Congress recently passed legislation that allows you to make charitable gifts from your IRA. Giving from your eligible IRA funds may

• reduce your taxable income,
• cut taxes on your Social Security benefits,
• erase future tax burdens on your IRA,
• reduce other tax penalties and
• allow you to make an investment in the University of Memphis.

If you are age 70 ½ or older, you can make a charitable gift of up to $100,000 from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) funds. Making your charitable gifts in 2008 or 2009 from your IRA funds may be a wise choice, as those funds may be subject to tax if withdrawn voluntarily or under mandatory withdrawal requirements. If you choose to make a gift in this way, please remember

• to transfer the money directly from your IRA accounts to the University of Memphis Foundation;
• that such transfers can be used to fulfill documented pledges;
• that such IRA charitable rollovers will qualify—in part or in whole—for your yearly required minimum distributions (if you are age 70½ and older);
• that, while you cannot take an income tax deduction for this transfer, neither will you have to realize it as taxable income;
• to check with your financial and other advisors; and
• to let us know of your gift, so that we can both acknowledge it and can assist in tracking your gift to ensure that it arrives in a timely manner.

Using your IRA can allow you to make an investment in the University of Memphis now. There is no greater return on investment than in the education and training the University provides.

Please download the IRA Gift Opportunities brochure here, or e-mail a request for a hardcopy to d.murrell@memphis.edu.

To make a gift, simply follow the instructions here. If we can assist you in any way, or if you would like to discuss other ways to include the University of Memphis in your estate plans, please call Dan Murrell at 901-678-2732 or e-mail him at d.murrell@memphis.edu.