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Gift Planning: Give Your Assets

Making a Gift of Your Life Insurance

By naming Calvin as the beneficiary of your life insurance, or by donating a paid-up life insurance policy to Calvin, you can multiply the value of your gift many times over.

To make a gift of life insurance to Calvin, you can:

  • Name Calvin as either a primary or secondary beneficiary in your life insurance policy. Work directly with your insurance company to do this, but don’t forget to let us know so we can include you in the William Spoelhof Society.
  • Give Calvin your already paid-up life insurance policy and receive a tax deduction for an asset you may no longer need.
  • Choose to have Calvin act as the owner and manager of a life insurance policy in which you’ve named Calvin the beneficiary.

Making a Gift of Your Real Estate

Giving real estate to Calvin College can be a great way to make a charitable gift and avoid capital gains taxes on property that has significantly appreciated in value. You may choose to make an outright gift of real estate to Calvin or establish an income-producing planned gift like a charitable remainder trust.

Before you begin the process of selling your real estate, contact the Office of Planned Giving to discuss your options with a Planned Giving representative. We will help you with the necessary paperwork so that you and Calvin receive the full benefit of your gift.

Making a Gift of Your Retirement Assets

Giving from your investment in a retirement plan can be one of the best planned gifts you can make. While retirement assets passing to children or grandchildren would normally be subject to estate and income taxes possibly exceeding 70 percent of the plan, you can avoid these taxes by directing these funds to Calvin.

Your retirement plan might be an IRA, a 401(k), a 403(b), a TIAA CREF account, a profit-sharing plan or another plan your employer has set up for you, but whatever the case, you should speak with your plan administrator (e.g. your bank, your employer) to give your retirement assets to Calvin. We would be happy to help you make these changes.

Membership in the William Spoelhof Society

Spoelhof Society logo

If you have included Calvin College in your planned giving arrangements send us a completed form or contact the Planned Giving Office at (800) 968-4363 or (616) 526-8719 and we will include you in The William Spoelhof Society.

Choose your plan

You have many options when it comes to planned giving. Perhaps you’d like to find a way to help Calvin while providing income for yourself or a loved one. Or maybe you wish to include Calvin as a beneficiary in your will. Visit the rest of our site to discover the benefits of:

• Creating an income-producing annuity or trust
• Donating your life insurance, real estate or retirement assets
•Giving in your will or trust

“As a lifelong friend and admirer of William Spoelhof, I’m very honored to be part of the planned giving society that bears his name.”

Dr. Clifton Orlebeke, emeritus professor of philosophy, and his wife Barbara created a gift annuity through Calvin College.

Contact the Office of Planned Giving

Sally Vander Ploeg

To talk to someone about making a gift to Calvin from your retirement plan, real estate or life insurance policy, call Sally at (616) 526-8719 or e-mail giftplanning@calvin.edu