Planned Giving

IRA and Retirement Funds

If you are 70 ½ years of age or older and have a traditional individual retirement account (IRA) you have the opportunity to make a qualified charitable distribution of up to $100,000 to Fordham Law School. The gift you make from your IRA counts toward your required minimum distribution and is tax-free. Giving directly from your IRA is a compassionate way to fulfill your annual Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) and helps reduce your tax burden.

For your gift to qualify:

  • You must be 70 ½ years of age or older at the time of your gift.
  • The transfer must be made from your IRA directly to Fordham Law School.
  • Your total annual IRA Charitable Rollover gift(s) cannot exceed $100,000 in the calendar year of the gift.
  • Your gift must be completed by December 31 in the year you decide to make the gift.
  • Your gift must be outright. Gifts from your IRA to donor-advised funds or life-income vehicles such as charitable gift annuities or charitable remainder trusts do not qualify as IRA Charitable Rollover gifts.

 

Making your gift is easy:

  • Contact your IRA custodian.
  • Ask that your distribution be a charitable rollover to Fordham Law School.
  • To ensure that we can promptly and accurately credit your gift, ask them to include your name, address and how you would like the gift allocated in the transfer (i..e. Fordham Law School Fund (L0001), Dean’s Strategic Initiatives Fund (L0500), etc.)

Distributions can be mailed to:

Fordham University School of Law
P.O. Box 412875
Boston, MA 02241-2875


For distributions sent via wire transfer, please have your plan custodian contact us at 212-636-6529 for specific instructions. Please notify us of an expected check or wire transfer from your IRA administrator by completing and returning the IRA Rollover Gift Notification Form. You can contact us at [email protected].

 

Retirement Plan Beneficiary

You may name Fordham Law School (Tax ID #13-1740451) as a beneficiary of your IRA or other qualified retirement benefits. Donors should consult with their tax advisor regarding the tax benefits of such gifts.

Naming Fordham Law School as the beneficiary of a qualified retirement plan asset such as a 401(k), 403(b), IRA, Keogh or profit-sharing pension plan will accomplish a charitable goal while realizing significant tax savings. It can be costly to pass such assets on to heirs because of heavy tax consequences. By naming Fordham Law School as a beneficiary of a retirement plan, the donor maintains complete control over the asset while living. Still, at the donor's death, the plan passes to support Fordham Law School free of both estate and income taxes.

Making a charitable gift from your retirement plan is easy and should not cost you any attorney fees. Simply request a change-of-beneficiary form from your plan administrator. When you have finished, please return the form to your plan administrator and notify Fordham Law School. We can also assist you with the proper language for your beneficiary designation to Fordham Law School.

Please contact Karen Gresia, executive director of development and strategic initiatives, at [email protected] or 212-636-7640 to tell us of your intent, and she will be able to assist you with the details of your gift.

 


Honorary and Memorial Gifts

To make a gift in honor or memory of a friend or loved one, please contact us at [email protected] or 212-636-6529.