Alumni & Giving

Ways to Give to the GWU Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Charitable gifts reward donors in many ways. There is the satisfaction of supporting an important cause, the excitement of seeing your gift lead to positive change, and--in many cases--tangible financial benefits to you and/or another beneficiary, through tax advantages and the retention of lifetime income from the donated asset.

The GWU Department of Psychiatry is part of two not-for-profit organizations: The George Washington University and the Medical Faculty Associates, Inc. Tax deductible, charitable gifts to the GWU Department of Psychiatry can be made to either entity. We will be happy to discuss this distinction with you.

A summary of ways to give is provided here. For more information, please contact us either through the GWU Department of Psychiatry or through the GWUMC Office of Development and Alumni Relations.

Gifts of Cash and Pledges
Cash gifts are deductible for federal income tax purposes up to a limit of 50 percent of your adjusted gross income if you itemize deductions. Where cash gifts exceed this limit, you may carry over the excess for up to five additional years. Cash gifts may be pledged for payment over a period of years. To be officially recorded, pledges should be made either in writing or by means of a pledge card. If you prefer to give on-line (https://www.gwu.edu/online_giving/index.cfm) be sure to designate the GWU Department of Psychiatry as the beneficiary of your donation.

Gifts of Stocks and Bonds
Donors to the GWU Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences may make outright gifts and pledges in the form of appreciated securities rather than cash, benefiting from extra tax advantages.

Gifts of Closely Held Stock
If you own stock in a closely held corporation, you can use such stock to make a gift to the GWU Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences that will bring you substantial tax benefits. There are a number of strategies you can use to structure the gift according to your circumstances.

Gifts of Personal Property
In planning your estate, remember that valuable collections, works of art, and other forms of tangible personal property may be subject to estate taxes. By donating such items during your lifetime rather than at your death, you not only reduce your taxable estate but also reduce your taxable income in the year of the gift.

Gifts That Provide Income
You may wish to make a substantial gift to the GWU Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences but feel you cannot afford to give up the annual income produced by the asset. The George Washington University Medical Center’s Office of Development offers several ways to help you make such a gift, while retaining an income for your lifetime.

Gifts of Real Estate
Almost any kind of real estate can make a valuable gift to the GWU Department of Psychiatry: a primary residence, vacation home, farm, commercial building, or an undeveloped parcel of land. You can even contribute your residence now and still reside in it for life. As with gifts of appreciated stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and personal property, no capital gains tax is due when you donate appreciated real estate; you are entitled to an income tax deduction in the amount of the appreciated value of the real estate; and you avoid estate taxes on the appreciated asset.

Gifts through Bequests
The George Washington University Medical Center has been the recipient of bequests, both large and small, from alumni, friends, and grateful patients over the years. These donors felt they needed their capital during their lifetimes, but found it possible to associate themselves forever with the George Washington University Medical Center.

These bequests, no matter how modest, are welcome and important to GWU Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. We encourage you to contact us to discuss making a bequest or for assistance with bequest language. The value of a bequest is deductible for estate tax purposes, and there is no limit on the amount of the deduction.