With state resources failing to meet today’s increasing costs of higher education, our goals are becoming more challenging to achieve. Private support is essential to make certain that future generations graduate with the quality education, fond memories and lasting relationships that reflect and preserve the ethics, characteristics and traditions of WT’s exceptional experience.
Thank you for your interest in making a gift to West Texas A&M University. The West Texas A&M University Foundation accepts gifts, both current and planned, for the support of the University, its students, programs and faculty. A variety of giving methods are available, and gifts can be structured to meet the donor's philanthropic goals while providing maximum tax or estate planning benefits.
Contributions can be given a variety of ways including online or mailed directly to:
Cash Gifts
Cash, in the form of personal checks, credit cards and bank drafts, is the most popular type of charitable gift the Foundation receives. Cash contributions may be deductible and result in tax savings. Checks should be made payable to "WTAMU Foundation" and mailed to the WTAMU Foundation, P.O. Box 60766, Canyon TX 79016. Be sure to indicate the purpose of your gift on the check or in a cover letter.
If you itemize deductions on your federal tax return, you may claim an outright gift of cash as a charitable contribution up to an amount equal to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income. Any deduction not usable in the first year can be carried over for up to five additional years or until it is completely used, whichever is first. You may wish to consult your accountant or tax adviser to determine the tax benefit of your gift.
Securities
A transfer of securities (stocks or bonds), held long term, to the WTAMU Foundation allows you to make a gift and receive a charitable deduction equal to the full fair market value of the securities. You pay no capital gains tax on your gift and neither does the WTAMU Foundation.
Please contact the WTAMU Foundation for assistance when transferring assets. You may want to donate the securities before selling the assets and then making a gift of the proceeds, as this may trigger a capital gains liability for you.
It may be possible to deduct the value of these securities up to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income. Any excess can be carried over for an additional five years if necessary.
Real Estate
You can give real estate as a current gift or a deferred gift (a retained life estate or gifts through your will). A current gift of real estate, held long term, provides you with a charitable deduction for the full fair market value of the gift, up to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income. The gift must be appraised by an independent appraiser to determine the value of your deduction.
All gifts of real estate are first evaluated by the WTAMU Foundation for marketability and potential environmental concerns. Before it can accept a gift of real estate, the WTAMU Foundation may ask that you supply detailed information on the property.
We recommend you consult with your financial adviser(s) before making a gift of property.
Pledges
Pledges are welcomed and may be paid over one to five years at the donor's convenience. For gifts in excess of $25,000, we provide a gift agreement, which states the form, schedule and purpose of your gift.
Matching Gifts
To encourage employees to make charitable gifts, many corporations agree to match personal donations with an equal or greater corporate contribution. Rules about the type of gifts that companies will match (cash, stock, property) vary.
To initiate a matching gift, complete your company's matching gift form and send it along with your gift to the WTAMU Foundation. The WTAMU Foundation completes the form, certifying that it has received your gift and is eligible to receive matching gifts under your company's guidelines; we then forward the form to your company. After verifying the eligibility of the donor and the WTAMU Foundation, the company sends a check to us.
You should check with your company's personnel department to see if your gift qualifies for a corporate match.
Honorary or Memorial Gifts
A gift in memory or in honor of a colleague, relative or friend is a generous and thoughtful way to recognize a person's life and accomplishments.
When an honorary or memorial gift is made, the WTAMU Foundation notifies the honoree or others, and the gift is administered as the contributor specifies. To make an honorary gift, send a letter detailing the purpose of your gift as well as the name and address of the honoree. For memorial gifts, your letter should list the honoree's name and the name and address of those you want to be notified of the gift.
Please contact Dr. Fred Hueston, CFRE – Director of Gift Planning, at 501-681-6501 or at mallard@conwaycorp.net for more information.
Gifts Through Your Will
A bequest to the West Texas A&M University Foundation can be especially beneficial if you wish to make a gift to benefit the University without diminishing the assets available to you during your lifetime. If you want to secure estate tax savings by reducing the size of your taxable estate, bequests to the WTAMU Foundation may be deducted from your taxable estate in determining estate taxes.
With your attorney's assistance, you can make a bequest simply by including bequest language in your will that describes your wishes regarding a gift to the WTAMU Foundation.
Charitable Remainder Trusts
A charitable trust is a good way to make a substantial gift to West Texas A&M University while providing lifetime income for you or your beneficiaries. You may choose from many forms of charitable trusts to suit your own needs, but the basic charitable trust begins with the transfer of assets to a trustee. You then receive income from these assets for a predetermined length of time. Upon termination of the trust, the assets are transferred to WTAMU and distributed according to your wishes.
Charitable trusts can be especially beneficial if you:
