Gifts made by will to the Foundation are directly deductible from the donor's taxable estate. Since a charitable bequest is taken "off the top" (the most highly taxed portion of the estate), the estate is reduced and less tax is due. More of the estate, then, is left for distribution to the heirs. Donors wishing to assist OSU through their wills can do so in several ways:

• an outright gift;
  
• a gift to a designated beneficiary in trust with a remainder interest to the Foundation;
  
• a gift to the Foundation in trust for a period of years with a remainder interest to a designated beneficiary; or
  
• a contingent gift that would come to the Foundation only if a designated beneficiary dies before the donor.
  

EXAMPLE: Marie Jennings inherited $500,000 when her father passed away. When added to her existing assets, the bequest brought Marie's total estate to $850,000. Marie decides to leave $250,000 to the OSU Foundation through her own will to establish an endowed professorship in memory of her father. At Marie's death, the charitable deduction generated by this bequest saves her estate more than $94,000 in federal taxes. The remaining $600,000 from Marie's estate is still available as a generous gift to her children.

Note: The Foundation will gladly provide suggested language for your will to ensure that your charitable objectives for the University will be accomplished.