There are many ways to support Midwestern State University. Gifts may be unrestricted, or targeted to a particular program or purpose. You may designate the gift be placed in an endowed fund to provide support in perpetuity or a current use gift to provide immediate assistance. You can also make a life income gift, receive income from it, or leave a gift to Midwestern State University through your estate, or donate property, artwork, collections, or equipment (known as gifts-in-kind). The choice is yours.
Gift Pledges
A pledge is a formal statement of intention to make a gift to MSU. It may be followed by an immediate gift, or it may simply confirm your intention to make a gift in the future. Many donors choose to complete their gift pledge by making regular payments over a period of time. This method often allows donors to give more generously than they may have originally considered. Whenever possible, the MSU Foundation encourages full payment of pledges within five years of the original commitment.
Gifts with Retained Interest
Your gift to the MSU Foundation can allow you to hold an interest in that gift for your lifetime or for a specified term of years. After that time, the funds become available to the University. For example, you can set up a charitable trust which allows you to receive income from that trust for a specified period, or for life. You can donate your home to MSU while retaining the right to live in it for life. When you make your gift, you have the satisfaction of knowing that plans you make today will help to support the University in the next century.
Appreciated Securities
A gift of long-term appreciated marketable securities helps you save taxes twice. Such a gift will provide an income-tax charitable deduction and capital gains tax savings.
Closely Held Securities
Securities in a company that is not publicly traded are known as closely held securities. When a donor makes a gift of these securities to the MSU Foundation, the donor may enjoy tax savings and can even increase his or her income from the donated stock.
Gifts of Real Estate
When you give a gift of your home or real property to MSU, you may claim an income-tax charitable deduction based on the full market value of the gift, avoid capital gains taxes, and eliminate certain costs associated with the transfer of real property. Gifts of real estate can also provide income to you.
Gifts-in-Kind
You may wish to give MSU a personal possession of special interest. The University receives a wide variety of such gifts, including rare books and manuscripts, works of art, equipment and other items.
Charitable Bequests
Charitable bequests offer a way to provide lasting support for institutions and organizations that outlive us all. They play key roles in many estate plans, helping them make "gifts of a lifetime," as well as avoid estate taxes and conserve more of their estate to go to family members.
Charitable bequests can be made in the form of cash, securities, real estate, or other property. They may be stated in terms of a percentage of the entire estate. A bequest of the residue refers to property remaining after all bequests to family and others have been satisfied.
Memorials often originate in wills. A memorial commemorates a family or particular individual(s) and contributes to the benefit of future generations.
In short, a charitable bequest offers a flexible, thoughtful way to give when you or loved ones no longer need your property. You can see a Sample Bequest by opening the document below (provided in Adobe PDF format)
Sample Bequest (opens in new window)