Giving FAQs

What kinds of gifts can I give to OBU?

Generally speaking, during your lifetime, you can make an outright gift of cash, securities or other property (e.g., real estate, personal property). Upon your death, you can make a gift through your will or with a distribution from a retirement plan or life insurance policy. You also have the option of making a gift that returns lifetime income to you, your spouse, or other individuals, such as a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust.

What sort of assets can I use to make a gift?

Almost anything: cash, publicly traded securities, the balance of your retirement account. Other assets can be very valuable but are more complicated to administer and must be reviewed by us before we can accept them as gifts: real estate, closely-held stock and artwork.

What tax deduction will I receive for my gift?

It depends on the form your gift takes.

Outright gifts to Oklahoma Baptist University generate a full income-tax charitable deduction. Outright gifts of appreciated securities are deductible at fair market value, with no recognition of capital gains—a great tax benefit!

Gifts of personal property, like art, books and collectibles, are fully deductible so long as they are relevant to our mission. Our Office of Planned Giving can advise you on this point.

Bequests do not generate a lifetime income tax deduction. They are exempt from estate tax, however.

Similarly, life insurance distributions to Oklahoma Baptist University are not income-tax deductible but are exempt from estate tax. If you have made Oklahoma Baptist University the irrevocable owner and beneficiary of a policy during your lifetime, however, you may deduct annual gifts that offset premium payments. (See the related question below for more details on this point.)

The charitable deduction for a gift that returns income to you, such as a charitable gift annuity or a charitable remainder trust, is the fair market value of the gift asset minus the present value of the income interest you retain.

Can Oklahoma Baptist University serve as the Executor of my estate?

No. State law, the limitations of our corporate powers, and our internal policies prevent us from taking such a role in your affairs.

I want to set up a life insurance policy, name OBU as beneficiary, but retain ownership of the policy. Can I deduct the premium payments I make?

No. The IRS would not consider that a “completed gift”—they would say that, as the policy owner, you could change the beneficiary designation to a friend or family member. Oklahoma Baptist University must be made the irrevocable policy owner for gifts offsetting premium payments to be deductible.

Can I transfer my IRA to OBU to set up a life-income gift and avoid income tax on the transfer?

Under present law, any lifetime distributions from an IRA are included in your taxable income, even if these funds are transferred to us. You do, however, receive a current charitable deduction when you establish a life income gift, which would partially offset the amount included in your taxable income.

I’d like to donate a painting. Will you determine its value for my income tax deduction?

No. The IRS requires that donors of artwork and collectibles secure an independent appraisal of the items to establish fair market value. The appraisal has to be related to the gift, too—an insurance appraisal will not suffice. Our Office of Planned Giving can assist you with this.

I’m interested in establishing a charitable gift annuity. What financial provisions do you make for the income payments to me and my spouse?

Your charitable gift annuity will be treated as a general obligation of Oklahoma Baptist University, backed by all its assets. We have an unbroken record in making timely payments to our annuitants, and that ongoing responsibility is a key element in our financial policies.

I’m establishing a unitrust. My bank will serve as trustee, and I’m naming OBU as the remainder beneficiary. My attorney is advising me to make that designation revocable. Will you still recognize me as a donor?

We are grateful that you have named us as beneficiary. The charitable portion of your gift is deductible for income tax purposes. However, because our interest is not irrevocable, we cannot give you gift credit until our remainder interest is payable or made irrevocable.