2026: Organizing your year-end charitable gifts

As 2026 draws to a close, now is the time to organize your charitable giving.

Know the many ways to give to Princeton

As you make your charitable giving year-end lists, keep in mind the many ways to give to Princeton. Each helps support the values of the University, including scholarly excellence, truth-seeking research and the importance of a liberal arts education.

• Give appreciated stocks, mutual funds or real estate. You get an income tax deduction for full market value — and eliminate capital gains tax.
• Create a stream of income and a gift for Princeton with a life income gift that supports you or your beneficiaries, as well as the University.
• If you are over age 70 1/2, consider a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from your IRA. A QCD may count toward your required minimum distribution (RMD).
• Create a bequest to Princeton through your will or living trust.
• Designate Princeton as a beneficiary on retirement plans and life insurance policies.

Additionally, making an Annual Giving Legacy gift (AGL) is a way to make a significant contribution to Annual Giving while providing for yourself and/or your beneficiaries. AGL allows you to earn Annual Giving major reunion class credit for life income gifts of $100,000 or more ($50,000 if funded from an IRA), starting with the 50th Reunion.

All Princetonians are invited to watch the informational webinar “Annual Giving Legacy: Generosity Pays,” presented by Ivy Shinn, assistant director, Gift Planning. A live interactive webinar on Annual Giving will take place Nov. 11 for some classes; look for an email invitation.

Consider a scholarship or graduate fellowship gift

Gifts of scholarships or graduate fellowships have a direct impact on future generations of Tigers.

Gerald Kunze ’77 chose to create an unrestricted scholarship through a charitable gift annuity (CGA). As he explains in the video below: “My hope is that [my] scholarship fund will provide the means for energetic and talented students to come here.”

A CGA was also a good fit for Kunze’s retirement plans. “The charitable gift annuity program allowed me to give to Princeton, receive a tax deduction and then also I was able to provide an income stream for future retirement years,” he said.

Membership in the 1746 Society

The 1746 Society gratefully recognizes alumni and friends who have made special commitments to Princeton through their will or other planned gifts.

Have you included Princeton in your estate plans? Please let us know so we can thank you.

To request information on estate giving, gifts of non-cash assets such as real estate, or gifts that pay you income, please fill out our Generations response form, or reach out to the experts on the Gift Planning team: call 609-258-6318, or email GiftPlanning@princeton.edu.

The information presented is not intended as legal or financial advice. Please consult your own professional advisors to discuss your specific situation.