Giving Options
Leave a commentDonor Levels
Up to $99 – McKinley Club
$100 – $499 – Adams Club
$500 – $999 – Cleveland Club
$1000 – $4,999 – Kennedy Club
$5000 – $9,999 – Roosevelt Club
$10,000 – $24,999 – Maroon Club
$25,000 – $49,999 – Gold Club
$50,000 or more – Otter Club
*Donations are cumulative and will move you into new levels of giving.
Mailing Address
Fergus Falls 544 Education Foundation
518 Friberg Avenue
Fergus Falls, MN 56537
Donate Online
If you’d like to make a donation online, please look on the right side of this page. There are 3 different options – choose your favorite! Questions or problems? Please email the Foundation at 544foundation@fergusotters.org.
Leave a Lasting Legacy
Your generous support of the 544 Education Foundation will help ensure the success of future Fergus Falls students.
You may wish to acknowledge a lost loved one through a memorial gift, create a charitable remainder annuity, or give cash towards a specific purpose. Whatever your goal is, your financial planner can work with you to leave a lasting legacy in the Fergus Falls community.
Your membership donations help keep us in business by paying for the everyday expenses and awarding grants to worthy causes in the school district.
Here is an easy grid and some ideas:
| If your goal is to: | Then you can: | Benefits are: |
| Give a quick and easy gift | Make a cash donation (Check to see if your place of employment offers a matching gift program.) | An income tax deduction and immediate impact for the school district |
| Avoid tax on capital gains | Contribute long-term appreciated stock or other securities | A charitable deduction plus no capital gains tax |
| Defer a gift until after your lifetime | Put a bequest in your will (cash or specific property) | Your donations are fully exempt from estate tax |
| Make a large gift with little cost to yourself | Contribute a life insurance policy | Current and possibly future income tax deduction |
| Avoid the double taxation on IRA or other retirement plan assets | Name the Foundation as the beneficiary of the remainder of your retirement plan assets after your lifetime | This will allow you to leave your family other assets that carry less tax liability |
| Avoid the capital gains tax on the sale of a home or other real estate | Donate the property or sell it to the Foundation at a bargain price | An income tax deduction, plus reduction or elimination of capital gains tax |
| Protect yourself from inflation over the long term | Create a charitable remainder unitrust | It pays you a variable income for life and provides tax benefits |
| Secure a life income while avoiding market risks | Create a charitable remainder annuity trust | It provides tax benefits and often boosts your rate of return |
| Secure a lifetime income for yourself and spouse | Create a charitable gift annuity | Possible income tax savings, estate tax savings |
| Reduce gift and estate taxes on assets you pass to your children and grandchildren | Create a charitable lead trust that pays income to the Foundation for a specific term of years | It has the estate tax benefits of a gift, but your family keeps the property |
Cash
Cash is the easiest and most common way to make a gift. You receive a charitable contribution deduction and the Foundation is able to use your gift immediately. These gifts can also be restricted to a particular area by the donor. Unrestricted gifts are used in the areas of greatest need and to sustain the Foundation’s work. Make any checks or money orders payable to the 544 Education Foundation.
Matching Gifts
If your place of employment offers a matching gift program, you may be able to double your donation to the Foundation. Many companies also match gifts of their retired employees.
Appreciated Securities
Gifts of stocks, bonds, treasuries and mutual funds provide a double benefit to you. When you donate appreciated securities, you are entitled to a charitable income tax deduction based on the fair market value of the securities and without capital gains considerations.
Will
A gift to the 544 Education Foundation through your will is a popular option, as it does not reduce your current income, yet provides substantial future support. There are no immediate tax advantages although your bequest may reduce estate taxes.
Life Insurance
If you give ownership of a life insurance policy to the Foundation, you will receive an immediate income tax deduction. If you are still making premium payments, these payments to the Foundation become a charitable gift. And, if you choose to name the Foundation as a beneficiary, the face value of the policy will eventually constitute a gift in your name, included in your estate, and is deductible for federal estate tax purposes.
Retirement Plan Assets
Retirement plan assets are one of the most taxed assets at death in larger estates, subject to both income tax and estate tax. While current tax law does not allow you to transfer these assets directly to the 544 Education Foundation during your lifetime, naming the Foundation as the beneficiary on your account could avoid both income and estate taxes after your lifetime.
Property
Real estate including homes, commercial buildings and land can be donated to the Foundation. Gifts of this nature are also helpful and provide substantial benefits for the donor as well. If the value of your property is more than you wish to give, you may donate a partial interest. Property deeded with Life Estate retained is an arrangement in which you would donate your personal residence or ranch and continue to live there.
Charitable Remainder Trusts
This type of trust makes an annual payment to one or more individuals for life or a term of years. Upon termination of this charitable remainder trust, the property remaining will be transferred to the Foundation and used for the purpose you have specified. There are two types of charitable remainder trusts:
Unitrust — Income fluctuates annually with the fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust.
Annuity Trust — Income payments are fixed and determined when the gift is made. This is attractive to individuals who want to avoid risk.
Charitable Gift Annuity
Charitable gift annuities are an easy and popular gift plan. It is an exchange of cash, securities, real estate or other property in return for a contractual agreement for the Foundation to pay you and/or your spouse a specified amount of income for your lifetime(s), determined by a rate schedule based on your age.
Charitable Lead Trust
A charitable lead trust is an agreement in which a donor places assets in a trust that will be managed by a Trustee. During the term of the trust, a percentage of the trust’s principal (specified by the agreement) is paid to the Foundation each year. At the end of the term, your heirs will receive the trust’s principal and any additional income and appreciation that has accrued, with no additional gift or estate taxes due. The trust’s income first benefits the charity and then goes to the family members at substantial tax savings.
DISCLAIMER: This is not meant to be tax or legal advice. Always check with your CPA, attorney or financial planner when making decisions regarding the impact of donations based on your individual situation.
544 Foundation 