Ways to Give
Whether you would like to make a cash contribution or include MLML in your estate plans, there are many ways to give!
Gifts of Cash, Check or Charge
In-Kind Gifts
Matching Gifts
Bargain Sales
Planned Gifts
Gifts of Cash, Check or Charge
Tax-deductible gifts of any amount are welcomed and can be made in the form of cash, check, money order or Mastercard and VISA. An official gift receipt will be sent to you, which can be used for income tax purposes.In-Kind Gifts
MLML welcomes non-cash gifts such as copiers, fax machines, furniture, expendable materials for the office and classroom, and other materials that the laboratories would otherwise have to purchase. Book collections, artifacts, paintings and art objects may also be desirable gifts.If you are considering such a gift, please contact us to assist you in determining whether your item will be suitable for the labs.
Matching Gifts
Many companies encourage charitable giving by matching employee contributions. The impact of your gift to MLML may be doubled or possibly tripled! Some companies even match gifts made by retirees and/or spouses.Please contact us to find out if your company has a matching gift policy. If your company is eligible, request a matching gift form from your employer, complete and sign the form, then return it to MLML. We will do the rest!
Bargain Sales
In this type of gift, the donor sells appreciated property to MLML for less than the property’s fair market value, resulting in a transaction that is part charitable gift and part sale. Although the formula is somewhat more complicated, the donor's charitable deduction is roughly equal to the difference between the fair market value of the assets and the sales price. Many types of assets (e.g. real estate, vehicles, securities) may be sold in a bargain sale. Some assets have special valuation and deduction rules, so it is always wise to discuss these with your tax professional.What are the advantages?
- The charitable contribution portion qualifies for income tax deduction and unused portions may be carried forward for five years if not fully usable in the year of your gift.
- A bargain sale may avoid capital gain tax liability on highly appreciated assets. You will owe taxes only on the part of the gain attributable to the bargain sale.
- You can have the satisfaction of making a significant gift to MLML during your lifetime.
If you are considering a charitable bargain sale, please contact us so that we can assist you through every step of the process.
Planned Gifts
Planned gifts are a contribution to the future that can provide you immediate tax relief. Gifting of appreciated stocks and bonds or other appreciated assets may be a tax efficient way of supporting MLML. To make a planned gift, please contact us to assist you in structuring your donation to best suit your financial and philanthropic goals.Stock
Wills & Trusts
Real Estate
Life Income Gifts
You may wish to make a gift now for tax purposes and maintain a source
of income for the remainder of your life. You have a few options:Charitable Gift Annuity
You can make a large gift now and receive annual annuity payments for the
remainder of your life. The annuity rate is based on your current life
expectancy.Charitable Remainder Trust
Benefits are similar to a gift annuity with additional flexibility. You
select your annual rate of return, who will receive the payments and whether
the income from the trust will be paid for life or a fixed period of years. Life Insurance
The gift of a life insurance policy (naming the laboratories as the owner and
beneficiary) entitles you to an immediate income tax deduction approximately
equal to the cash surrender value of the policy.
Stock gifts can be transferred electronically into MLML’s gift account through the San Jose State University Foundation’s broker account at RBC Dain Rauscher. Please send the completed and signed Stock Gift Transfer Letter to your broker and a copy to:
Elizabeth Harvey
Director, Corporate & Foundation Relations
San Jose State University
One Washington Square
San Jose, CA 95192-0257
Phone: (408) 924-3410
Fax: (408) 924-1476
Email: elizabeth.harvey@sjsu.edu
A gift receipt will be sent to you after we receive confirmation of the stock transfer from the University’s broker. If your employer has a Matching Gift Program, please obtain and sign a Matching Gift Form (from your Human Resource office). Send a copy of the original signed Matching Gift Form to Elizabeth Harvey at address listed above.
This is the most familiar of planned or deferred gifts. You designate
in your will or trust that a dollar amount or percentage of your estate
passes to MLML. Any distributions from your estate come to the laboratories completely
free of inheritance and estate taxes.
Additional estate benefits are available if you designate that your gift
will come from retirement plan assets. These assets and some others (such
as Series E, H or Patriot Bonds) are taxed for income tax purposes in your estate.
These gifts avoid all deferred income taxes in addition to inheritance
and estate taxes.
Real property (such as a house or land) that has been held long-term makes an excellent charitable gift and provides you several advantages. You receive an income tax charitable deduction for the property’s fair market value (if held long-term). You avoid capital gains tax on the property’s appreciation, potentially saving you considerable cost.
The transfer is not subject to the gift tax and it reduces the size of your taxable estate. You avoid the inconvenient hassle of selling the property. The gift frees cash that otherwise would have been used to pay for taxes and upkeep.
Some people like the benefits of estate planning but wish to continue living in their home for life. If this is your situation, you can give the gift of your home now and enjoy its use for life by setting up a retained life estate. Again,there are immediate tax benefits and the property passes to the university at your death free of probate and taxes.
Example: A 70-year-old receives annual payments of 6.5% under current assumptions. An 80-year-old’s annuity rate is 8.0%.
Additionally, a portion of the annual annuity received by you is tax-free during your life expectancy. Your immediate income tax deduction is usually about 40-60% of the face value of the gift.
Whether a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust is selected, the gift is distributed to MLML when the opportunity to obtain individual benefits ends.
If you continue to pay policy premiums, those payments also qualify for a charitable deduction. Premium deductions may be a particularly attractive option if you take out a new policy and transfer it to the university.
Donor’s Bill of Rights [PDF]
Feel confident about your donation.
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