There are many ways to make a gift or to fulfill a pledge to Boston College Law School. Those most frequently used are listed below. Each has its distinctive benefits, depending on the type of asset contributed, the form of gift selected, and the donor's age. The Office of Alumni Advancement is prepared to work with donors to fashion the most beneficial gift for the donor, for the donor's family, and for Boston College Law School.

OUTRIGHT GIFTS
The quickest and easiest way to make a gift is outright, either by check or credit card. Outright gifts have the most immediate benefit to the Law School, because they can be applied right away to the purpose for which the gift is made. Outright gifts may also be made using appreciated securities. Many people have stock holdings that have appreciated significantly. If some of these shares were sold, they would be subject to capital gains taxes. A gift of appreciated securities allows the individual to avoid capital gains taxes on the contributed shares and to be credited with a gift valued at the full fair market value of those shares. Click here for information on transferring securities.

LIFE INCOME GIFTS
Federal tax laws provide for ways to structure a gift that provides a stream of income to the donor and/or another beneficiary the donor may name, while giving the donor a charitable deduction for his or her philanthropy. Among the most commonly used of such gift vehicles are charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts. Life income gifts provide an immediate charitable deduction to the donor, even though the Law School's use of the contributed assets is deferred until the term of the gift vehicle has expired. With life income gifts, it frequently is possible to improve the level of the donor's annual income, even while expressing one's philanthropic interest in Boston College Law School. Through such charitable gifts, a donor may also actually improve the value of the estate he or she wishes to leave to heirs. In the final analysis, the potential advantages of such gift arrangements often enable individuals to make charitable gifts at levels much higher than they thought possible.

LIFE INSURANCE
Frequently, donors own a life insurance policy that is no longer needed for its original purpose. Such a policy can be contributed to the Boston College Law School by irrevocably transferring ownership of the policy to Boston College and designating the Law School as the beneficiary. In general, gift credit is given for the cash surrender value and that value may be claimed as an income tax deduction in the transfer year.

BEQUESTS
Donors may include Boston College Law School as a beneficiary of their estate. Bequests may be made for a specific amount or for a percentage of the residual estate after all specific bequests have been fulfilled.

To discuss any options that may interest you, please contact the Office of Alumni Advancement at Boston College Law School (617-552-3734). Donors are encouraged to discuss their philanthropic plans with their attorney or tax advisor, especially before undertaking one of the more complex approaches.

SHAW SOCIETY
As part of the Light the World campaign, the University has set a goal of 5,000 legacy gifts (e.g., bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts and lead trusts).  The Law School is committed to securing 500 legacy gifts as part of the larger 5,000 goal set by the University.  If you have named the Law School as a beneficiary of your estate and would like to be recognized as a member in the Shaw Society, please complete and return the Shaw Society Enrollment Form.

Law School Fund
The latest information on the Fund, including money raised to date.

Testimonials
Read why our alumni & friends choose to give to BC Law.