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Gifting an Archive to a UniversityGifting an Archive to a University

What’s involved in the appraisal?

Alan Breus

September 29, 2015

8 Min Read
Gifting an Archive to a University

If one of your clients has donated or plans to donate an archive to a university (for example, letters, copies of letters and various business-related documents that make up an academic resource), your client will need to get an appraisal of that donation for tax and estate-planning purposes. 

An appraiser will need to establish the fair market value (FMV) and possibly assess the university’s ability to maintain the integrity of the archive. FMV is defined as “the price at which the property would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither being under any compulsion to buy or to sell and both having reasonable knowledge of relevant facts.”1 

Let’s assume a publishing house donates an archive to a university, consist...

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About the Author

Alan Breus

Alan’s background includes a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from The New School, New York City, studies in Appraisal and Analysis at New York University and advanced studies in Life Underwriting and Estate and Financial Planning. Alan’s membership in the Appraiser’s Association of America requires he sustain an expertise in: Legal and Ethical Aspects of Appraising, IRS Legal Guidelines in Valuation, Research methodology in Appraisal and complete familiarity with The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). His professional experience includes the appraisal of, documentary film, rare books and documents,  fine art, life insurance policies and collectibles for universities, hospitals, various non-profits  and estate planning and private accounting professionals. Alan is a sought after speaker and has been a sponsor at many national and regional planned giving conferences.

Alan’s speaking engagements include: The upcoming 2012  Partnership for Philanthropic Planning, The Chesapeake Bay Planned Giving Council, The Greater Bay Area Planned Giving Council, The San Joaquin Planned Giving Council, The Valley Public TV Estate Planning Forum, The Northwestern University Planned Giving Seminar, April, 2010, DePaul University Planned Giving Seminar, April, 2010, Greater Bay Area Conference on Planned Giving,  Greater San Diego Planned Giving Seminar, Partnership for Philanthropic Planning 2011 National Conference,  Chicago Council on Planned Giving, 2011 Masters Seminar

Alan’s sponsorships include: 2008 National Conference on Planned Giving, and 2009 National Conference on Planned Givingand the 2010National Conference on Planned Giving, and the 2012National Conference on Planned Giving, The Bay Area Jewish Community Endowment Fund's 13th Annual Tax and Estate Planning Seminar.

Alan has served on:

Board of Advisors, Business Division, Jewish National Fund, New York City, Board of Advisors – Hillel of Silicon Valley, Board of Advisors, Red Cross, Southwest Area Division