PLANNED GIVING
Leave A Lasting Legacy
​
Since 1980, WHUT Howard University Television has utilized the miraculous instrument of public television to enrich and change the lives of our families, friends, and neighbors in your area. This important work has been made possible through the years because of loyal members and supporters like you. You can continue making your area a better place to live, learn and grow by establishing a planned gift to support the future of public television in our community.​
​
Remembering WHUT in your will or trust is an incredibly valuable investment. When considering a planned gift to WHUT, you can rest assured that you are helping leave a remarkable legacy for your children, grandchildren, friends and community. We’ve partnered with FreeWill to help WHUT viewers create a legal estate plan — and create a legacy that supports our programming for future generations.
​
Ways to give
DONOR
STORIES
Hear stories from our donors about their motivation for Planned Giving to WHUT
GETTING STARTED
Including WHUT Howard University Television in your charitable plans is a simple process.
​
Will or Trust
​
To name WHUT Howard University Television as a beneficiary in your will or trust, you will need to include a provision that clearly expresses your charitable intentions. To make the process easier, we are pleased to share some suggested language for you and your advisor to consider.
​
We’ve also partnered with FreeWill to provide a free will-writing resource to our WHUT community. As a result of this trusted partnership, you can now write a legal will in 20 minutes or less at no personal cost. This tool is safe and secure and requires no sensitive security information. Click here to write your free will and create a legacy with WHUT.
​
Beneficiary Designations
​
To name WHUT-Howard University Television as a primary or contingent beneficiary of a financial account and/or a life insurance policy, you will need our legal name, address, and tax identification number. By clicking on the image below, you will be able to view and share this information.
​
Use the toolbar below to print or download the PDF to share our suggested bequest language and/or designee information.”
WHAT TO GIVE
Cash
​
Giving cash is a simple and popular way to support public television now and in the future.
​
Your outright gift of cash can bring attractive benefits to you as well. A popular benefit is the charitable tax deduction. In addition to the tax savings, you will be able to immediately witness and enjoy the impact of your support.
Should you decide to give cash later through your will or living trust, your estate may be able to claim an estate tax deduction.
​
Regardless of whether you decide to give now or later, your gift of cash can help you and WHUT Howard University Television make a real and lasting difference in our community.
​
Learn More
​
To learn more about making a gift of cash, please contact Luma Haj-Heithoff, M.B.A., WHUT Deputy General Manager, at 202.806.3460, or plannedgiving@whut.org. We would be honored to work with you and your advisors as you consider your plans.
​
Please consult with your professional advisor on the full impact of your charitable giving on your financial and/or legal circumstances.
​
Publicly Traded Stock
​
Your gift of publicly traded stock can help you and WHUT Howard University Television yield high returns for education, the arts, and culture in our community.
​
Your gift of stock can also provide attractive tax savings. The first of which is an immediate tax deduction. If the stock is worth more now than what you paid for it more than a year ago, you will be able to claim the full benefit of the stock's current fair market value. You can also avoid capital gains tax when you donate as opposed to selling this appreciated stock.
You may find that these tax savings can help you make a larger gift than you originally thought possible. Giving stock can help you and WHUT Howard University Television convert your stock market gains into real community change.
​
Learn More
​
To learn more about giving publicly traded stock, mutual funds, and other investments, please contact Luma Haj-Heithoff, M.B.A., WHUT Deputy General Manager, at 202.806.3460 or plannedgiving@whut.org. We would be honored to work with you and your advisors as you consider your plans.
​
Please consult with your professional advisor for advice on the full impact of your charitable giving on your financial and/or legal circumstances.
​
Retirement Assets
​
Did you know that retirement plans and accounts funded with pre-tax earnings are often subject both to income and estate taxes when children or others are named as your beneficiaries?
​
By naming WHUT Howard University Television as a beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k) and/or 403(b), you will be assured that every dollar will be used for a charitable purpose (like educational programming for kids) and shielded from income or estate taxes. You can then work with your advisors to identify other assets that are better suited to leave to your loved ones.
​
Another great benefit of naming WHUT Howard University Television as a beneficiary of your retirement assets is this option avoids the possible delays and various costs associated with probate administration. By making a gift of your retirement benefits to the station, your charitable wishes for our community can be fulfilled with greater ease and efficiency.
​
Learn More
​
To learn more about making a gift of retirement assets, contact Luma Haj-Heithoff, M.B.A., WHUT Deputy General Manager, at 202.806.3460, or plannedgiving@whut.org. We would be honored to work with you and your advisors as you consider your plans.
​
Please consult with your professional advisor for advice on the full impact of your charitable giving on your financial and/or legal circumstances.
