Gifts
Way to Invest
Gifts of Cash
Gifts of cash are receipted to the proper fund and are deposited regularly. Receipts will be mailed to the donor within two weeks of receiving the gift. Matching gifts from employers are credited to the donor for giving club recognition, but receipts are sent to the company. Checks should be made payable to Merion Mercy Academy.
Gifts of Securities
Stocks, bonds, notes, or other instruments for which value can be determined in the financial market place should be made payable to Merion Mercy Academy. Donors are encouraged to have a conversation with the director of institutional advancement to determine the most advantageous method of giving donations of securities. The school does have an electronic transfer number for tranference of security ownership. Internal Revenue Service guidelines are followed in establishing the value of donated securities. The policy of the board of trustees is that the director of institutional advancement sells the security immediately.
Endowed Gifts
Named giving opportunities for endowed funds are available through the office for institutional advancement. Generally for an endowed fund to be created, a donor must pledge a minimum of $30,000 over a five year period.
Gifts of Personal Property
Gifts of personal property (i.e., antiques, works of art, collections, etc.) are welcomed by the school with approval from the director of institutional advancement. The donor is responsible for securing appraisals on such property according to IRS guidelines. The board of trustees has final approval on all gifts.
Gifts of Equipment
Gifts of equipment are encouraged by the school. However, when such equipment requires additional and/or ongoing maintenance that is not budgeted, prior approval must be received from the director of institutional advancement and the receiving area.
Matching Gifts
All corporation matching gifts forms are to be sent to the director of institutional advancement for execution according to rules set by the corporation or foundation for the employee match.
Unrestricted
Unrestricted investments are usually cash gifts made to the school without a specified purpose. The school uses these unrestricted investments where they are most needed, whether it is for scholarships, campus beautification, building maintenance or technology.
Restricted
Investors may choose to specify a purpose their gift. If you would like to help offset the cost of tuition for a student, you many want to specify your investment for scholarship assistance.
Endowment Funds
Named giving opportunities are available and generally start at $30,000 pledged over a five year period.
Planned Giving
Irrevocable Deferred Gifts
Charitable remainder gifts, including pooled income funds, charitable remainder trusts, and gift annuities, will be valued at the fair market value of the assets on the date of the gift.
Charitable Lead Trusts
Trusts that pay an annual income to the school, but which make no commitments regarding the future distribution of principal, should be valued by the following method:
- If the trust pays a fixed annual yield, the gift is determined by multiplying the annual return by the actual number of years the trust is setup to run;
- If the trust pays a variable rate, the gift will be determined on the basis of a 5 percent rate of return on the principal for the number of years of the trust. In the case of a trust, the term of which is based on the life of an individual, the term remaining shall be the life expectancy of such a person.
Trusts Administered by Others
Charitable Remainder Trusts administered by others on behalf of the school will be credited for the value of the remainder interest as determined for tax deduction purposes.
Wills and Living Trusts
Bequests are gratefully accepted and are an wonderful way for alums and friends to remember their alma mater in a long-lasting way.
Life Insurance
The school may be named either irrevocable or revocable beneficiary in life insurance policies, depending upon ownership. When the institution is not the owner of a policy - when the gift is revocable - it will be recorded as a future Revocable Deferred Gift. The school reserves the right to treat each gift on an individual basis, and thereby reserves the right to accept, reject, or modify any agreement and/or gift.