1. Gift Planning
  2. Beneficiary Designations

Make a Gift in a Few Easy Steps

Not everyone wants to commit to making a gift in their wills or estates. Some prefer the increased flexibility that designating a beneficiary provides. Beneficiaries can be named for:

  • IRAs and retirement plans
  • Life insurance policies
  • Donor advised funds
  • Commercial annuities

It is very simple to name the University of Southern California as a beneficiary. Start by requesting a change-of-beneficiary form from your policy administrator or download the form from your provider's website. Make your desired changes and return the form to establish your gift.

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An Example of How It Works

Robert and Carol treasure the financial help they’ve been able to give their children and USC over the years. The couple recently updated their will to leave stocks and real estate to their kids. They left USC a $75,000 IRA to be transferred after they pass away. Because USC is a tax-exempt institution, all of the money will go to supporting the university's mission.

If Robert and Carol had left the IRA to their children, approximately $18,000* would have gone to pay federal income taxes—leaving only $57,000 for their family’s use. Robert and Carol are happy knowing they are making the most of their hard-earned money thanks to their updated estate plan.

*Based on an assumption of a 24% marginal income tax bracket.

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Learn More

Download our FREE guide Beneficiary Designations: Easy Ways to Leave Your Legacy.

Next Steps

  1. Contact the administrator of your retirement plan, insurance policy or bank account for a change-of-beneficiary form, or simply download a form from your provider's website. 
  2. Decide what percentage (1 to 100) you would like the University of Southern California to receive and name us, along with the percentage you chose, on the beneficiary form. Return the completed form.
  3. Contact the Office of Gift Planning at (213) 740-2682 or giftplanning@usc.edu to let us know your goals for the gift so we can ensure it is used as you intend.

Legal name: University of Southern California, a California not-for-profit corporation, with its principal place of business at Los Angeles, California.
Address: University Park Campus, ALM 2nd Floor, MC 0461, Los Angeles, California 90089-4017
Federal tax ID number: 95-1642394