Making an Impact with Cash Gifts and/or Long-Term Appreciated Securities
Support The LeTourneau University Foundation with a gift that aligns with your financial goals and maximizes tax benefits. Both cash gifts and gifts of long-term appreciated securities offer flexible, tax-efficient ways to contribute to our mission.
Option 1: Cash Gift
A cash gift is a simple and direct way to support The LeTourneau University Foundation and make an immediate difference. Cash gifts provide valuable flexibility, allowing us to put your support to work right away.
- Immediate Tax Deduction: In the year of your gift, you may claim an income tax charitable deduction for the full amount of your gift, subject to IRS limitations. You can carry forward any unused deduction for up to five additional years.
- Ease and Flexibility: You can make a cash gift as a one-time donation or set up recurring contributions to sustain ongoing support.
- Direct, Immediate Impact: Your cash gift provides essential funding that allows The LeTourneau University Foundation to meet its most pressing needs.
Option 2: Gift of Long-Term Appreciated Securities
Donating long-term appreciated securities, such as stocks, bonds, or mutual funds, can provide significant tax advantages. Gifts of these assets can help you avoid capital gains taxes while supporting The LeTourneau University Foundation with a gift that costs you less.
- Avoid Capital Gains Taxes: When you donate appreciated securities, you can avoid paying capital gains tax on the appreciation, which can significantly reduce the cost of your gift.
- Fair Market Value Deduction: As long as you have held your securities for more than one year, you may take a charitable deduction for their fair market value at the time of your gift, subject to IRS limitations. You may carry forward any unused deduction for up to five additional years.
- Enhanced Impact: By donating securities directly, your gift can be larger than if you sold the securities and donated the after-tax proceeds, maximizing your impact on The LeTourneau University Foundation’s mission.
How to Make a Gift
- For Cash Gifts: You can donate online, by check, or set up a recurring gift through our website to provide ongoing support.
- For Gifts of Securities: Contact your broker to arrange a transfer of appreciated securities directly to The LeTourneau University Foundation. Please let us know about your planned gift so we can assist with the transfer.
Consult with Your Advisors
We encourage you to speak with your financial and tax advisors before making a gift. Both cash gifts and gifts of appreciated securities offer unique advantages, allowing you to support The LeTourneau University Foundation in a way that aligns with your financial and philanthropic goals.
Thank you for considering a generous gift to help sustain The LeTourneau University Foundation.
“Estate and Legacy Planning” – Does it Really Matter?
Think about this: early in the life of Israel we see the Lord repeatedly reminding them about the importance of passing on to “their children and their children’s children” God’s testimony of faithfulness (Deuteronomy 4:9 and following). God went on to tell the children of Israel that He wasn't’t talking directly with their children, but rather with them – because “their eyes had seen” all that the Lord had done (Deuteronomy 11:2-7).
Estate planning, when done with intentionality and by including a narrative of one’s life, can be an incredible means of motivating future generations. Further empowering such planning with
Watch for our next installment where we will purpose to unpack …
- what estate and legacy planning is
- why it’s important
- what it looks like
and most importantly,
- how it can be a compelling motivation for succeeding generations when it is empowered with an integrated level of charitable gift planning
As always, if we can be of service to you in this area, or for any questions you may have, please do not hesitate to email us at leavealegacy@letufoundation.org or call us toll-free at 903-500-2972 and ask for Tom Bevan.
And always a proper disclaimer: When considering what we might point to by way of a benefit to you in any given situation, always assure to consult your legal and tax advisor for what qualifies as the actual tax treatment of that scenario in your unique situation.
Scholarships play a major role in the lives of LETU students. More than 90% of the student body receives financial assistance from scholarships, grants, and loans. But with graduating seniors incurring significant financial debt, it is our goal to lessen the burden and increase our scholarship aid. Endowed scholarships play a vital role in decreasing the debt burden on students.
Why do LETU alumni and friends choose to establish Endowed Scholarship Funds?
- To perpetuate the memory or legacy of a loved one;
- To honor positive role models who have significantly influenced others;
- To invest in today's students who will influence every workplace and every nation for Christ tomorrow.
Endowed Scholarships provide significant impact:
- Equip leaders for tomorrow today;
- Recruit and retain outstanding students seeking the hands-on, Christ-centered education that has for decades been the strength of LETU;
- Recognize and reward outstanding performance by students with demonstrated financial need.
Endowed professorships, chairs, programs and schools are also available. Call 903.233.3833 to establish your endowment today.
Many companies will match their employees' charitable gifts. Some will even match the donations of retirees or employees' spouses! You can make your money double or even triple and at the same time invest in students' lives.
If your company is eligible, request a matching gift form from your employer's Human Resources department. Complete, sign and send in the completed form with your gift- every time you give a gift! Inform your employer of your donation and give them LeTourneau University's mailing address (2100 S. Mobberly Ave. Longview, TX 75607) so they can make the match. We will do the rest.
Giving a cash gift isn't the only way you can support LeTourneau University students. All you have to do is sign up for all the programs below and then let your shopping do the donating. It's that easy! Your normal, everyday shopping will help the LETU Annual Fund provide scholarship aid to deserving students. Thank you!
Give by Shopping
You're going to buy things anyway, right? Here are some ways your purchase can benefit LeTourneau University.
Amazon Smile
Start your shopping at smile.amazon.com, choose LeTourneau University as your selected organization, and the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases.
Kroger
If you are a KrogerPlus member, Kroger's Community Rewards program donates a portion of your eligible purchases to the organization of your choice. Choose LETU! Visit https://www.kroger.com/topic/kroger-community-rewards-3 to enroll with your membership card and choose LeTourneau University (NPO# 84780). Don't forget to re-enroll each year to continue in the Community Rewards program.
Tom Thumb
Tom Thumb's Good Neighbor Program allows customers to direct donation dollars to a favorite church, school or other non-profit organization. Visit the courtesy booth at your local store to link your reward card to our account (use our Charity# 9090).