​
Life Insurance ​
​
Many years ago, you may have purchased a life insurance policy to ensure the financial security of your family. Today, your family circumstances may have changed, and that policy is no longer needed for its original purpose. If so, perhaps you should consider making a gift of that policy to WHUT Howard University Television?
​
By giving outright and complete ownership of a partially or fully paid-up life insurance policy, you will be able to can claim an immediate tax deduction. The amount of this deduction is based on the lesser of the policy’s fair market value or the net premiums paid.
​
Another easy option for giving life insurance is to name WHUT Howard University Television as a primary or contingent beneficiary of your new or existing policy.
Regardless of when or how you decide to give, your life insurance policy can help ensure the security of our community for many years to come.
​
Learn More
​
To learn more about making a gift of life insurance, please contact Luma Haj-Heithoff, M.B.A., WHUT Deputy General Manager, at 202.806.3460, or plannedgiving@whut.org. We would be honored to work with you and your advisors as you consider your plans.
​
Please consult with your professional advisor for advice on the full impact of your charitable giving on your financial and/or legal circumstances.
​
Personal Property
​
A gift of tangible personal property can include items such as artwork, jewelry, antiques, and other physical objects. By donating your personal treasures to the station, you can help build precious value in our community.
​
You can also enjoy a number of personal benefits by making an outright gift of property. One popular benefit is the charitable tax deduction. This deduction is maximized when you donate property that: (1) has increased in value since the time you acquired it, (2) you've owned the property for more than one year, and (3) the property's use is related to the purpose and work of the station (like delivering educational programming to children).
You will also be able to avoid capital gains tax when you give the station your appreciated property. If it's more convenient, you can also give property later through your will or living trust.
Even without using cash, you can help fill our community chest with treasures that only public television can deliver.
​
Learn More
​
To learn more about making a gift of tangible personal property, please contact Luma Haj-Heithoff, M.B.A., WHUT Deputy General Manager, at 202.806.3460 or plannedgiving@whut.org.
​
Please consult with your professional advisor for advice on the full impact of your charitable gifts on your financial and/or legal circumstances.
​
Real Estate
​
A gift of real property can include personal residences, vacation homes, rental property, and farmland. You have a number of options for making a gift of real property to WHUT Howard University Television:
​
-
You can make an outright gift and claim a tax deduction.
-
You can give later through a gift in your will or revocable living trust.
-
You can deed the remainder interest of your personal residence to WHUT Howard University Television, retain the right to remain in the home for life, and receive a tax deduction.
Through a gift of real property, you can perhaps make a much larger gift than you otherwise thought possible, avoid income and estate taxes, and minimize or eliminate burdens placed on your loved ones.
​
Learn More
​
To learn more about giving property, please contact Luma Haj-Heithoff, M.B.A., WHUT Deputy General Manager, at 202.806.3460, or plannedgiving@whut.org as you consider your plans.
​
Please consult with your professional advisor for advice on the full impact of your charitable giving on your financial and/or legal circumstances.
​
HOW TO GIVE
Wills and Trusts ​
​
Making a gift in your will or revocable living trust is a meaningful way to ensure the promise of public television is kept to future generations in your area.
​
Naming WHUT Howard University Television as a beneficiary in your will or living trust can be done at any time. You can add a charitable provision to an existing document or express your charitable wishes in a new one.
​
Here are some ideas on how to make a gift to the station in your will or living trust:
-
You can give a specific dollar amount or property item,
-
You can give a percentage of your asset(s),
-
You can give all or a portion of what remains after gifts to other beneficiaries such as your family and friends have been made, or
-
Your gift can be contingent upon special circumstances or events.
​
No matter the form or the size, a gift in your will or living trust can help ensure public television remains a vital resource for our community for many generations to come.
​
Learn More
​
To learn more about making a gift in your will or trust to support the future of WHUT Howard University Television, please contact Luma Haj-Heithoff, M.B.A., WHUT Deputy General Manager, at 202.806.3460 or plannedgiving@whut.org. We would be honored to work with you and your advisors as you consider your plans.
​
Please consult with your professional advisor for advice on the full impact of your charitable gifts on your financial and/or legal circumstances.
​
​
BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION ​
​
Naming WHUT Howard University Television as a beneficiary of your financial accounts, retirement assets or life insurance is an effective and efficient way to support the future of public television in our community. Making a gift through a beneficiary designation is a simple and convenient three-step process.
​
-
Contact your financial institution, retirement plan administrator or life insurance company and request a beneficiary designation form.
-
Complete the form to designate WHUT Howard University Television as a primary or contingent beneficiary of your assets. (The tax-identification number for WHUT- Howard University Television is 53-0204707.)
-
Return the form to your financial institution, retirement plan administrator or life insurance company and then contact WHUT Howard University Television to share the wonderful news!
