Sonoma State University Office Of Development
SSU Campus
How to Make a Gift
SSU Darwin Center

Online | Telephone | Mail or Fax | Stocks and Securities | Real Estate | Insurance | IRA | Gifts in Kind | Matching Gifts | Pledges | Memorial and Honorary | Payroll Deduction

Giving Online

Donate online with a credit card using our secure online server.

Giving by Telephone

SSU accepts credit card gifts by telephone. Please call University
Development at 707.664.2712 Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

back to top

Giving by Mail or Fax

You can give your gift by mail or fax using a check or credit card. Simply complete the SSU Gift Form, print, and mail or fax to SSU. If submitting a gift by mail, please use the address below. Checks should be made payable to Sonoma State University Academic Foundation.

Download the SSU Gift Form
(80KB pdf)

Sonoma State University
University Development
Stevenson Hall, Room 1054
1801 E. Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, California 94928-3609

If submitting a gift by fax, please make sure you include your credit card information.
Fax the form to: 707.664.2952

back to top

Stocks & Securities
SSU Bookstore

A stock portfolio is often among the most valuable assets you own, and one that carries substantial capital gain appreciation in value. The downside to assets that have increased in value over the years is that the IRS may apply taxes of up to 28 percent on your capital gain. With careful planning, you can reduce or even avoid federal capital gains tax.

To make a gift of stock, just fill out the Securities Transfer Form and ask your broker to transfer shares using the following information:

Please deliver through:
Morgan Stanley c/—SSU Academic Foundation, Inc.
DTC: 0015 FBO
ACCT#: 122-081113-400

Download the Securities Transfer Form (600KB pdf)

For assistance, please contact Patricia McNeill at 707.664.3440/patricia.mcneill@sonoma.edu

back to top

Real Estate

If you have owned your home or other real estate for a long time, it has most certainly increased in value. When you make an outright gift of real property held for more than a year, you obtain an income tax charitable deduction equal to the property’s full fair market value. This deduction lets you reduce the cost of making the gift and frees up cash that otherwise would have been used to pay taxes. By donating the property to SSU, you also avoid capital gains tax on the property’s appreciation.

For information regarding a gift of real estate to SSU, please contact Patricia McNeill at 707.664.3440/patricia.mcneill@sonoma.edu

back to top

Insurance

Life insurance can be a tool for many purposes and may be used as one of your charitable gift options. One way to achieve this is through the purchase of a new life insurance policy naming Sonoma State University as the owner and beneficiary. Premiums are paid to the insurer and are tax deductible if the organization is the irrevocable owner and beneficiary of the policy. Premium payments may have significant federal income tax deduction of up to 50% of the adjusted gross income of the donor, with a 5-year carry forward of any excess. Favorable gift and estate tax consequences may also result from such a gift.

Another life insurance gift option is to name Sonoma State University as the first, second, or contingent beneficiary of an existing policy. This is easily accomplished by changing the beneficiary information with the policyholder.

For information regarding how to name SSU as the owner and beneficiary or a new or existing life insurance policy, please contact Patricia McNeill at 707.664.3440/patricia.mcneill@sonoma.edu

back to top


Have you heard?

The IRA Charitable Rollover is continued!

You may realize extra benefits by making a direct gift from your IRA to Sonoma State University, thanks to the IRA Charitable Rollover Extension.

Under the legislation, such gifts can:
1. Count toward your required minimum distributions for 2008 and 2009
2. Be excluded from your gross income: a tax free rollover

To Qualify for benefits under the extension:
You must be 70 ½ or older at the time of the gift
Transfers must go directly from the IRA to Sonoma State University
Your total IRA gift(s) cannot exceed $100,000 in 2008 and 2009

If interested, please use the forms below as templates for contributing to
SSU.

IRA Letter Sample - Request to Plan Administrator
IRA Letter Sample -Informing the Charity

For further information call Sonoma State University Development
Vice President Patricia McNeill at 707.664.34 40/patricia.mcneill@sonoma.edu

You should consult your attorney about the applicability to your own
situation of the legal principles contained herein.

back to top

Gifts in Kind
SSU Dorms

Gifts in kind are non-monetary items of tangible personal property or other physical assets that represent value to the University. Examples might include equipment, books, and artwork. In addition, if you itemize your income tax return, your in-kind donation to SSU may reduce your adjusted gross income. Gifts in excess of $500 should be accompanied by a fair market estimation from the donor. Gifts that exceed $5,000 are subject to the IRS requirement of an independent licensed appraisal. Please use the Gift-In-Kind Donor Intent form when making an in-kind gift to SSU.

Gift-in-Kind Donor Intent form (to be used by donor) (pdf)

Gift-in-Kind Acceptance form (to be used on campus) (pdf)

For information regarding gifts in kind to SSU, please contact Patricia McNeill at 707.664.3440/patricia.mcneill@sonoma.edu

back to top

Matching Gifts

Numerous organizations and corporations will double or triple gifts made to educational institutions from employees, spouses and retirees. Is your company one of them? The Matching Gift Program is an excellent and sometimes overlooked means to substantially multiply gifts to the University.

To find out if your employer (or your spouse's employer) has a matching gift program, please contact the Human Resources department where you work, or call SSU University Development at 707.664.2712.

back to top

Pledges

A pledge gift is often more advantageous as the donation can be made over one or more years. To make a pledge gift to SSU, simply sign and return the Donor Pledge Form. Upon receipt of the pledge payment, University Development will issue a letter for tax purposes.

Download the SSU Donor Pledge form (56KB pdf)
Download the Green Music Center Donor Pledge form (28KB pdf)

back to top

Memorial and Honorary
SSU flowers

Memorial and honorary gifts may be specifically designated "in memory or honor of" loved ones, family members, friends, faculty members, classmates or those who have made a lasting impact on the lives of others. Memorial and honorary gifts may be submitted by fax or mail on our SSU Gift Form.

Download the SSU Gift Form (600KB pdf)

For questions or assistance with a memorial or honorary gift, please contact Janet Hankes at 707.664.3343/janet.hankes@sonoma.edu

back to top

Payroll Deduction

Sonoma State University employees are invited to make contributions to SSU via payroll deduction. You may choose any amount of deduction (not less than $5.00 per deduction), how often you wish the deduction to be withdrawn, and designate your gifts for a specific purpose.

To enroll in the payroll deduction program or change the status of an existing deduction, please fill out the Payroll Deduction Form and return it toUniversity Development, attn: Janet Hankes.

Download the Payroll Deduction Form (84KB pdf)

For specific questions regarding the payroll deduction process, please call Janet Hankes at 707.664.3343/janet.hankes@sonoma.edu

back to top

Sonoma State University Office of Development