A gift annuity is an agreement whereby the donor transfers assets, such as cash or appreciated securities, to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and, in return, receives a guaranteed payment for the rest of the donor's life. Gift annuities, which are income-producing gifts, are popular with archdiocesan donors because they receive a charitable income tax deduction, possible estate tax savings, a fixed payment for life, some tax-free income for a period of time, and possible capital gains tax savings if funded with appreciated securities. A gift annuity can be established with a gift of $5,000 or more to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The payout rate is determined by the age of the beneficiaries at the time of the contract. At his/her death, the donor directs the residual gift to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, an archdiocesan parish, school, St. Francis Seminary or Catholic Charities.

You can also make a gift now and defer having payments made to you until a future date. This type of gift is called a deferred gift annuity. The rates are generally higher than the rates on current gift annuities depending upon the annuitant's age and the length of the deferral.