In Uncertain Times, Donors Hold Back

Donors can use part of the income to replace the asset in their estates by buying life insurance to benefit heirs, he said, and still realize 4 to 4.5 percent a year for themselves, which is more than today’s yield on many bonds and C.D.’s.

For a smaller gift, “just go ahead and give the money,” Professor Droms said. One donor in his 80s gave Georgetown a block of appreciated stock, thereby avoiding capital gains tax. He kept a much larger holding but left it to the university in his will.