Charitable Lead Trust

Protect Your Assets

If you want to make an impact now at Denison and also provide for your family later, consider setting up a charitable lead trust. You transfer cash or other assets to a trust that makes payments to Denison for a period of time. When the term is up, the remaining trust passes to your family or other beneficiaries you select.

There are two ways that charitable lead trusts make payments to Denison:

A charitable lead annuity trust pays a fixed amount each year to Denison and is more attractive when interest rates are low.

A charitable lead unitrust pays a variable amount each year to Denison based on the value of the assets in the trust. With a unitrust, if the trust’s assets go up in value, for example, the payments to Denison go up as well.

An Example of How It Works

Father smiling with children George would like to support Denison and receive tax benefits. George received a windfall amount of income and needs a large income tax deduction to offset the income. Following his advisor’s recommendation, George funds a grantor charitable lead annuity trust with assets valued at $1,000,000. George’s trust pays $60,000 (6% of the initial fair market value) to Denison each year for 15 years, which will total $900,000. After that, the balance in the trust reverts back to George. He receives an income tax charitable deduction of $614,445. Assuming the trust earns an average 8% annual rate of return, George receives approximately $1,600,286 at the end of the trust term.

*Based on a 5.2% charitable midterm federal rate. Deductions and calculations will vary depending on your personal circumstances.

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Next Steps

  1. For additional information on charitable lead trusts or to receive a no-obligation, customized illustration based on your goals, please contact the Office of Gift Planning at 740-587-5023 or giftplanning@denison.edu
  2. Seek the advice of your financial or legal advisor.

Discover More

See which type of charitable trust best fits your estate plan with the FREE guide Trusts: Choose From Two Ways to Donate.

Understand Your Giving Options

What You Should Know About Your Bequest

What You Should Know About Your Beneficiary Designation

Discover how you can maximize your impact with our comprehensive guide. Get your free download today!

Learn more about benefiting Denison through a bequest in the related donor guide prepared by our Office of Gift Planning.

Learn more about benefiting Denison through a beneficiary designation in the related donor guide prepared by our Office of Gift Planning.

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Personal Estate Planning Kit

Our Top Free Resource

This comprehensive estate planning kit helps you protect your family and establish your legacy. FREE!

Download My Kit