Support & Involvement > FAQ's

For more information:

Write, call, or visit
Dale Melton
Vice President of Seminary Relations
Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
1044 Alta Vista Road, Louisville, KY 40205
502.992.9347; 502.572.7822
e-mail: dmelton @lpts.edu.

 

 

· FAQs - Ways to Partner

What type of scholarship support does the Seminary give to its students?

Through the generosity of our donors every student who demonstrates need may receive up to a 100% tuition grant currently valued at more than $9,600. While living expenses are also a major consideration, this tuition aid is a true blessing to our students. In addition, a limited number of Merit and Promise for Ministry Scholarships help cover living expenses.

How can I honor my former pastor during my lifetime when I don't have excess funds available at this time in my life?

You may make a "life-income" gift, such as a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder unitrust. This will guarantee an income for life for the beneficiary, with the remainder going to the Seminary at his or her death.

What is the effect of an endowment fund now…and in the future?

Income from an endowment fund, up to about 6% per year, is used to provide benefits each year. This income may support ongoing annual expenses or any of a number of donor-specified needs, such as scholarship aid, faculty chairs, lecture series, and library resources, among others.

Since the amount of income used each year (also known as the "spending rate") is only a portion of the target income earned on the endowment, it continues to grow so that the income used each year grows as well, in perpetuity. Thus, an endowment provides both for the present and for the future.

How much is needed to establish a named endowment fund?

A gift of $10,000 is sufficient to establish an endowment fund named for the person you wish to honor. Smaller gifts may be added to existing endowment funds.

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· FAQs - Gift Annuities

Q. What is a charitable gift annuity?

A: It is an agreement under which a donor transfers cash, securities, or other assets to Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary for the benefit of the Seminary. In return, the Seminary promises to pay an annuity, or fixed dollar amount, to one or two annuitants for as long as they live. The amount of the payment to be received is determined by the age and number of annuitants at the time the gift is made.

Q. Who is eligible to make a gift in this way?

A: Anyone age 50 or over who wishes to make an irrevocable gift of $5,000 or more qualifies for a charitable gift annuity.

Q. How much income does the annuitant receive each year?

A: The payout rate for a Louisville Seminary gift annuity depends on the number of income recipients and their ages.

Current payout rates for a one-life annuity (based on January 2010 IRS Discount Rate):

Age Payout rate Annual Income on
$10,000 annuity
50 4.4% $440
55 4.8% $480
60 5.0% $500
65 5.3% $530
70 5.7% $570
75 6.3% $630
80 7.1% $710
85 8.1% $810
90 and over 9.5% $950

The rates are somewhat lower for a two-life gift annuity.

Q. What are some of the benefits in making a charitable gift annuity?

A:
1. Satisfaction - You are assured the lifetime joy of helping enlarge and strengthen the vital mission of Louisville Seminary.

2. Guaranteed Life Income - You receive an attractive income guaranteed for life.

3. Tax advantages - You receive substantial tax benefits including a charitable deduction (if you itemize), tax-free income, capital gains, and estate tax savings.

4. Security - A Louisville Seminary gift annuity is professionally invested and is backed by all the assets of the Seminary. You are freed from burdensome investment decisions while being provided with maximum safety.

5. Flexibility - Your gift annuity may be created with cash or securities and may be for any specified amount, $5,000 or more.

Q. Do I need a lawyer to make this gift?

A. It is always a good idea to consult your financial and/or legal advisors when making a large gift. However, you do not need a lawyer to draft the gift annuity contract since the Seminary provides the standard agreement form.

Q. How can I get an estimate of benefits that would come to me if I were to make a gift/investment in a charitable gift annuity?

A. Dale Melton, Vice President of Seminary Relations at Louisville Seminary, would be pleased to tell you the income amount and tax benefits you could expect from a gift annuity.

Or use the online gift calculator to estimate the earnings of your gift annuity

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· FAQs - Gifts of Real Estate

If you are someone who has been thinking about making a gift to Louisville Seminary, you may wish to consider a gift of real estate. It may not be practical for you to make a gift of cash or securities at this time. However, a gift of a vacation home, a farm, commercial property, or parcel of undeveloped land may bring benefits to you as well as providing a major gift for the Seminary.

Q. What are the advantages of making a gift of real estate to Louisville Seminary?

A. Besides having the satisfaction of making a substantial gift to the Seminary, you will avoid any capital gains tax on the asset's appreciation and you will be entitled to an income tax charitable deduction equal to the full fair market value of the property, less any outstanding mortgage. The property will also be removed from your taxable estate.

Q. If I were to give real estate to the Seminary, could I receive an income for life in addition to gaining tax benefits?

A. Yes. If you transferred the title of your real estate to Louisville Seminary, the Seminary would sell the property and invest the proceeds in income producing assets. In return for the transfer of your property, the Seminary will help you establish a Charitable Remainder Unitrust (net income with make-up provision) with you as the donor and the income beneficiary. The Unitrust would provide tax benefits and income for you and one or more beneficiaries.

Q. Is it possible for me to give my house or farm to Louisville Seminary now and continue to live there?

A. Yes. There are income and estate tax advantages to those individuals who wish to make a gift in this manner. You would deed the house or farm to the Seminary with the understanding that you (and your spouse) would be able to live in the house for as long as you wish. It would be necessary for you to still maintain the residence and pay the property taxes. After your lifetime (and your spouse's) or whenever you decide you no longer wish to live there, the Seminary will be free to sell the property and use the proceeds for the purpose you designate.

Q. If I were to make a gift of real estate to establish a Charitable Remainder Unitrust with Louisville Seminary, what would be involved?

A: It would involve:

A. Establishing the value of the real estate through the services of two qualified, independent real estate appraisers. The gift would be valued at the average of these two appraisals. The donor will be given credit for that gift amount, and will be sent an IRS Form 8282 upon the sale of the real estate within two years.

B. The appraisers' signatures on IRS Form 8283, made not earlier than 60 days prior to the gift/investment.

C. A survey of the property.

D. An environmental check of the property.

E. An indication of marketability.

F. A letter of intent.

G. Review and acceptance by the Finance Committee of Louisville Seminary's Board of Trustees.

H. Real estate will be accepted to fund a net income charitable remainder trust to a ceiling of 6%.

For more information:

Write, call, or visit
Dale Melton, Vice President of Seminary Relations
Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
1044 Alta Vista Road, Louisville, KY 40205
502.992.9347; 502.572.7822
e-mail: dmelton @lpts.edu.

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