Trusts, Estates & Gift Planning

Georgia Southern University Rotunda

Create your legacy gift today

We have invested in a partnership with FreeWill to provide you a simple, trusted online tool you can use to create or update your legal will today, for free.

We’re grateful for your interest in making a lasting impact on our community. Through thoughtful gift planning, you can help shape the future of our university and support students, faculty, and programs for years to come. Whether you’re considering a bequest, charitable trust, or other planned gift, we’re here to guide you through the process and help you create a legacy that reflects your values. Thank you for considering a meaningful way to give back!

Gifts By Will

By including Georgia Southern in your will or trust, you can make a lasting impact while also securing a charitable estate-tax deduction for the value of your gift. Your generosity will help support our mission for years to come, providing a meaningful legacy.

You can choose to designate a specific amount of money or a percentage of your estate to benefit Georgia Southern, ensuring your gift aligns with your intentions.

Best of all, bequests are not subject to federal estate taxes, which can significantly reduce the tax burden on your estate. The value of your bequest may be fully deducted from the taxable estate, with no limit to the deduction amount.

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Gifts That Pay You Income

If you’re interested in supporting Georgia Southern University while ensuring a steady income for yourself and your loved ones, life-income gifts like gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts offer an ideal solution. These gifts provide a reliable income stream, generous tax incentives, and the satisfaction of making a lasting impact on Georgia Southern’s future. A life-income gift creates a “win-win” situation, benefiting both you and the university.

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Gifts From Retirement Plans

Retirement-plan assets often represent a significant portion of your net worth, and due to unique tax advantages, they can be an excellent option for funding a charitable gift to Georgia Southern University.
Retirement-plan benefits include assets from IRAs, 401(k) plans, profit-sharing plans, Keogh plans, and 403(b) plans, all of which can be used to make a meaningful contribution.

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Gifts Through Life Insurance

Life insurance can play a key role in charitable gift planning, offering a unique way to make a significant impact. By donating a life insurance policy, you can contribute the policy’s face value to Georgia Southern University, often with a relatively small annual premium payment. This allows you to make a substantial gift while keeping your financial commitments manageable.

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Gifts of Appreciated Securities

Effective gift planning combines your charitable goals with smart, tax-efficient strategies. One of the most beneficial ways to fund a gift is with long-term appreciated assets, such as securities. These types of gifts offer a double advantage: you may receive a charitable deduction for the full fair-market value of the property, and you can avoid any potential capital-gains tax. This makes gifts of appreciated securities an excellent choice for maximizing the impact of your donation.

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Contact Us

Julie T. Gerbsch ’09
Executive Director of Development
Office of University Advancement
Georgia Southern University
11935 Abercorn Street
Savannah, GA 31419

Email: jgerbsch@georgiasouthern.edu
Phone: 912-344-2600 Armstrong-Savannah office
Phone: 912-478-7811 Statesboro office