Should University Donations Trigger Tax Breaks for the Wealthy?

Radcliffe,Quadrangle,(the,Quad),At,Harvard,University

Universities big and small receive donations from many different sources, including wealthy alumni. However, not all donations are created equal and because the wealthy donors get a huge tax break for their significant donations, some wonder if that is really fair.

For example, Nike co-founder, Phil Knight, recently donated $400 million to Stanford, where he attended business school. That donation will give Knight a $158 million tax break. Some find that in of itself unfair, but others question why some schools, which already have deep pockets anyway, get such large sums of money without being taxed for it? Plus, the majority of the donations are given to these top schools, while other less prestigious universities are often left scrambling for much-needed resources.

However, on the flip side, many donors would argue that they make these donations for true philanthropic purposes and not for the added benefit of a large tax break. Some counter-argue that all the donation money could be used for better purposes. However, there’s no question that the nation’s top universities help the country in many industries, as well as give the economy a boost in many forms as well, including training thousands of the brightest minds.

Of course, it’s an argument that has no easy answer, but probably one that won’t get much traction, because wealthy alumni have always been able to donate their money to the universities or causes they choose. That is not likely to change any time soon.

Posted in
How to Use Your Home Equity to Boost Retirement Income

How to Use Your Home Equity to Boost Retirement Income

How to Use Your Home Equity to Boost Retirement Income If you’ve lived in your home for many years, or you live in an area that’s experienced a surge in home values then you most likely have a substantial amount of equity built up in your home. Home equity is good to have no matter…

Top Tips for Charitable Giving Under New Tax Law

Top Tips for Charitable Giving Under New Tax Law

Top Tips for Charitable Giving Under New Tax Law One of the best ways to save on taxes, no matter which earnings class you’re in, is to donate money to charity. This has been a long-standing way to not only do good, but to also lower your tax bill. However, thanks to the Tax Cut…

Top Tips to Do Your Taxes Like the Wealthy

Top Tips to Do Your Taxes Like the Wealthy

Top Tips to Do Your Taxes Like the Wealthy Everyone would like to be wealthy. But unfortunately, not everyone is. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do certain things like the wealthy, like protect your money from taxes. In other words, you don’t have to own several mansions and luxury cars, or dine in the…

Smart Tax Tips for Small Business Owners

Smart Tax Tips for Small Business Owners

Smart Tax Tips for Small Business Owners Do you own a small business? If you do then you know what’s like to be busy. Small business owners have so many things to worry about and take care of. They have to wear a lot of hats and fulfill several roles. It’s all part of owning…