The private support generated by the FMU Foundation is important because a substantial endowment can transform a good university into a great one. An endowment provides a consistent, reliable, perpetual source of income for programs and services that inspire and encourage excellence in achievement by our students and faculty.

Ways to Give

GIFTS OF CASH

Many gifts made to the Foundation are in the form of cash. This is a particularly convenient method for end-of-the-year giving. Make sure that the check and envelope, if mailed, are dated or postmarked by December 31 if you wish to take advantage of the tax benefits within that calendar year. This will assure the gift is deductible in that year, although it may not be received until the following year.

PLEDGES

Rather than making a cash gift, you may wish to pledge your contribution over a number of years. Please check with the Foundation for more information.

SECURITIES

A gift of appreciated securities brings the donor greater tax savings than gifts of cash. You avoid paying capital gains on the increased value of the stock. You receive a charitable deduction for the full fair market value of the stock when the gift is made. In order to do this, your stock generally must have been held long-term (more than one year).

REAL ESTATE

A gift of real estate provides considerable savings in capital gains tax due upon the sale of appreciated property. At the same time you receive a charitable deduction for the full market value of the property subject to the limitations described under the Securities section.

LIFE INSURANCE

The cash-surrendered value of a life insurance policy is immediately tax deductible. By designating the Foundation as both the owner and beneficiary of a life insurance policy, premiums are tax deductible to the donor. This is an easy way to provide a sizeable gift.

MATCHING GIFTS

Many employers have corporate matching gift programs. You can double-sometimes triple- your gift through matching gift programs. Check with your company's personnel or human resource office about their matching gift program.

HONORARY AND MEMORIAL GIFTS

A gift in memory or in honor of a professor, student, alumnus, or friend is special way to recognize a person's life and accomplishments. When an honorary or memorial gift is received, the Foundation notifies the honoree or next of kin and the gift is administered as the contributor specifies. Please provide the Foundation with the name and addresses of those you would like notified.

SPLIT-INTEREST CHARITABLE TRUSTS AND ANNUITIES

A donor's property of virtually any description may be used to establish a charitable trust or annuity. With a charitable lead trust, the FMU Foundation receives the income for a period selected by the donor, after which the trust corpus is returned to the donor or this family. With a charitable remainder trust, the donated asset could be sold without incurring the capital gains tax and the donor would receive the trust's income for his lifetime. Upon his death, the assets would pass to the FMU Foundation.

BEQUESTS BY WILL

The Foundation can be named as a beneficiary in Wills to receive specific gifts of funds or property, or can be named as a residual beneficiary, or the donor's Will may set up a split-interest trust for the joint benefit of the Foundation and the donor's family, of the nature described above. Because of its taxable nature, it is particularly advantageous to name the Foundation as a beneficiary of one's IRA.

TAX STATUS

The Francis Marion University Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization. Under IRS guidelines, the Foundation is classified as a private foundation operated for the benefit of a state university as defined in the IRS code of 1986 section 170 (B) 1 (A) (iv).

Contributions to the University through the Foundation are tax deductible. The Foundation exists solely to raise, receive, and manage private gifts for the advancement and benefit of Francis Marion University. The Francis Marion University Foundation does not receive public funds, such as state or federal grants.

Gifts to the Foundation fall into two categories: restricted and unrestricted. Most gifts are restricted to certain purposes, as agreed to by the donors, the Foundation, and the University. For example, gifts can be directed to a named scholarship, a specific academic department, or an endowed professorship. Unrestricted gifts are used for University priorities, programs, and services not supported by state funds or other sources.