There's a way for you to support the Smithsonian Institution and feel confident that you have dependable income in your retirement years. You can do this with a charitable gift annuity (CGA).
This type of donation can provide you with regular payments and allow us to further our museums, education, and research. You can also qualify for a variety of tax benefits depending on how you fund your gift.
If you fund your gift annuity with cash or appreciated property, you qualify for a federal income tax deduction if you itemize. In addition, you can minimize capital gains taxes when you fund your gift with appreciated property.
And now, you can fund your gift using your IRA assets. If you are 70½ and older, you can make a one-time election of up to $50,000 to fund a gift annuity. While your gift does not qualify for an income tax deduction, it does escape income tax liability on the transfer and count toward all or part of your required minimum distributions.
Contact the Office of Gift Planning at 888-419-7584 or legacy@si.edu for additional information on charitable gift annuities or to chat more about the personal benefits of creating an annuity with the Smithsonian.
An Example of How It Works
Dennis, 66, and Mary, 65, want to make a contribution to the Smithsonian but they also want to ensure that they have dependable income during their retirement years. They establish a $20,000 charitable gift annuity.
Based on their ages, they will receive a payment rate of 4.8%, which means that they will receive $960 each year for the remainder of their lives. They're also eligible for a federal income tax charitable deduction of $7,649* when they itemize. Finally, they know that after their lifetimes, the remaining amount will be used to shape the future by preserving our heritage, discovering new knowledge, and sharing our resources with the world.
*Based on a 5.2% charitable midterm federal rate. Deductions and calculations will vary depending on your personal circumstances.