For decades, WCMU has been part of the fabric of central and northern Michigan — bringing trusted news, beloved programs, and a connection to the wider world into the homes of the people we serve. If WCMU has been a meaningful part of your life, a planned gift is one of the most powerful ways to ensure that continues for generations to come.
Whether you're just beginning to think about your legacy or you're ready to take a next step, we want to make this as easy as possible. The options below are a starting point — and we're always happy to talk.
WCMU Public Media does not provide legal or tax advice. All planned giving options should be discussed with your attorney, accountant, or financial advisor. Additional giving strategies beyond those listed here may be available to you.
Bequests
A bequest is a gift to WCMU made through your will or living trust — and it's one of the most flexible planned giving options available. You can designate a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or name WCMU as a beneficiary of what remains after other obligations are met. Bequests can be updated at any time as your circumstances change.
To share your intentions with us, you're welcome to download and complete our letter of intent. Having this on file helps us honor your wishes and express our gratitude — though we understand plans evolve.
IRA Charitable Rollover (Qualified Charitable Distribution)
If you're 70½ or older, you can make a direct gift from your IRA to WCMU — and it can be one of the most tax-efficient ways to give.
A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) allows you to transfer up to $108,000 directly from your IRA to WCMU without that amount counting as taxable income. It may also satisfy your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year, and it isn't subject to the standard limits on charitable deductions.
To make a QCD, simply contact your IRA plan administrator and request a direct transfer to WCMU Public Media. Please note that QCDs do not qualify for an additional charitable deduction, since the tax benefit comes from the exclusion from income.
If you're between 59½ and 70½, you can take a distribution and then make a gift to WCMU. If you itemize deductions, you may be able to take a charitable deduction for the amount given.
At any age, you can also name WCMU Public Media as a full or partial beneficiary of your IRA. After your lifetime, those assets will pass to us free of income tax. Contact your IRA administrator for a change-of-beneficiary form — it's usually a straightforward process.
Beneficiary Designation Gifts (Retirement Accounts & More)
Beyond IRAs, you can designate WCMU Public Media as a beneficiary of other retirement accounts — including 401(k), 403(b), pension plans, or other tax-deferred assets. This is a simple, flexible option that doesn't require changes to your will.
Because retirement assets passed to individual heirs can be subject to significant income tax — sometimes 40–60% of the account value — many donors choose to leave these accounts to charity and pass other assets (like appreciated stock or real estate, which receive a step-up in basis) to loved ones instead. As a nonprofit, WCMU pays no tax on retirement assets we receive.
To make this gift, contact your plan custodian and ask for a beneficiary designation form.
Charitable Gift Annuity
A charitable gift annuity is a contract between you and WCMU: you make a gift of cash or property, and in return, WCMU promises to pay you (and/or a designated annuitant) a fixed amount each year for life. Rates are based on age, so the older the annuitant, the higher the payment — and a portion of each payment may be tax-free.
You'll also receive a charitable income tax deduction for the gift portion of the annuity in the year the gift is made.
There are three ways to structure a gift annuity:
Current gift annuity — Payments begin within a year of your gift. You receive a deduction this year and income right away.
Deferred gift annuity — You make the gift now and receive a deduction this year, but defer payments to a future date — often retirement. Deferring increases your eventual payment amount.
Flexible deferred gift annuity — Similar to a deferred annuity, but you retain the option to choose when payments begin, giving you maximum flexibility.
Gift annuities can be funded with appreciated securities, which may also allow you to avoid a portion of capital gains tax.
Ready to Learn More?
Thinking about a planned gift is a meaningful step — and you don't have to figure it out alone. Whether you're just beginning to wonder what's possible, you're weighing a specific option, or you're ready to move forward and just need to know the next step, we'd love to hear from you.
Morgan Hales is WCMU's point of contact for planned giving, and she's happy to have a no-pressure conversation about what might make sense for your situation. She can walk you through your options, answer questions in plain language, and connect you with the right resources — including your own financial or legal advisors, who should always be part of any planned giving decision.
There's no gift too small to discuss, and no question too early to ask. If WCMU has been part of your life, we'd be honored to talk about how you might make it part of your legacy.
📧 PlannedGiving@wcmu.org 📞 989-774-1540 or 1-800-727-9268