Gift Comparison Chart
Your gift to Johns Hopkins is an investment in one of the world's greatest enterprises. At the same time, you may enhance your personal financial objectives by choosing among a range of tax-wise ways to make a gift.
| Type of Gift | May Be Funded With | Benefits for You | Benefits for Johns Hopkins |
| Current/Outright Gifts | Cash, appreciated securities, closely held securities, real estate, personal property | Usually fully deductible for 100 percent of the fair-market value, subject to certain limitations | Funds are immediately available for use | Charitable Lead Trusts | Cash, appreciated securities, closely held securities, real estate | Freezes value of assets contributed for gift- and estate-tax purposes | Provides steady flow of income for a period of years | Life-Income Gifts (irrevocable) |
| A. Charitable Gift Annuities | Cash, securities, some closely held securities | Guaranteed fixed income, immediate tax deduction equal to Hopkins' remainder interest in the gift; favorable tax treatment of annuity payments | Ensures future funding of the designated purpose |
| B. Deferred-Payment Charitable Gift Annuities | Cash, securities, some closely held securities | Immediate tax deduction equal to Hopkins' remainder interest in the gift; favorable tax treatment of annuity payments | Ensures future funding of the designated purpose |
| C. Charitable Remainder Unitrusts | Cash, securities, some closely held securities, real estate | Immediate tax deduction equal to Hopkins' remainder interest in the gift; variable income that may provide a hedge against future inflation; favorable capital-gain tax liability on gifted property. Can be tailored to your situation; permits more than two income beneficiaries; allows deferred income if desired; excellent vehicle for real estate gifts | Ensures substantial future funding of the designated purpose; donor may select the trustee; Hopkins could, if desired, use trust as collateral for loan |
| D. Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust | Cash, appreciated securities, some closely held securities | Immediate tax deduction equal to Hopkins' remainder interest in the gift; fixed income; favorable capital-gain tax on gifts of appreciated property; may provide tax-free income | Same as unitrust |
| Revocable Trusts | Cash, appreciated securities, closely held securities, real estate | All or part of the amount placed in the trust is available if needed by the donor; if a commercial trustee is chosen, may relieve the donor of the responsibilities and headaches of asset management; no tax deduction is available for this kind of trust | A very high percentage of revocable trusts are never revoked, giving promise of future funding to Hopkins |
| Will Provisions | Cash, appreciated securities, closely held securities, real estate, personal property | Charitable estate-tax deduction is available for the full fair-market value of the bequeathed asset; may reduce estate and death taxes, thereby increasing the size of the estate available for heirs | A very high percentage of will provisions are never revoked, giving promise of future support to Hopkins |
| Gifts of Insurance—if Hopkins is made the owner and beneficiary of a permanent policy | Immediate income-tax deduction for the net cash surrender value of the policy at the time of transfer; future premium payments may be deducted annually as gifts | Ensures substantial future funding of the designated purpose; Hopkins may also borrow against the policy or cash it in | |
| Gifts of Insurance—if the gift is a paid-up policy | Immediate income-tax deduction for the net cash surrender value of the policy at the time of transfer | Ensures substantial future funding of the designated purpose; Hopkins may also borrow against the policy or cash it in | |
| Gifts of Insurance—when Hopkins is the beneficiary but not the owner | No tax deduction, but this enables you to leverage your gift substantially; you may change the beneficiary later or borrow against the policy | Promise of future support to Hopkins |