Planned Giving

How will you leave a legacy?

Learn how leaving a legacy with Muhlenberg College can help support the causes you care about while continuing to meet your current financial needs.

Learn More About Smart Giving in 2026

Reach Your Philanthropic and Financial Goals with Planned Giving

A legacy gift enables you to support Muhlenberg College, secures the financial needs of your loved ones, and provides you with tax benefits. Legacy gifts of all sizes combine to help us meet our current goals and reach further into the future.

By including Muhlenberg College in your will or trust, naming Muhlenberg as a beneficiary of all or part of a life insurance policy, or taking advantage of other giving opportunities, you can preserve your assets now and support Muhlenberg for years to come. Your gift will have a real, lasting impact.

Let us help you make the gift that's right for you.

Request a confidential, no-obligation conversation to get started.

Get in touch with us

Join Circle of 1848

When you make a gift to Muhlenberg College from your will or trust, you'll be welcomed into Circle of 1848 and join other supporters and friends of our important mission. Is Muhlenberg College already in your plans? Please let us know so we can properly thank you and make sure your gift will be used as you've intended.

Document Your Gift to Muhlenberg College

How to Give

Not only do you have options for how your gift to Muhlenberg College will be used, you also have options on what to give and how to give. There are gifts that cost you nothing now, gifts that pay you income, and gifts that allow you to decide what happens when.

General Bequest

Gifts From Your Will

Through a provision in your written and executed will, you can make a gift in the form of cash, securities, real estate or personal property. There are many types of bequests. Choose the one that best fits your needs and intentions.

Download Bequest Language
Charitable Gift Annuity

Gifts That Pay You

You can turn underperforming assets (stock, cash in a savings account, CDs, savings bonds, etc.) into a gift to Muhlenberg that provides income to you. Your Charitable Gift Annuity will give you quarterly, fixed payments for life and tax benefits, too.

Download CGA Information
Donor Advised Funds

Beneficiary Designation and Grants

Designate Muhlenberg as a beneficiary to receive all or a portion of the balance of your Donor Advised Fund (DAF) through your fund administrator. You also can make a grant to us at any time from your donor-advised fund.

Learn More about DAFs
Charitable IRA Rollover

Charitable IRA Rollover

If you're 70 ½ or older, you can make a gift directly from your IRA to Muhlenberg. While there is no charitable deduction for a rollover gift, you do avoid the income tax on the donated portion of your required minimum distribution.

Download IRA Rollover Information
Gifts of Life Insurance

Beneficiary Designation and Paid-Up Policies

Name Muhlenberg College as the beneficiary of an existing life insurance policy; donate an existing, paid-up life insurance policy you no longer need; or purchase a new life insurance policy and name Muhlenberg College as the owner and beneficiary.

Learn More about Life Insurance
Gifts of Property

Real Estate and Other Valuables

Like stock, the fair market value of gifts of appreciated assets such as real estate, artwork, and other well curated collections, can be deducted from your income tax today and reduce your estate taxes in the future.

Download Real Estate Gift Information
Beneficiary Gifts

Retirement Accounts

Naming Muhlenberg College as the beneficiary of a qualified retirement plan asset such as a 401(k), 403(b), IRA, Keogh, profit-sharing pension plan or other donor-advised funds, will accomplish a charitable goal while realizing significant tax savings.

Download Beneficiary Gifts
Gifts of Stock

Appreciated Stock

When you donate appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual fund shares instead of cash, you'll receive charitable deductions at full, fair market value while reducing capital gains impact.

Download Stock Transfer Information
Other Options

Other Planned Giving Vehicles

There are many other ways to support Muhlenberg College through a planned giving vehicle. Charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, life insurance and more may be good options for you. We can show you creative ways to use your assets to benefit Muhlenberg College, while at the same time preserving the benefits of those assets for you and your family.

Contact Us to Discuss Your Options

Meet Our Donors

Donors just like you have made a real impact just by adding a few words to their will or using one of the many giving options available.

Let's get in touch

  • Mark Bentz

    Director, Principal Gifts & Planned Giving

    markbentz@muhlenberg.edu

    484-523-3302

    2400 Chew Street

    Allentown, PA 18104

  • For Professional Advisors

    If you are working with a professional advisor, or advising a donor, here's a practical guide for including in a charitable estate plan.

  • Download Advisor Guide