Ways to Give
Payment Methods
Every gift will make a difference for Berry College students. You may
designate gifts as unrestricted, available for use where they are
needed most — or restricted, limited to specific purposes you identify.
Regardless of which you choose, there are many ways you can participate.
For example, you can make a gift in support of student work and scholarships or perhaps the Steven J. Cage Athletic and Recreation Center. You can contribute
to Berry’s Annual Fund or say “Yes!” when a Telefund student calls for
your pledge. You can even make a reunion gift.
While cash and pledges
are the most popular methods for giving, the following gift options are
also available, and many offer considerable tax benefits.
Please call the Advancement Office at 706-236-2253 or toll
free at 877-461-0039 to speak with a senior advancement officer, or
you may send an e-mail message to dstuart@berry.edu.
Appreciated Securities
Contributing long-term appreciated stock or other securities that
have been held for one year or more can make it possible for you to give
a substantial gift to Berry and get a tax break. Usually, when
appreciated securities are sold, the seller owes taxes on the full gain,
which means he or she keeps only part of the profit. But, if the
appreciated security is given to a qualified charitable organization
such as Berry, the donor avoids capital gains tax and most likely will
qualify for a tax deduction on the entire value of the charitable gift.
Personal Property
Antiques, art objects and other collectibles can be valuable assets
for giving. You can donate the property to Berry and, in many cases,
take a deduction for the piece’s full fair market value. However, some
restrictions do apply, so we ask that you check with us before making a
gift of personal property.
Closely Held Stock
A gift of closely held stock makes it possible for you and your corporation to provide much-needed support for Berry students while also reaping financial benefits, starting with an income tax deduction for the charitable contribution. Other potential benefits include a break on the capital gains tax that otherwise might be assessed on the appreciated value of the stock. It’s also possible that by averting a dividend distribution, no additional taxes will be charged on accumulated earnings. Please be sure to discuss the potential benefits with your tax advisor before making the gift. To complete the transaction, the following information, along with your name, will need to be included:
SunTrust Bank
DTC Account Number 2971
Beneficiary information: Trust Account Number 1192010 (no spaces or dashes)
For Further Credit to: Agt. Berry College Inc./Endowment
Real Estate
Do you have a home or vacation property, farm, commercial real estate,
or even vacant land you no longer need or want? By giving that real
estate to Berry rather than selling it, you may be able to obtain an
income tax charitable deduction equal to the property’s full fair market
value, avoid tax on the property’s appreciation, free up money you had
been paying on tax and upkeep, and reduce your taxable estate.
Life Insurance
An easy way to make a substantial gift to Berry is to give the
college a life insurance policy you no longer need or make Berry College
the beneficiary of a life insurance policy. This gift method can reduce
your taxes and increase your spendable income.
Planned Giving
Would you like to increase your income? Reduce your taxes? Pass on
more wealth to your loved ones? Feel the satisfaction that comes from
making a substantial gift to Berry College? Planned giving is a powerful
philanthropic tool that can help make all of these aspirations a
reality. Some of the most popular planned giving methods include
bequests, the charitable gift annuity, the charitable remainder
unitrust, the charitable remainder annuity trust and the charitable lead
trust.
Retirement Plan Funds
If the participant of a retirement plan dies before the entire
account has been distributed, his or her heirs could pay significant
estate and income taxes — sometimes as much as 75 percent — on the
remaining balance. If your loved ones are provided for by other means,
naming Berry as the beneficiary of the remaining retirement plan assets
can diminish your heirs’ tax burden and give you the satisfaction of
knowing you’ve supported a worthwhile cause.
Matching Gifts
Many companies will match the charitable gifts made by their
employees, doubling the amount contributed to Berry College. The total
amount of that gift is then credited to the employee-donor. Please see
your employer to determine whether your company matches gifts and/or
obtain a matching gift form to be completed and enclosed with your gift.
The Firsthand Fund
Each year alumni, parents and other friends provide much-needed
support for student scholarships, the Work Experience Program and other
necessary expenditures through their gifts to the Firsthand Fund. The donor
may designate gifts as unrestricted — available for use where they are needed most — or restricted — limited to specific purposes identified by the donor.
The Telefund
While there are many methods for giving to the Firsthand Fund, perhaps
one of our donors’ favorites is the annual Telefund. During the
Telefund, prospective donors have an opportunity not only to give a
gift, but also to talk with a student about what’s happening at Berry
and how their gift will shape the future. Gifts made through the
Telefund support student scholarships and work opportunities, as well as
the general fund. Donors may designate gifts as unrestricted or
restricted.
Reunion Gifts
A reunion year offers a special opportunity to give a gift to Berry
in a fun and interesting way that goes above and beyond your regular
gifts. The reunion committee for each reunion class decides what the
class gift or project will be. Some excellent examples of reunion gifts
are the establishment of a scholarship, assistance in construction or
restoration of buildings, restoration of historic furniture, campus
beautification projects, and art restoration.