​
A beneficiary designation can also help avoid the expenses and possible delays that can be experienced with the probate process.
​
Learn More
​
To learn more about naming WHUT Howard University Television as one of your beneficiaries, please contact Luma Haj-Heithoff, M.B.A., WHUT Deputy General Manager, at 202.806.3460 or plannedgiving@whut.org.
We would be honored to work with you and your advisors as you consider your plans.
Please consult with your professional advisor for advice on the full impact of your charitable gifts on your financial and/or legal circumstances.
​
​
CH​ARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY
​
A charitable gift annuity is a simple way to support the future of public television in our community and enhance your financial security at the same time.
​
Here's how it commonly works:
​
-
You make a gift of cash and/or appreciated stock to fund a charitable gift annuity for the benefit of WHUT Howard University Television.
-
Fixed payments will then be made to you for life and, if desired, for the life of a loved one, such as a spouse, partner, or sibling.
-
The amount of the fixed payments will depend on the annuity rate for the age of the person(s) who will receive the payments.
-
The gift portion of the annuity will become fully available to WHUT Howard University Television only after the annuity ends.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Benefits:
-
If you itemize deductions on your federal income tax return, you can claim an immediate charitable tax deduction for a portion of your gift.
-
You will receive fixed payments for life, a portion of which are nontaxable for a period of time.
-
Your estate may enjoy reduced probate costs and estate tax.
-
You will have the satisfaction of knowing the impact of your gift will be multiplied when combined with the gifts of others who equally believe in the power of public television.
​
Learn More
​
To learn more about establishing a charitable gift annuity to support the future of WHUT Howard University Television, please contact Luma Haj-Heithoff, M.B.A., WHUT Deputy General Manager, at 202.806.3460 or plannedgiving@whut.org.
We would be honored to work with you and your advisors as you consider your plans.
Please consult with your professional advisor for advice on the full impact of your charitable gifts on your financial and/or legal circumstances.
​
​
Charitable Remainder Trust
​
If you wish to support public television in a larger way but still wish to retain an interest in your property for your benefit or the benefit of your family, a charitable remainder trust (“CRT”) may be a flexible option for you.
Here's how it commonly works:
​
-
You make a gift of cash and/or appreciated stock; those funds are then placed in an irrevocable trust.
-
The trust will then pay you and/or a person you choose regular payments for life or a period of years.
-
You can select a payout rate that meets your needs and passes certain tax regulations.
-
You may choose to receive fixed payments (annuity trust) or one that changes with market conditions ("unitrust".)
-
Once the trust ends, the remaining assets in the trust will pass on to WHUT Howard University Television and perhaps other charities you decide to name.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Benefits
-
You will be allowed an immediate charitable deduction for a portion of the gift if you itemize deductions on federal income tax return.
-
You will receive annual payments for life; a portion of the payments will be tax-free for a period of years.
-
Your estate may enjoy reduced probate costs and federal estate tax.
-
You will have the satisfaction of knowing the impact of your gift will be multiplied when it's combined with the gifts of others who equally believe in the power of public television.
​
Learn More
​
To learn more about creating a charitable remainder trust to support the future of WHUT Howard University Television, please contact Luma Haj-Heithoff, M.B.A., WHUT Deputy General Manager, at 202.806.3460 or plannedgiving@whut.org. We would be honored to work with you and your advisors as you consider your plans.
​
Please consult with your professional advisor for advice on the full impact of your charitable gifts on your financial and/or legal circumstances.
​
​
IRA
Making a gift from your IRA to WHUT is a tax-wise way to enrich the lives of your family, friends, and neighbors.
​
If you are 70 1/2 and older, you can make a “qualified charitable distribution” directly from your IRA. Gifts up to $100,000 are excluded from your federal income [and perhaps state income depending on the laws in your state]. If you file a joint return, each spouse can exclude up to $100,000 for a maximum of $200,000 each year. This charitable distribution will even count towards your required minimum distribution (“RMD”).
​
You can enjoy these special tax savings so as long as:
-
The distribution is made from either your Traditional or Roth IRA.
-
The distribution is made to a qualified charitable organization, like WHUT.
-
The distribution is made directly by your plan administrator to the station.
​
A gift made from your IRA will never count as income but always make a difference!
​
How to Give
​
Contact your plan administrator and request a “qualified charitable distribution” be made directly to WHUT. It’s important to know that if you first receive the distribution and then donate the proceeds, the gift will not count as a qualified charitable distribution. We encourage you to consult with your advisors to fully understand the legal and financial impact of your charitable gift.
​
We’re Here to Help
​
If you and your advisors need more information about giving from your IRA, please contact Luma Haj-Heithoff, M.B.A., WHUT Deputy General Manager, at 202.806.3460 or plannedgiving@whut.org.
​