Why give to a library?
With the world troubled in so many ways, the question 'Why give to a library' is pertinent. First and foremost, libraries forge relationships, creating connections between information and knowledge, between knowledge and wisdom. Libraries support every discipline - from science, business, and mathematics, to arts and humanities - and inspire us to synthesize those disciplines into fresh thoughts. Libraries build bridges between people, too. A university's library is at its heart. It is a meeting place, a learning place, a place of research and culture. Students come to Penrose and fall in love - with Shakespeare and James Baldwin, with Einstein and Copernicus, with technology and the worlds they find at their fingertips, and yes, sometimes with each other. A great library is a lasting romance, a labor of love built over decades and centuries. A great library inspires users to follow their hearts, to walk not just the road less traveled, but the uncharted path. A great library is the product of many gifts and the efforts of farsighted people who understand that knowledge is the foundation of new thought.So, why give to a library? People give to libraries because things happen in libraries. Libraries are the seedbed for the germination of ideas - ideas that can lead to cures, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and works of high art. Libraries are where we come together to find ourselves, to craft reality from the desires of our hearts, to give back to our beautiful, troubled world. People give to libraries because knowledge is where it all begins.Giving to Penrose Library is a creative process that adapts to your changing needs and wishes.

Gifts can be used to maximize personal objectives while minimizing after tax costs. When giving a gift to Penrose Library and the University of Denver, consider these options:

Cash. The simplest and most popular charitable gift, cash contributions are tax deductable.

Securities and Real Estate. Gifts of appreciated assets, such as securities or real estate, are a popular alternative to cash donations and provide even greater tax benefits than an equivalent cash gift. The greatest tax benefits are generated by property held long-term. Such gifts are deductable at their full fair market value, and you avoid capital gains tax applicable to property sales.

Personal Property. Gifts of art, rare books, or collectables also qualify for deduction. If the property has been held long-term and can be used to further the Library's mission, you may receive a charitable deduction.

Life Income Plan. A life income plan allows you to make a substantial gift to the Library while providing for personal financial needs. Charitable remainder trusts, gifts annuities, pooled income funds, and other life income plans may interest you because they offer substantial tax benefits and may increase your cash flow.

Wills and Codicils. Through charitable bequests, you can make significant gifts not possible during your lifetime. Fully deductible for estate tax purposes, bequests can greatly reduce the tax burden on your estate.

Pledges. Pledges enable you to give more than you could with a single donation, and they provide maximum tax savings by extending the contribution over a longer time period.

To make a gift, contact:
Nancy Allen
Dean and Director, Penrose Library
University of Denver
2150 E. Evans Avenue
Denver, CO 80208
Telephone: 303.871.2007
FAX: 303.871.2290
nallen@du.edu