Your gift can make a tremendous difference in the lives of our students, and thereby influence the work of the Church as well as the quality of society.

The ways in which an endowment may be established are numerous, from monetary gifts, or gifts of land and personal property, to insurance policies, trusts and much more.  Donors establish endowments for myriad different reasons, but most assuredly out of love and appreciation for someone or something that touched them personally.  It is with the same care and appreciation that each endowment is managed and invested through sound stewardship and University policy.

I urge you to consider a gift to La Sierra that will make a profound impact on our students.  Please contact me, or my associate Randall Skoretz, Director of Development, for more information.

Outright gifts can be used right away to make an impact on critical areas of need like new facilities and renovations.

An endowment fund preserves your gift to LSU.  The principal of your gift is left intact, while the generated income provides permanent support for a scholarship or program of your choice.  As with outright gifts, endowment funds and the facilities or programs they support may be named after a person whom the donor chooses to honor.


Gifts of Cash

The simplest way to give to LSU is by check.  You may designate a specific area of the University that will benefit from your gift.  Checks should be made payable to La Sierra University.  If you itemize your deductions, you may deduct gifts of cash up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income.  Gifts are transferred on the date they are mailed or hand-delivered.  If you send your check in January, but the postmark is December, it will be credited on the previous year.


Gifts of Securities

Giving stocks and bonds provides greater tax benefits than giving cash. If your stocks or bonds have increased in value you may deduct the full market value of the securities, but you can avoid paying capital gains tax on the appreciation.  If your stocks or bonds have depreciated you must first sell the securities, then give the cash gift to LSU.  You can deduct your capital loss to offset any capital gain your realize in the year of your gift.

The easiest way to transfer securities is to have your broker contact the University's Office of Advancement at (951) 785-2500.


Gifts of Tangible Personal Property

Items such as artwork, rare books, equipment and antique furniture also make valuable gifts to LSU.  If the property is related to LSUÕs educational purposes you may deduct the full value of the property up to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income.  If it is not related to educational purposes your deduction equals your cost basis in the property or its fair market value of up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income.  You need to have your gift appraised by an independent appraiser to determine the value of your deduction in either case.


Gifts of Real Estate

As with a gift of personal property, you will have to have your gift appraised by an independent certified appraiser to determine the value of your deduction.  Gifts of mortgaged real estate are reduced by the amount of any debt on the property, and have additional tax consequences.  You may give a gift of Remainder Interest in Residence or Farm by transferring ownership of the property to LSU.  Though you benefit from the charitable deduction, in most cases you continue to be responsible for maintenance, insurance and property taxes.  You may also give a gift of Partial Interest by giving LSU a fractional interest in real estate you own.  You may also sell your property to LSU for less than its full market value.  This is called a Bargain Sale.  For it, you receive a charitable deduction for the difference between the sale price and the market value.


Gifts of Life Insurance

You may name LSU as owner and beneficiary of a paid-up or new policy.  A paid policy entitles you to a deduction equal to your cost basis in the policy or its replacement cost-whichever is less.  Naming LSU as owner and beneficiary of a policy that is not paid up allows you to deduct an amount approximately equal to the policy's cash surrender value.  When dealing with a new policy you donate the money required for the premium payments directly to LSU.  You receive a full tax credit deduction for these annual gifts.


Life Income Gifts

A life income gift allows you to receive income while making a significant gift to LSU.  The benefits of a life income gift include:  income payment for your life and the life of your spouse (or someone else) should you choose, a potential increase in income, income tax deduction, potential investment diversification, probable elimination of capital gains tax on appreciated property, reduced estate taxes and probate costs, satisfaction in supporting LSU during your lifetime and finally, knowing how your gift will be used.  Life Income Gifts can be made in the form of Gift annuities - a contract offering fixed payments for life to the University, Pooled Income Funds - your gift to the University is invested with money from other constituents to make the most of your donation, Unitrusts - are invested separately and the proceeds which vary from year to year are distributed to you and your beneficiary, Annuity Trusts - also separately invested but provides a fixed income, and Term-of-Year Trusts - a type of unitrust or annuity trust that pays over a period of years rather than over a lifetime.


Bequests

Bequests may be made to LSU in several ways.  A bequest for the benefit of the University can be included in the body of your will or added to a codicil or living trust.  You may also describe a specific purpose for the use of your bequest.  Residuary Bequests leave the remaining portion of your estate to LSU after specific amounts are distributed to other beneficiaries.  Specific Bequests stipulate that a certain percentage of your estate can be given to LSU.  Contingent Bequests direct that your assets be distributed to LSU only if your primary heirs do not survive you.  Finally, Testamentary Charitable Trusts establish that a unitrust or annuity trust for the benefit of specific beneficiaries transfers to LSU only after the death of the last trust beneficiary.