Trusts, Estates & Planned Giving

Through bequests and other planned gifts to Lewis-Clark State College, you are choosing the ultimate gesture of commitment and sustainability to the mission and vision of our college. This generous gift shows that you understand the need to support LCSC through estate planning, and planned giving allows you to make charitable gifts to LCSC while you continue to meet your current income needs and take advantage of tax incentives.

Planned gifts include provisions for LCSC in your will as bequests; gifts of retirement assets, stock or mutual funds, real estate, gift annuities, or life insurance; and gifts that create income for you. You can make a bequest through your will, trust, or retirement plan. Bequests allow you to transfer assets into a permanent source of support for LCSC. Charitable gift annuity donors reduce capital gains taxes, garner income tax benefits, and provide long-term income for themselves or their loved ones while making gifts that can transform students’ lives.

By acknowledging Lewis-Clark State College in your estate plan, you will become a special member of the Heritage Society. Becoming a member of this society affords you the opportunity to make sure your future gift is applied to the area of your choice, such as student scholarships, academic programs, or endowments. If you have already identified LCSC your estate plan, please let us know so we may acknowledge you.

Listed below are some suggested planned giving options. If you would like to discuss planned giving options, please contact the College Advancement Office at (208)792-2458 or e-mail mlhasenoehrl@lcsc.edu. 

Wills

The most common and simplest form of planned giving; a bequest is a gift that is made through a donor’s will. Individuals may include Lewis-Clark State College in their wills by naming LCSC for either a specific amount or a percent share of their estate. Donors can also name LCSC as the residual beneficiary of their estates after payment of bequests to others.

The benefits of making a bequest gift include the fact that donors do not have to part with any money until they die, and do not owe any estate tax on the amount of the bequest.

Gift Annuities

The gift annuity agreement provides older donors who give cash, securities, real estate, or personal property with fixed annual payments for a specified period of time, usually for life. With a deferred gift annuity, the annual payments do not start when the gift is made but begin at a later time specified by the donor.

Gift annuities are attractive to donors who want to receive income from assets that have risen sharply in value, such as cash or stocks. In return for gifts of such assets, LCSC guarantees the donor a fixed annual income for the rest of their lives and helps the donor avoid capital-gains tax. The donor also gets an income-tax break on a portion of the earnings from an annuity; the exact amount depends on the donor’s age.

Appreciated Real Estate or Stock

If you are planning to give a gift to Lewis-Clark State College, consider donating appreciated real estate or stock. Your tax benefits from the donation can be increased.
The deduction for a donation of property to charity is equal to the fair market value of the donated property. When the donated property is a "gain" property, the donor does not have to recognize the gain on the donated property. These rules allow for the "doubling up," so to speak of tax benefits: A charitable deduction, plus avoiding tax on the appreciation in value of the property. Shares of stock have to be held for more than one year and qualify for the "qualified appreciated stock" deduction. Please contact your tax professional to determine if a stock donation is best for you.