Beneficiary Designations & Donor-Advised Funds

Beneficiary Designation

Invest in the future of The UC Theatre by designating The UC Theatre as a beneficiary of retirement accounts, brokerage accounts, POD/TOD accounts, or donor-advised funds.

How it works

• You name The UC Theatre as a beneficiary of your account during your lifetime. You will need to reach out to account administrators to obtain and return the beneficiary designation forms. Some financial institutions will allow you to designate beneficiaries through their website.
• After your lifetime, all or a percentage of the remaining assets in your account go to The UC Theatre in support of building human connection through music.

How you benefit

• You can control your UC Theatre legacy by designating which UC Theatre programs will be supported by your gift.
• Some accounts, such as IRAs, are taxed when passed to non-spousal heirs, but avoid taxation when donated to a charity such as The UC Theatre.
• You continue to control your accounts during your lifetime.
• You can change your beneficiary designation at any time.
• You can fund a Testamentary Charitable Remainder Trust by way of a beneficiary designation from retirement or brokerage account assets, which can pay income to a loved one for life or a term of years, with the remainder going to The UC Theatre.

Make a Gift with a Donor-Advised Fund

The Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) is an increasingly popular way to make a charitable gift. DAFs can provide you with immediate tax benefits while making your charitable giving easier. Here are two simple ways you can make a gift through your DAF:

• Give now: make an outright gift by recommending a grant to The UC Theatre.
• Give later: invest in the future of The UC Theatre by naming us as a beneficiary of all or a percentage of the remainder of the fund.

Select the option that best suits your philanthropic and financial goals. Just contact your donor-advised fund administrator to recommend a grant to The UC Theatre or to discuss a succession plan.

Creating a Donor-Advised Fund

Creating a donor-advised fund can provide you with immediate tax benefits while making your charitable giving easier for years to come.

How it works

You establish a donor-advised fund at a sponsoring charity. This could be a community foundation, a public charity with a donor-advised fund program, or one of the well-known financial services companies that sponsor donor-advised funds. Check with the sponsor about the minimum contribution required to start a fund, which typically ranges from $5,000 to $25,000. The sponsor may allow you to give your fund a unique name. Then, make an initial contribution to start your fund. You can contribute cash or appreciated assets such as stocks or mutual funds, and you’ll get an immediate income tax charitable deduction for your contribution that could reduce your taxes if you itemize.

Once established and funded, you can recommend that your favorite public charities, such as The UC Theatre, receive grants from your fund. Most donor-advised funds have a minimum grant recommendation, or you can recommend distributing the entire balance of your fund to a cause important to you. You do not get an additional income tax charitable deduction for these grants.

You can also create a succession plan with your fund sponsor to recommend that some or all of the remaining assets in your fund at your passing go to The UC Theatre and other charities that are important to you.

The UC Theatre is grateful for grants that come from donor-advised funds. If you are considering establishing one, we can suggest several sponsors for your review. You should also consult your professional advisor for guidance.

If you include The UC Theatre in your plans, please let us know, and be sure to use our legal name and federal tax ID below.

Information for Your Plans

Share these details with your attorney, financial advisor, or estate-planning service when arranging your gift.

Legal Name: Berkeley Music Group
Doing business as: The UC Theatre
Tax ID: 46-1517597
Office and mailing address: 2030 University Ave., Berkeley, CA 94704