership of the policy. You will have the satisfaction of making a generous gift to Brandeis with no immediate cost to you.

This option allows you to change your mind about your gift should circumstances in your life change. Because your gift is revocable, you do not receive an income tax charitable deduction for your gifts, but your estate will receive an estate tax deduction for the amount your policy distributes to us.

It is very easy to designate Brandeis as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy. Simply contact your insurance agent to make a change in your policy’s beneficiary designation. Be sure to identify us as: Brandeis University, 415 South St., Waltham MA 02453, Federal Tax Identification Number: 04-2103552.

Other considerations

Loans against your policy can create taxable income

If you give a life insurance policy on which you have an outstanding unpaid loan, you may have to declare a portion of the loan as taxable income. Check with your financial advisor; it may be best to pay off the loan prior to making your gift. If you plan to designate Brandeis as a beneficiary of your policy (Option 2), an unpaid loan against your policy will not affect your tax picture.

Give a paid-up life insurance policy

Sometimes a life insurance policy may be “paid-up” which means it will stay active without any additional premium payments. A paid-up life insurance policy is a valuable asset and makes an excellent gift.

Some states do not allow you to give a life insurance policy to a charity

For your gift of life insurance to be valid, your state of residence must consider a charity to have an “insurable interest” in your policy. Most states do but verify that this is true in your state before you make your gift.