Charitable Lead Unitrust

A charitable lead unitrust is a gift plan that allows you to transfer assets to family members at reduced tax cost while making a generous gift to Slippery Rock University. 

As a lead unitrust donor, you irrevocably transfer assets, usually cash or securities, to a trustee of your choice (for example, Slippery Rock University Foundation or a bank trust department). 

During the lead unitrust's term, the trustee invests the unitrust's assets. Each year, the trustee pays a fixed percentage of the unitrust's current value, as revalued annually, to Slippery Rock University Foundation Inc. for the purpose you designate.

The lead unitrust's term may be for a specific number of years (10-20 years is common), one or more lifetimes, or a combination of the two. When the lead unitrust term ends, the unitrust distributes all of its accumulated assets to family members or other beneficiaries you name. You may add funds to your unitrust at any time. 

Charitable lead trust benefits

  1. You qualify for a federal gift tax deduction.
  2. Slippery Rock University receives fixed annual payments from your trust for a term of years, or for another term you designate. 
  3. Beneficiaries of your trust (for example, family members) will receive all of the trust's assets when the trust terminates. Any asset growth that occurs within the trust will be distributed to your trust's beneficiaries free of gift or estate tax. 
  4. Your gift will benefit from expert asset management, provided by the same professionals who manage the Slippery Rock University Foundation endowment.

Interested in learning more?

Connect with our Planned Giving Officer at sboehringer@srufoundation.org or call 724.738.2644.