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  • 1.  Booking an Pledge and Planned Gift to be fulfilled by an IRA

    Posted 9 hours ago
    Edited by Nikki Long 9 hours ago

    My VP asked me to see how other institutions would handle this giving scenario. 

    We are planning to start a capital campaign soon at our institution, so every new pledge/planned gift is being counted accordingly.

    I'm seeing the following scenario two ways: 

    Option 1: 5 year pledge for $72,000 and booking a Planned Gift Bequest for $128,000 (conservative estimate to not have to accommodate a loss potentially in the future)
    Option 2: 5 year pledge for $72,000 and booking a Planned Gift Bequest for $200,000 (due to donors' ages)

    Other pertinent information: The donor verbally stated that the amount used to pay the "pledge" portion would be from the earnings on the IRA so we should still receive $200K or so upon the his and his wife's deaths. However, that is not in writing. The donors are currently in their early/mid 80s age-wise. 

     

    The WRITTEN gift agreement reads as follows: 

    Gift Commitment

    The Donors agree to make a charitable gift of $6,000 in 2026 to the Charity for the benefit of the X Memorial Endowment.

    Beginning in January 2027, the Donors intend to make an annual gift of $18,000 each
    January to the Charity for the benefit of the endowment. The annual gift will
    continue for the remainder of the donor's and his spouse's lifetime.

    The Donors acknowledge that the $18,000 annual amount is based upon the current
    estimated annual distribution from the Donor's IRA and may be greater or less
    in future years based upon changes in the IRA distribution amount, investment
    performance, or other circumstances.

     

    IRA Beneficiary Designation

    Upon the death of <Donor Names>, the Donors intend for the
    remaining assets of his IRA to be distributed to the Charity and designated for the X Memorial Endowment.

    The remaining value of the IRA is currently estimated to be approximately $200,000.
    The Donors understand that the actual amount ultimately received by the Charity may be greater or less than this estimate due to future distributions, investment
    performance, market conditions, and other factors.

    My VP wants to book a pledge of $72,000 (over the next 5 years) as well as book the Planned Gift (but is unsure of what value it should be; he would rather be conservative, but will book at full value if I can't find anything stating we shouldn't). 


    How would your institution handle this and what value would you use for the Pledge and Planned Gift respectively to book them for campaign counting? 



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    Nikki L.
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  • 2.  RE: Booking an Pledge and Planned Gift to be fulfilled by an IRA

    Posted 9 hours ago
    From a CASE perspective, you do not have sufficient information to record a bequest expectancy since the amount is variable. Also, you do not mention the donor's age, but to book a bequest expectancy, they would need to be 65 by the end of the campaign.

    That said, I know many organizations would record a BE for $200,000 based on current estimates. However, it would be counted below the line in a clearly labeled category for revocable gifts.

    You have a similar problem booking a pledge. The only thing the donor has committed to is $6,000. For 2027 and beyond, the donor has not made an enforceable pledge. They have only stipulated their intent. LOIs cannot be booked as irrevocable commitments or put on the GL. Your gift acceptance committee might permit the recording of a non-binding commitment of $90,000 every five years, but that would also go in that below-the-line total. 

    John H. Taylor, Principal
    John H. Taylor Consulting, LLC
    2604 Sevier Street
    Durham, NC     27705

    919.816.5903 (cell/text)

    Serving the Advancement Community Since 1987






  • 3.  RE: Booking an Pledge and Planned Gift to be fulfilled by an IRA

    Posted 9 hours ago
    Edited by Nikki Long 9 hours ago

    Thank you, John. I did mention their ages in the Other Pertinent information part, but they are both in their early/mid 80s. I appreciate your input. 



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    Nikki L.
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