Puzzle Donations to Lilly Library at Indiana University
This year is the 20th anniversary of Jerry Slocum's donation of his massive puzzle collection.
Millions of books, manuscripts, media, puzzles, and other ephemera have been collected for over 200 years to create one of the largest and most extensive academic libraries in the nation. As space becomes more limited, Indiana University Libraries must be selective in our acquisitions, including puzzles. Lilly Library depends on both strategic purchases and gifts. Indiana University Libraries, which includes the Lilly Library, follows federal laws pertaining to charitable gifts of personal property and the policies which govern the Indiana University Foundation as the designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Completing a Gift
There are several parts to completing a gift: an offer, an acceptance, a deed-of-gift, and a transfer of property. This process occurs roughly in these steps:
Donor and Curator of Puzzles discuss the gift and the curator agrees to take the gift. Curator of Puzzles works closely with Director of Development.
Curator of Puzzles or the development team provide the donor with a deed-of-gift form.
The puzzles are given and/or shipped to the Lilly Library. If the donor is shipping, the Lilly Library team will provide instructions on how to do so. Occasionally, puzzles may be picked up by the Curator of Puzzles or IU Libraries development staff.
A deed-of-gift is signed by the donor, indicating that they are giving the puzzles to Lilly Library. Typically, the deed is included when the puzzles arrive. It can also be scanned and sent via email or in the United States mail.
The deed-of-gift is then given to IU Libraries’ Development by the Curator of Puzzles. IU Libraries’ Development processes the deed, including the signature of the Dean of IU Libraries, and a record is created for the Indiana University Foundation.
The original deed is returned to the donor through the United States mail.
Valuation
Any gift to IU Libraries, including puzzles, are eligible for a charitable tax deduction. Donors work directly with their CPA or tax preparer to guide them on their eligible tax deductions as Indiana University and the Indiana University Foundation are not authorized to give tax or legal advice.
The IU Foundation never acknowledges a dollar amount for a gift. They only acknowledge the receipt of the gift.
All gifts under $4,999.99 may be given value by the donor. This amount should be communicated to the Curator of Puzzles or development staff in writing, either via email or a letter.
Appraisal
If a gift is over $4,999.99, there is an appraisal, which requires an 8283 tax form that the appraiser will provide to the donor. The donor will then give the 8283 and appraisal to the development staff. The Foundation staff will sign the IRS form 8283. Lastly, IU Libraries development staff return the 8283 to the donor. A close read of the IRS form will indicate that it is the donor and appraiser’s responsibility to certify the value, and the beneficiary organization is only acknowledging that they did, in fact, receive the gift.
The donor pays for the appraisal because they wish to use the appraised value for a charitable tax credit. In some cases, the donor does not wish to get an appraisal.
People
Andrew Rhoda is the Lilly Library’s Curator of Puzzles. The IU Libraries Development office consists of Emily Wilderman, Development Director for Arts and Culture, and Christine Wagner, Stewardship Officer. Please contact us if you have questions:
Andrew Rhoda ▪ arhoda@iu.edu ▪ 812-855-3162
Emily Wilderman ▪ ewilderm@iu.edu ▪ 812-856-2991
Christine Wagner ▪ cwagner@iu.edu ▪ 812-855-1450