Planned Giving

The support of thoughtful Putney alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends who remember Putney with bequests and life income gifts has been and will continue to be a significant factor in preserving the Putney experience for future generations of students. Did you know that:

  • You don't have to use cash to make a gift -- you can donate appreciated securities and use an asset that costs less than the tax deduction you'll get for it today.
  • You may be holding assets that would benefit Putney more than they do you -- such as a life insurance policy that you no longer need, a parcel of real estate like a second home or undeveloped land, or a collection of books or artwork that you no longer have room to display.
  • You can make a gift that costs you nothing during your lifetime - make Putney a beneficiary of your will or revocable trust, or a beneficiary of your retirement plan, and leave your cash flow and current financial planning uninterrupted.
  • You can make Putney a partner in your giving -- you can deed us your home but continue to live there, you can sell us property at a charitable discount, and you can make a gift that pays you lifetime income.

Bequests, life insurance, charitable gift annuities and charitable trusts are all examples of planned gifts. A planned gift may allow you to make a larger gift to Putney than you thought possible and enjoy these potential results:

  • Increased income
  • Reduced income taxes
  • Reduced or eliminated capital gains taxes
  • Reduced or eliminated estate taxes

The Legacy Circle recognizes those donors who reinforce Putney's legacy by making provisions in their estate plan that will benefit The Putney School.

To learn more about how you can help Putney's future, please call Christie Baskett, Director of Development, at 802-387-6272 for more information.

Bequest

A provision in your will or trust providing a gift to The Putney School. Sample language for a bequest is included here.

Your bequest intentions are a personal matter but if you are willing to share them, Putney would like to acknowledge your generosity. Please notify the school so that we may include you in the Legacy Circle.

Life Insurance

A new policy may be taken out on the life of a younger donor to create a future major gift to The Putney School, with the cost of the premium being a small fraction of the value of the policy. Donors may also have existing policies that are no longer needed for their original purposes. By changing the policy ownership to The Putney School and naming The Putney School as the beneficiary, the donor can contribute the existing cash value and subsequent (if any) premium amounts to the Putney School.

Life Estate

A donor deeds personal residential property to The Putney School. While the donor is still living, he/she has legal interest in the life estate with full rights to live there or to rent or sell those rights. The donor continues to take care of the property, pay the taxes, and receive any income the property generates.

Charitable Gift Annuity

A person(s) irrevocably transfers to The Putney School some cash or other property and The Putney School agrees to pay the donor or other beneficiaries guaranteed payments for life.

Charitable Trust

A trust that is held for the benefit of The Putney School in which the principal of the gift is invested and the income is distributed to The Putney School.

Charitable Lead Annuity Trust

A donor irrevocably transfers assets to The Putney School and The Putney School receives income payments from the trust for a specified number of years. The trust makes a fixed-dollar payment annually to The Putney School. At the end of that term, the assets of the trust return to the donor.

Charitable Lead Unitrust

The Putney School receives income payments from the trust for a specified number of years. The trust pays a fixed percentage of the market value, determined annually, to The Putney School. At the end of that term, the assets of the trust return to the donor.

Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust

An irrevocable trust in which a donor gives cash or assets to the trust, allowing the payment of income to one or more persons for their lives or a term of years. At the end of this time, the trust's assets are given to The Putney School. The donor receives a fixed income from the trust for the rest of his/her life. The trust assets become the property of The Putney School upon the donor's death or in a pre-established period.

Charitable Remainder Unitrust

An irrevocable trust in which a donor gives cash or assets to the trust, allowing the payment of income to one or more persons for their lives or a term of years. At the end of this time, the trust's assets are given to The Putney School. The donor receives variable income from the trust for the rest of his/her life. The trust assets become the property of The Putney School upon the donor's death or in a pre-established period.

For further information on these and other opportunities for giving, please contact:

Christie Baskett
Director of Development
The Putney School
Elm Lea Farm
418 Houghton Brook Road
Putney, VT 05346-8675

802-387-6272
802-387-5931 (fax)
cbaskett@putneyschool.org