40th–60th Giving Guide

Securities and mutual funds that have increased in value and have been held for more than one year can be used to make your gift to HMS. In making the gift, you may be eligible for various tax-advantaged benefits. 

Additional Benefits

• Carry forward any unused charitable deduction for up to five additional years.

Next Steps

SECURITIES

1. Provide the following information to the Harvard Security Gifts Team at donorsecuritygifts@harvard.edu or 866-845-6596.
   • Name of security
   • Number of shares
   • Name of the donor with class year, if applicable
   • Designation of the gift
   • Brokerage or bank where the shares are held
   • Cost basis and acquisition date*
   *This information is being collected in relation to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

STOCKS

1. Notify Harvard University to ensure the proper processing of your gift by completing this online form »

MUTUAL FUNDS

1. Coordinate with the Alumni and Development Services-Trust Administration. For the team to determine the appropriate instructions, please call 866-845-6596 or email donorsecuritygifts@harvard.edu with the following information:
   Name of the mutual fund
   Number of shares
   Date of acquisition
   Where the shares are currently held

Designating HMS as a beneficiary of your IRA, investment account, savings account, or donor-advised fund is as easy as filling out a form. These assets make for tax-wise gifts to HMS—especially retirement accounts, which can be the most highly taxed assets people hold and are subject to income tax when distributed if left to heirs. 

Additional Benefits

• Keep assets during your lifetime and modify your beneficiary designations at any time.
• Help heirs avoid income tax.

Next Steps

1. Request a change of beneficiary form from your plan administrator and name the “President and Fellows of Harvard College, for the benefit of Harvard Medical School” as a beneficiary, along with the percentage you would like HMS to receive.
    
2. Submit your revised beneficiary form to your plan administrator.

Additional Benefits

• Simplify your giving and set up a recurring gift online.

Next Steps

CREDIT CARD
Harvard University accepts MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover cards.

1. Visit our secure online gift form »

If you’d like to make a tribute gift in memory of a lost loved one or in honor of someone special, select “Other” from the “Select a Fund” dropdown. In the “Other Fund Name” text box, write the name of the fund you want to support along with the phrase “in memory of [name]” or “in honor of [name].” Alternatively, you can download and complete this form and return it with your check to the address indicated.

CHECK
Please include a note with your full name, address, phone number, and the name of the fund you are supporting on the memo line.

1. Make a check payable to Harvard Medical School and mail it to:
   Harvard Medical School
   Alumni Affairs and Development
   P.O. Box 419720
   Boston, MA 02241-9720

A CGA allows you to make a gift to HMS now, receive fixed, annual income payments for life, and ultimately support the area of your choosing at HMS when the gift terminates.

The payout rate is based on the donor’s age and the start date of payments. Current gift annuity rates are 5.3% for donors age 60, 6.4% for donors age 70, and 8.3% for donors age 80. Rates for New York residents may vary due to state requirements. 

The minimum amount necessary to create a gift annuity at Harvard is $25,000. If you are an existing CGA donor interested in establishing an additional gift, please contact us for more information.

Contact our gift planning team at 800-922-1782 or email giftplanning@hms.harvard.edu. 

Additional Benefits

• Receive fixed income at competitive rates for one or two beneficiaries.
• Enjoy payments that are fully backed by the assets of the University.

Next Steps

1. CGA: Explore how a CGA might benefit your financial, estate planning, and philanthropic goals using our free online gift calculator, or contact our gift planning team at 800-922-1782 or email giftplanning@hms.harvard.edu.
    
2. Deferred CGA: Different customizations can be considered to best fit your charitable and financial goals (submit this online form for a personalized illustration). 
    
3. Legacy CGA: Donors can roll up to $50,000 of IRA funds into charitable gift annuities, with limitations. Contact our gift planning team at 800-922-1782 or email giftplanning@hms.harvard.edu.

A CRT provides income to you and/or your beneficiaries, based on a percentage of the trust's value (typically 5-6.5 percent). Upon the passing of the income beneficiaries, your trust will support an area of your choosing at HMS. Invest the assets in Harvard’s endowment or in a manner geared to pay income taxed at lower rates. Harvard will serve as trustee, direct the investment of the trust assets, and oversee all legal, accounting, and administrative matters at no additional cost to the donor. 

Additional Benefits

• Receive income with the potential for growth over time.
• Support your spouse or any number of beneficiaries.
• Access broad investment diversification and avoid separate management fees.

