There are several types of planned gifts you can make to Harvard Law School, depending on your personal estate planning and tax planning needs.
“Coming from a blue-collar family and as the first in my family to graduate college, my path to HLS was enabled by the generosity of donors who made a life-changing scholarship possible. That opened the door to a 50+ year career in government service and private practice in environmental protection and natural resource stewardship. Looking back, I’m grateful; looking to the future, I’m honored to have the privilege to pay it forward. An IRA gift supports future generations in the pursuit of excellence.”
– R. Timothy Weston, JD’72
IRAs
If you are 70 1/2 years old or over, a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from your IRA directly to HLS can be an advantageous way to give.
Bequests and Trusts
Testamentary gifts by will and by inclusion in trusts, provide important support for HLS and ensure its long-term financial strength and ability to lead in the research, practice, and teaching of law.
Blended Gifts
Blended gifts simply refer to a combination of giving strategies—often, a current donation combined with a gift designed to be executed sometime in the future.
Gift Annuities
A gift annuity is an irrevocable contract in which Harvard promises to pay you a certain sum annually in exchange for your gift. This sum can be designated to up to two beneficiaries.
Charitable Remainder Trusts
Charitable remainder trusts are a wonderful way to make a gift while preserving or creating an income stream for yourself from the donated assets. They also allow you to diversify income sources while reinvesting 100% of the amount contributed to your trust because the trust is tax-free and funding assets are free of capital gains tax.
Charitable Lead Trusts
Charitable lead trusts are a great way to make current gifts to HLS while creating a way to transfer assets to your heirs in the future or, in some circumstances, having the assets revert to you.
Gifts of Appreciated Securities
By donating appreciated securities to HLS, you not only avoid paying capital gains tax but also receive a full fair market value tax deduction for your gift.