A charitable remainder unitrust is similar to an annuity trust but is more flexible and offers potentially higher income possibilities. Unlike the fixed payments from an annuity trust, the annual income from a unitrust is a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets as revalued each year. Furthermore, additional contributions may be made to a unitrust at any time. If you are considering a gift of real estate, a unitrust may be an effective way to generate your flow of income from the property.

A unitrust can be an excellent hedge against inflation. Because the income payments to you are tied to the changing value of the trust assets, your payments will fluctuate. As the value of the trust assets grows over the years, your income payments will increase. However, if the value of the trust assets declines, your income payments will decrease. To establish a unitrust, a gift of $50,000 or more is required.

An annuity trust can be established by transferring cash or securities in trust to the University. If you select the University, as trustee, it manages the trust for you and/or other designated income beneficiaries. The trust provides you with an annual fixed income amount that is at least 5 percent of the initial fair market value of the trust assets. These fixed payments continue for your life and the lives of any other beneficiaries. Any income earned by the trust that exceeds the annuity amount is added to the trust principal. If trust earnings are insufficient to meet the annuity amount, principal is used to make up the deficit.

An annuity trust entitles you to a current-tax-year charitable deduction. In addition, you avoid having to pay capital gains tax on the appreciation in the year of the gift, and can instead spread this liability over a period of years. In addition, the gift may result in increased annual income to the beneficiaries. Upon the death of the last surviving income beneficiary, the assets in the trust pass to the University.

A gift of $50,000 or more can be used to fund an annuity trust. No additional contributions can be made to this type of trust.

You can use a charitable remainder term trust to provide income for yourself or designated beneficiaries for a specified term not exceeding 20 years. Such trusts can be particularly useful in funding the cost of college and graduate school education for your children or grandchildren. Income from the trust is paid to the children and is taxed at their rates; the children then use the income to pay their educational expenses.

A term trust may take the form of an annuity trust (fixed payment) or a unitrust (fixed percentage of the trust’s annual fair market value), with the same advantages as a life-income trust. If you use appreciated property to fund the trust, you avoid capital gains tax liability on the transaction, the beneficiary’s income may be taxed at ordinary and capital gains rates, and some income may be tax-free. As a donor, you receive a charitable deduction based on the value of the property given, the payout rate, and the term of years. Recipients of the income may be anyone designated by the donor.