Next Steps

1. Contact our gift planning team at 800-922-1782 or email giftplanning@hms.harvard.edu.

Make an annual gift from your DAF to HMS. 

Additional Benefits

• Reduce income taxes the year the DAF is established.
• Simplify recordkeeping with one tax receipt.

Next Steps

USING YOUR DAF’S ONLINE PORTAL

1. If you have an account with Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, or BNY Mellon, select your fund provider, and you will be redirected to their website to complete your gift. 

If your DAF is with a different provider, contact them directly to request a gift to HMS on your behalf using the instructions below.

1. Search for “The President and Fellows of Harvard College” or Harvard University’s Federal Tax Identification Number (04-2103580). Gifts to HMS gifts are managed under this identification number. 
    
2. Enter as much of the following text as you can in any available notes or comments field “For the benefit of Harvard Medical School + fund name or purpose.”
   The fund name or purpose can be unrestricted, financial aid, or another designation.
    
3. Ensure that your name and the full names of any additional donors who should be recognized for the gift are included and will be shared with HMS. Also, provide your class year (if applicable), address, and phone number.
    
4. Enter the information below if you are prompted for an address:
   Harvard Medical School 
   Alumni Affairs and Development 
   P.O. Box 419720 
   Boston, MA 02241-9720

 
USING YOUR DAF’S CHECK-WRITING ABILITY 

1. Write a check payable to “The President and Fellows of Harvard College.”
   In the memo line, include “For the benefit of Harvard Medical School + fund name or purpose.”
    
2. Include a note with the full names of any additional donors who should be recognized for the gift, your class year (if applicable), address, and phone number.
    
3. Mail your check to
   Harvard Medical School 
   Alumni Affairs and Development 
   P.O. Box 419720 
   Boston, MA 02241-9720

Did you know? You can also designate HMS as a beneficiary of your DAF. Request a change of beneficiary form from your plan administrator and name the “President and Fellows of Harvard College, for the benefit of Harvard Medical School” as a beneficiary, along with the percentage you would like HMS to receive. If you include HMS in your plans, please let us know »

If you are at least 70 and a half years old, you can direct a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) to HMS, transferring up to $108,000 from your IRA as a gift. 

Additional Benefits

• Satisfy your required minimum distribution for those who are at least 73.

Donors can roll up to $54,000 of IRA funds into charitable gift annuities, with limitations. Contact our gift planning team at 800-922-1782 or email giftplanning@hms.harvard.edu.

Next Steps

CHECK

1. Download the IRA rollover letter of instruction and request that your IRA administrator issue a check for your selected dollar amount directly to HMS.

STOCKS/SECURITIES

1. Contact the Alumni and Development Services-Trust Administration at 866-845-6596 or donorsecuritygifts@harvard.edu. 
    
2. Please notify Harvard of the transfer to ensure the proper processing of your gift by completing this online form »

WIRE TRANSFER

1. Receiving Bank:	Bank of America 100 Federal Street Boston, MA 02110
   Beneficiary Legal Account:	President and Fellows of Harvard College ADS Account
   Account Number:	9429263621
   ACH Routing Number:	011000138
   Wire Routing Number:	026009593
   Swift Code (international donors):	BOFAUS3N
   Memo/Reference:	Donor name, degree/year (if applicable), and fund name (intended gift purpose)

2. Once the wire transfer arrangements have been made, please provide the following information to giftplanning@hms.harvard.edu:
   Name/location of bank sending the transfer
   Amount of gift
   Date of transfer
   Name of the HMS fund, program, or research area the gift is supporting

Including HMS in your will or living trust is a simple way to make a gift—and it may enable you to give more than you thought was possible. You retain control of your assets during your lifetime, and you can easily update your plan if your circumstances change. A bequest costs nothing now but provides future support for the causes most important to you. 

Additional Benefits

• Keep assets during your lifetime

Next Steps

1. Determine if you want to give cash or a specific asset such as real estate or personal property. 
    
2. Share the following language with your attorney:
   “I give ( dollars or percent of the residue of my estate) to the President and Fellows of Harvard College, a Massachusetts educational, charitable corporation, for the benefit of Harvard Medical School (optional: to benefit education, research, or another priority area).”

Gifting appreciated assets such as real estate, privately held shares, or cryptocurrency can provide you with a tax deduction while supporting the mission of HMS.

Contact our gift planning team at 800-922-1782 or email giftplanning@hms.harvard.edu.