PLANNED GIVING
For 125 years, ASOR has relied on members and donors who believe our work should outlast anyone of us. A planned gift—through your estate, a retirement account, or another long-term vehicle—is how you ensure the next generation of scholars inherits a thriving organization. The options below range from simple beneficiary designations that take a few minutes to gifts that may also offer significant tax advantages, and any of them can be directed to the area of ASOR’s work that matters most to you.
Include ASOR in your estate plan (Legacy Circle)
Naming ASOR in your will or living trust is the most flexible way to make a planned gift. A bequest doesn’t affect your assets during your lifetime, can be any amount or percentage of your estate, and can be designated to ASOR’s general use or to a specific fund or endowment. Members who have made this commitment join ASOR’s Legacy Circle and are recognized in our communications.
Name ASOR as a beneficiary of your retirement account
Naming ASOR as a beneficiary of a retirement account (401k, 403b, IRA, or similar) is one of the simplest planned gifts to make—it usually takes a few minutes and can be done at any age. Request a change-of-beneficiary form from your plan administrator and name the American Society of Overseas Research (Tax ID 23-1352617) as a beneficiary for whatever percentage or dollar amount feels right. Many donors begin with a 1% designation. Beneficiary gifts often reduce the tax burden on your heirs, since retirement-account assets passed to individuals can be taxed heavily, while gifts to ASOR pass tax-free.
Make a tax-free gift from your retirement account (QCDs)
If you are 70½ or older, you can transfer up to $111,000 per year directly from your IRA to ASOR as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). A QCD:
- Counts toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) for the year.
- Eliminates federal income tax on the withdrawal (unlike a regular IRA distribution, which can be taxed at up to 37%).
- Can be directed to the Fund for ASOR, the Annual Fund, or any named endowment, scholarship, or program.
- May reduce future-year RMDs depending on your level of annual QCDs.
To make a QCD, contact your IRA administrator and request a direct distribution to the American Society of Overseas Research (Tax ID 23-1352617).
Other ways to leave a legacy
ASOR also accepts gifts of life insurance (naming ASOR as a beneficiary or owner of a policy), charitable remainder trusts, charitable gift annuities, and gifts of appreciated stock or other assets. Each can be structured to fit your financial goals and timeline, and many offer immediate or deferred tax benefits. Our development team is happy to talk through the options.
