Fund for Sonoma | Endowments | Scholarships
Leave a Legacy with a Planned Gift | Gifts in Kind

Fund for Sonoma recognizes the loyalty and support of alumni, parents and friends. Fund gifts are typically unrestricted, but may be designated to the School or program of your choosing.

Fund gifts comprise 8.1 % of total giving to SSU, and this past year, alumni, parents and friends contributed over $1.3 million in support of the University.

Make a contribution to the Fund for Sonoma or learn more by contacting
Laurie Ogg, Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, 707.664.2036/laurie.ogg@sonoma.edu

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Sonoma State University welcomes and encourages gifts to establish or increase endowments. Endowments are permanent assets that are invested to provide both current and future revenue streams to support the academic mission of the University. Endowments can be established to provide financial support for scholarships, professorships, academic programs, athletic and performing arts programs, and more. To establish an endowment at SSU, the minimum initial contribution level is $25,000.

Please contact: Patricia McNeill, Vice President for Development
707.664.3440/patricia.mcneill@sonoma.edu to learn more about how to establish or increase an endowment fund at SSU.

Scholarships serve a major role in providing necessary funding for Sonoma State students who have demonstrated academic excellence. Scholarships range from $250 to $2,850 per year. The Scholarship office currently administers over 200 separate funds that provide approximately 400 distinct scholarship awards.

More than 54% of the student body receives financial aid, and 27% receive assistance from scholarships or grants. Without this valuable and vital support, these students would be unable to attend SSU.

Scholarships honor and memorialize family members, friends, professors and mentors from all walks of life. Sonoma State is extremely grateful for alumni and friends who choose to assist students in this way. Both endowed and annual scholarships make a significant contribution in providing funds for students.

Please contact: Sara Golightly at 707.664.2261/sara.golightly@sonoma.edu to find out how you can establish or fund a student scholarship.

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Many forms of charitable giving are available for donors who wish to consider Sonoma State University in their estate plans. Through a thoughtful planned gift, you can help SSU provide academic opportunities for future generations while receiving tax advantages and possible lifetime income streams for yourself and/or your beneficiaries. All donors who establish a planned gift in support of Sonoma State are recognized with membership in the Ambrose R. Nichols Founders Society. Society members share a strong common bond of generosity that nourishes accomplishments and achievements and ensures the future of Sonoma State University.

To receive a Planned Giving Packet or information on specific planned giving programs at SSU, please contact:
Patricia McNeill, Vice President for Development
707.664.3440/patricia.mcneill@sonoma.edu

By leaving Sonoma State University in your Will or estate plans, you will be providing countless opportunities for future generations of students who will benefit from an SSU education.

A bequest gift can be included in the body of a Will or as an amendment (codicil) to a pre-existing Will. Gifts can be designated for a specific purpose and typically provide an estate tax deduction. They include the following:

• Residuary Bequest—The donor may state that all, or a portion, of the estate be given to Sonoma State University after specific gifts are distributed to other beneficiaries.
• Specific Bequest—The donor may stipulate that a certain percentage of the estate, a certain dollar amount, or particular securities or other assets be given to Sonoma State University.

Language you can include in your Will to make a bequest to SSU:

"I give, devise, and bequeath to Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, California, ____________ dollars." (Or designate the percentage of the estate or otherwise describe the gift.)

To enroll you in the Nichols’ Founders Society, we ask for a copy of the relevant portion(s) of the legal document(s) in which your gift is made, or a letter from your legal or financial advisor that describes the nature of your gift to SSU.

Charitable gift annuities enable you to gift to Sonoma State University while earning guaranteed income and tax benefits. A charitable gift annuity is one of the most popular and easiest forms of planned giving today. Providing a fixed income for life, you will be able to meet your own financial needs and your philanthropic interests.

Benefits of a Charitable Gift Annuity:

• Income tax deduction and capital gains tax savings
• Fixed payments for life for one or two people
• Significant gift to Sonoma State University in the future

Types of Gift Annuities:

• Current gift annuities provide immediate payments and qualify for current year tax deduction.
• Deferred gift annuities allow you to defer payments to the future. Delaying your annuity payments still qualifies you for a current year gift tax deduction. You may create a deferred gift annuity at any time, but payments do not begin until age 50 or later, as designated.

Who is Qualified to Give an Annuity:

• The annuitant must be at least 50 years of age when annuity payments commence. The donor(s) and the University sign a simple contract.

Helpful Information About Annuities:

• A contribution to a charitable gift annuity is an irrevocable gift.
• You cannot add to an existing annuity, but you can establish as many separate gift annuities as you wish.
• The annuity contract is backed by the monies and investments in the University's segregated gift annuity fund.
• The charitable gift annuity provides a fixed payout based on age and does not depend on the growth of the gift assets.
• The University advises, but does not require, prospective donors to seek legal and/or financial counsel before making a gift.

Estimating Your Annuity Payments:
The American Council on Gift Annuities sets the payout rates on an annual basis. To quickly estimate your annuity payments based the current rate, your age, and number of annuitants, please visit the ACGA website at http://www.acga-web.org. Deferred annuity rates are also available from the SSU Development Office.

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A charitable remainder trust allows you to transfer assets, such as cash, securities, or other property, into a trust that provides you or another person with a fixed percentage income. The terms of the trust can be tailored to your specific philanthropic and financial objectives. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal reverts to Sonoma State University.

Charitable remainder trusts provide the security of a fixed income; if you are interested in growing your income, a charitable remainder unitrust may better a better choice for you. Charitable remainder unitrusts are individually managed and enable you to retain a variable income for your lifetime or a fixed term of years, claim a current income tax deduction, and make a future gift to charity. Typically, donors establish trusts with a value of $100,000 or more.

Charitable lead trusts allow you to transfer assets to your children (or other beneficiaries) while the income from those assets goes to the University, giving you tax savings. The trusts last for a chosen period of years, after which the assets become available to you.

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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 Gifts-In-Kind 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 more information about the Gifts in Kind program, please contact:

Patricia McNeill, Vice President for Development
707.664.3440/patricia.mcneill@sonoma.edu

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