Giving to D&E

Your financial support to Davis & Elkins College makes it possible for the College to continue its mission for the future. The entire College community appreciates your loyalty and the participation that your gift provides in helping us makes that vision a reality.

Gifts of Cash
Cash gifts are the most common form of giving and are as easy as writing a check or arranging for a credit card payment or electronic funds transfer through the college's secure online site. Clearly, cash gifts have many advantages, one of which is that they are immediately available to assist current and on-going needs such as library acquisitions, student scholarships, maintenance, or capital campaigns.

Matching Gifts
If you or your spouse is employed by a company that has a matching gift program your gift to the College may be doubled or possibly tripled. Check with your human resource department regarding its matching gift program to obtain the matching gift form which you can forward to the College.

Gifts of Appreciated Securities
If you have marketable securities such as stocks or bonds that have grown substantially in value, the tax laws make it possible for you to make an important gift at remarkably low after-tax cost. It's easy to make a gift of securities whether the securities are held in a brokerage account or in your possession. Simply contact your broker or the College if you would like information on how to transfer these assets.

Life Insurance Gifts
A common "hidden asset" for giving is the life insurance policy that is no longer needed for its original purpose. To make a life insurance gift, ask the insurance company for forms that will change the beneficiary and ownership designations, and send us a copy of the policy.

Gifts of Real Estate
The tax benefits available for gifts of appreciated real estate are virtually identical to those for gifts of appreciated securities. Gifts of property may be transferred by deed with no liability for income or estate taxes on the appreciation. Contact the College to discuss a potential gift of real estate.

Gifts of Personal Property and Other Assets
Antiques, paintings, collectibles, even patents and copyrights can be valuable assets for giving. Please check with the College on the feasibility and tax results of gifts of unusual items as some restrictions apply to gift items that are not related to our purposes.

Life Income Gifts
There is a special category of gifts known variously as "planned" gifts, "deferred" gifts, or "life income" gifts. These gifts allow you to fulfill your philanthropic goals and can provide you not only with an immediate income tax deduction, but also may afford other benefits such as life income and avoidance of capital gains tax. Examples include charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and charitable annuity trusts. Contact the College or your financial advisor for further information on life income vehicles.

Retirement Plans
Many retirement plans such as IRAs and 401(k)s can be subject to extensive "death taxes", oftentimes as much as 70%, leaving little for your heirs. Consider making the College the beneficiary of your retirement account. There are a few different options in planning a gift with a retirement account and IRS distribution rules make the charitable designations both simple and attractive. Usually the charity is named as beneficiary directly on the retirement account (as on life insurance policy) and it does not need to pass through as part of the estate.

Bequests
Making a gift by Will or Bequest is the most traditional way to provide significant help for the College and provide primarily gift and estate tax savings. If you wish to retain full control of your assets for your lifetime, you may wish to consider making your ultimate gift to Davis & Elkins College through your will.

For more information on the Annual Fund and how you can assist the College with it's on-going needs, please contact Karen Wilmoth, director of annual giving and stewardship at 304- 637-1374 or wilmothk@davisandelkins.edu

If you would like to discuss a planned gift to support the mission of the College please contact Pat Schumann, Vice President for College Advancement at 304-637-1339 pshuman@davisandelkins.edu