Planned and Endowed Gifts

Metropolitan Opera Association Pooled Income Fund

Irrevocable gifts from separate donors are “pooled” together for investment purposes. In return, each income beneficiary receives for life a proportionate share of the Pooled Income Fund’s net income. Payments are quarterly. You receive an immediate partial income tax deduction for this gift. Long-term capital gains tax savings are also possible. When the income beneficiary passes away, a proportionate share of the Fund’s principal becomes the property of the Metropolitan Opera.

Investments. The Pooled Income Fund is a “balanced fund” invested almost equally in stocks and government bonds to produce current income and, over time, provide for growth in the principal of the Fund. In this way, income from the Fund should tend to grow over the years to combat the effects of inflation. (A copy of its current investment portfolio is available upon request.) By law, the Fund may not receive or invest in tax-exempt securities or depreciable property.

Income Payments. Each income beneficiary’s pro rata share of earnings (net interest and dividends) is paid quarterly.

Income Tax Charitable Deduction. The amount of your deduction is based on the beneficiary’s age and the Fund’s historical earnings, using a formula specified in the Internal Revenue Code.

Avoid Long Term Capital Gains Tax. You may avoid long-term capital gains tax on gifts of appreciated securities that you have held for more than one year. To obtain this benefit, you must properly transfer the stocks or bonds directly to the Trustee of the Fund. The Met’s Planned Giving office can provide you or your broker with instructions on how to do so.

Use our gift calculator to discover the benefits you can receive from a gift to the Met’s Pooled Income Fund.

For more information or confidential help in planning your gift to support the future of the Metropolitan Opera, please complete this form or contact our Planned Giving office directly. Our experienced tax and estate planning staff can provide you with individual assistance and gift planning information, without obligation.