Your support helps us sustain our tradition of excellence in medical education, groundbreaking research, and serving humanity.

Outright gifts can include cash, securities (stocks, bonds, and mutual funds), real estate, tangible personal property, and/or retirement plan assets.

Appreciated Securities or Mutual Fund Shares

Securities and mutual funds that have increased in value and have been held for more than one year can be used to make your gift to HMS. In making the gift, you may be eligible for various tax-advantaged benefits.

  • Benefits
    • Qualify for a charitable income tax equal to the market value of the security you have owned for at least one year
    • Carry forward any unused charitable deduction for up to five additional years
    • Reduce capital gains tax

  • How to Fund
    • Appreciated Securities
    • Mutual Fund Shares

  • Next Steps

Charitable IRA Rollover

If you are 72 years old or older, you can transfer any amount, up to $100,000 per year, from your IRA directly to Harvard Medical School. This is a tax-advantaged way to make your annual gift to HMS or your Reunion gift.

The charitable IRA rollover provision of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) was made permanent by Congress in 2015. Charitable IRA rollovers to fund life income gifts are not permitted.

Donor-Advised Funds

Make an annual gift from your DAF to HMS. After creating the DAF, you can direct annual distributions to your favorite charities. You enjoy the simplicity and anonymity of recommending a distribution from your DAF to HMS to support medical education, biomedical research, or health care service.

  • Benefits
    • Eligible for an immediate income tax deduction the year the DAF is established
    • Simplified recordkeeping with one tax receipt

  • Next Steps

    If you have an account with Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, or BNY Mellon, select your fund provider’s name and you will be taken to their website to complete your gift.

    If your provider is not listed, contact them directly with a request to make a gift to HMS on your behalf. Make a check payable to Harvard Medical School, including a note with your full name, address, and phone number and mail to:

    Harvard Medical School
    Alumni Affairs and Development
    P.O. Box 419720
    Boston, MA 02241-9720

Gifts of Special Assets

Gifts of real property, or gifts of personal property, such as art, antiques, patents, and other tangible property can be an effective way to provide meaningful support for HMS. Depending on the donated asset, the structure of your gift, and the purpose of your gift, you may benefit by reducing income and estate taxes.

In particular, by making a gift of real estate, you can leverage a significant asset for your benefit and the School’s benefit. Consider donating residential, vacation, or commercial property. You can give all, or a percentage of, the property. You can also structure the gift in a way that can provide you with annual income.

Charitable Lead Trusts

A CLT is an irrevocable trust that provides financial support to HMS for a period, with the remaining assets eventually transferring to family members or other beneficiaries at the end of the trust term. When you donate $1,000,000 to set up a CLT, you agree to pay HMS income, typically for a set term years, at the end of which your beneficiaries receive the remainder funds and are not taxed on the appreciation of the fund.

Other ways to give today

  • Visit our secure online gift form »
  • Make a check payable to Harvard Medical School, including a note with your full name, address, and phone number and mail to:
    Harvard Medical School
    Alumni Affairs and Development
    P.O. Box 419720
    Boston, MA 02241-9720
  • Call 617-384-8500

New 2021 Charitable Gift Tax Deductions

The Federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, signed in late December, includes updates that extend CARES Act provisions and tax incentives for donors this year:

  1. Donors who do not itemize deductions on their taxes in 2021 can now deduct up to $300 in cash gifts. Jointly filing couples can deduct up to $600 in cash gifts.
  2. Donors who itemize can deduct up to 100% of their adjusted gross income for cash gifts. This deduction does not apply to gifts contributed to donor-advised funds.
  3. Donors ages 72 or older must take their required minimum distribution (RMD) from retirement plans in 2021. You may want to consider gifting it directly to charities to avoid taxable income.

Learn more about what assets you can give »

Donor Spotlight

IRA Rollover

James Hartsuck, MD '62

"My wife and I have contributed to our endowed scholarship fund using the charitable IRA rollover. Our fund allows my entire family to support today's most promising students who will become tomorrow's leaders in science and medicine."

Contact us
Ezekiel Hersey Council Wordmark

Please let us know if you have included HMS in your estate plans so we can celebrate you as a member of the Ezekiel Hersey Council, which recognizes those who have made legacy gifts to HMS.