2231 Gifts of Real Estate

The University will review all proposed gifts of real estate interests submitted by a Development Officer to the Office of Gift Planning.  The Real Estate Gift Acceptance Committee (“REGAC”) will review all proposed gifts.  REGAC is comprised of a designated representative from each of the following University departments: Development and Alumni Relations (DAR), Office of Gift Planning (OGP), Office of the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer (Treasurer), Office of the General Counsel (OGC), and Facilities and Real Estate Services (FRES) as needed.  Upon completion of its review, REGAC will recommend final acceptance or rejection of the proposed gift.  It is the University’s policy to dispose of all gifts of real estate as expeditiously as possible, unless the property is specifically identified for acquisition in the Campus Master Plan.

Real estate interests may be accepted in six potential gift structures:

• Outright gift of AN entire property
• Undivided percentage interest

• Bargain sale
• Charitable remainder unitrust with a “flip” provision
• Deferred charitable gift annuity
• Retained life or term estate

Gifts of real estate interests should meet minimum net value thresholds to the University to merit consideration for acceptance:

• $100,000 for gifts of property in the United States
• $200,000 (US) for gifts of property outside the United States

For outright gifts, the minimum net value will be determined by the property’s fair market value.  For life income gifts, the minimum net value will be the calculated charitable deduction value.

REGAC will review proposed gifts of real estate subject to the following time constraints:

• Proposed gifts presented after October 15 cannot be guaranteed to be accepted in the current calendar year
• Proposed gifts presented after December 1 will automatically be reviewed in the following calendar year

Prospective donors should be informed of these time constraints in advance of the gift review process.  All efforts will be made to complete the review and decision process in a timely but thorough manner.

An outright gifts of a real estate interest will be counted for crediting purposes at fair market value.  Fair market value will be determined by a qualified appraisal provided by the donor.  The University may obtain its own appraisal in the absence of a donor appraisal, or for other reasons at its discretion.  The University reserves the right to adjust gift credit to the net sale proceeds if the property is sold within three years of the gift date.  For life income gifts, gift credit will be determined by the calculated charitable deduction for the gift.

Receipts issued by the University will have no value stated for gifts of real estate interests.  The receipt will describe the property and the date of the gift.

REGAC will be responsible for maintaining all documentation in support of this Policy, including but not limited to:

• The Real Estate Gift Acceptance Process
• Procedures for Accepting Gifts of Real Estate
• Value Guidelines for Real Estate Gifts
• Allocation of Expenses Related to Gifts of Real Estate
• Preliminary Property Intake Form

Please contact the Office of Gift Planning for copies of these documents.