Young couple smiling

Transforming realty to gift reality

Real estate

Learn more about the many ways to use real estate to support Walla Walla University in the FREE guide, 7 Ways to Donate Real Estate.

View the Free Brochure

Want to make a big gift to Walla Walla University without touching your bank account? Consider giving us real estate. Such a generous gift helps us continue our work for years to come. A gift of real estate also helps you. When you give us appreciated property, you have held longer than one year, you qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction. You avoid paying capital gains tax. And you no longer have to deal with the maintenance costs, property taxes, or insurance for that property.

Another benefit: You don’t have to hassle with selling the real estate. You can deed the property directly to Walla Walla University or ask your attorney to add a few sentences in your will or trust agreement.

Ways to give real estate

You can give real estate to Walla Walla University in the following ways:

Submit a few details, and see the benefits of an outright gift.

See My Benefits

An outright gift. When you make a gift today of real estate you have owned longer than one year, you qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction equal to the property's full fair market value. This deduction lets you reduce the cost of making the gift and frees cash that otherwise would have been used to pay taxes. By donating the property to WWU, you also eliminate capital gains tax on its appreciation.

A gift in your will or living trust. A gift of real estate through your will or living trust allows you the flexibility to change your mind and the potential to support the work at WWU with a larger gift than you could during your lifetime. In as little as one sentence or two, you can ensure that your support for Walla Walla University continues after your lifetime.

Submit a few details, and see the benefits of a retained life estate.

See My Benefits

A retained life estate. Perhaps you like the tax advantages a gift of real estate to WWU would offer, but you want to continue living in your personal residence for your lifetime. You can transfer your personal residence or farm to Walla Walla University and keep the right to occupy (or rent out) the home for the rest of your life. You continue to pay real estate taxes, maintenance fees, and insurance on the property. Even though WWU would not actually take possession of the residence until after your lifetime, since your gift cannot be revoked, you qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction for a portion of your home's value.

Submit a few details, and see the benefits of a deferred charitable gift annuity.

See My Benefits

A deferred charitable gift annuity.  Are you tired of the hassles of maintaining your property, such as paying taxes, utilities, and repair bills? Consider donating the property to Walla Walla University in exchange for reliable payments for life for you (and someone else, if you choose). When you arrange a charitable gift annuity, you receive a federal income tax charitable deduction in the year you set up the gift annuity when you itemize on your taxes. If you use appreciated real estate to make a gift, you can usually eliminate capital gains tax on a portion of the gift and spread the rest of the gain over your life expectancy. A gift of unmortgaged property to fund a deferred gift annuity is preferable and generates the greatest tax benefit.

Submit a few details, and see the benefits of a bargain sale.

See My Benefits

A bargain sale. Do you want to sell us your property for less than the fair market value? A "bargain sale" may be the answer. When you make a bargain sale, you sell your property to our organization for less than what it’s worth. The difference between the actual value and the sale price is considered a gift to us. A bargain sale can be an effective way to dispose of property that has increased in value, and it is the only gift vehicle that can give you a lump sum of cash and a charitable deduction (when you itemize) at the same time.

Submit a few details, and see the benefits of a charitable remainder unitrust.

See My Benefits

A charitable remainder unitrust. You can contribute any type of appreciated real estate you’ve owned for more than one year, provided it’s unmortgaged, in exchange for an income stream for life or a term of up to 20 years. The donated property may be a residence (a personal residence must be vacant upon contribution), undeveloped land, a farm, or commercial property. Real estate works well with only certain variations of charitable remainder trusts. Your estate planning attorney, who will draft your trust, can give you more details.

A charitable lead trust. This gift can be a wonderful way for you to benefit Walla Walla University and simultaneously transfer appreciated real estate to your family tax-free. You should consider funding the charitable lead trust with real estate that is income-producing and expected to increase in value over the term of the trust.

A memorial or endowed gift. A gift of real estate may be a perfect way to honor your loved one in perpetuity. When you make an endowed gift of real estate, your contribution is invested with and becomes part of the WWU endowment. An annual distribution is made for the purpose you designate. The principal remains intact, which means the fund will generate support in perpetuity.

Check out this potential scenario

Janet purchased a rental property years ago and has watched it grow steadily in value. Still active in her career and traveling frequently, she's beginning to find management of the property more and more of a hassle. At this stage of her life, Janet has decided to move to a 55+ condominium development where all exterior maintenance is provided and she doesn’t have to worry about security issues. Janet sees this as an opportunity to give her rental property to a charity that’s important to her while realizing valuable tax benefits.

Janet avoids capital gains tax on the appreciation and qualifies for a federal income tax charitable deduction of $250,000, which is the property's fair market value today. She is able to claim 30 percent of her $200,000 adjusted gross income, or $60,000, in the year of the gift. In the five years following, she can continue to use up the remaining $190,000 deduction. Janet is happy in her new condo and loves knowing that the gift of her property will make a big difference supporting the mission of WWU.

Calculate your benefits

Gift Illustrator

Submit a few details, and see how a charitable remainder trust can benefit you.

See My Benefits.

Next steps

  1. Contact Dorita Tessier, CFRE, CSPG at (509) 527-2646 or dorita.tessier@wallawalla.edu to discuss the possibility of giving real estate to Walla Walla University.
  2. Seek the advice of your financial or legal advisor to make sure this gift fits your goals.
  3. If you include Walla Walla University in your plans, please use the legal name and federal tax ID.

Legal name: Walla Walla University
Address: 204 South College Avenue, College Place, WA 99324
Federal tax ID number: 91-0617727

Learn more about the many ways to use real estate to support Walla Walla University in the FREE guide, 7 Ways to Donate Real Estate.

View the Free Brochure

Not Sure How to Begin Planning?

Download our FREE Personal Estate Planning Kit