You Can Make a Difference
Did you know that approximately two out of every five students at LaGrange College receive federal Pell Grants, need-based grants to low-income students? About one out of every five students also have no resources to pay for a college education on their own.
These students can attend LaGrange because generous donors provide scholarship support and contribute to financial aid that helps further offset costs for these young men and women. By giving to the LaGrange College Fund, you contribute to this and also support other needs and resources like undergraduate research funding, the Panther Academic Center for Excellence (PACE) that provides free academic and study help, and the Center for Leadership and Career Development, which helps students and alumni prepare for and connect to jobs and internships.
So, how can you help? Make a gift today. Every contribution matters and helps deserving students a chance to achieve their dreams of a college education.
MAKE A GIFT
Charitable gifts can provide much-needed financial support and may produce significant tax savings for you. Below is a list of the different options you have to make your donation. If you have questions, please call the LaGrange College Development Department at 706-880-8244. If you want to make an online gift now, click here.
The following information is a guide and should not replace the advice of professional legal and financial advisors.
Giving Methods
Write a Check or Use Your Credit Card
Hand-deliver or mail your check to LaGrange College Advancement Services, 601 Broad Street, LaGrange, GA 30240. To give by credit card, visit LaGrange College's secure giving page or call Advancement Services at 706-880-8255. Advancement Services is located inside Candler Cottage, behind Pitts Dining Hall.
Contribute Appreciated Securities
When you contribute stocks or bonds that have appreciated for more than 12 months, you can claim deductions for their full market values and avoid any tax on appreciation. Please call 706-880-8255 to alert Advancement Services of your stock transfer.
Invest in a Life Income Plan
This is a gift that provides you with income security for the rest of your life and ultimately benefits the charitable organization. If you use longterm appreciated securities to fund the plan, you will be entitled to an income tax deduction based on the charitable portion of the securities' full value. In addition, you avoid paying capital gains taxes. Please call the Development Department at 706-880-8244 for more information.
Donate an Insurance Policy
A life insurance policy you no longer need makes a perfect gift. To qualify, the charitable organization must become the owner and beneficiary or the irrevocable beneficiary. If the policy is paid up, your tax deduction is usually the cost basis or the replacement value of the policy, whichever is less. Please notify the Development Department at 706-880-8244 of your plans.
Give Real Estate, Artwork or other Tangible Personal Property
When you give property that will result in a greater capital gain if/when sold by the charitable organization, the result is a higher tax deduction. Please call the Development Department at 706-880-8244 to discuss your potential gifts.
Take a Capital Loss Yourself
By selling your securities that are worth less now than when you purchased them, you can take a capital loss on your tax return and then contribute the proceeds. Remember, donating your securities directly to the charitable organization will not entitle you to take the capital loss. Once you have sold the securities, you may donate the proceeds by check or credit card.
Utilize the Pension Protection Act (PPA)
The Pension Protection Act enables donors age 70 ½ and older to make tax-free withdrawals from certain retirement accounts to fund charitable gifts. When your gift up to $100,000 is transferred directly to a nonprofit organization such as LaGrange College, it is not reported as part of your adjusted gross income, and thus does not have to be deducted on your tax return. Consult with your financial advisor to determine if PPA might work for you. Please alert Advancement Services at 706-880-8255 if you plan to utilize this opportunity.
Employer Matching Gifts
Don't forget—you can double or even triple your gift to LC if your employer matches its employees' charitable giving. Check with your personnel office for information and forms.
Gift Dates
The gift date, or the date used for tax purposes, is the day you transfer control of the asset. Keep in mind that there are different rules governing the gift date depending on the asset or your method of giving.
Checks: The postmark date is the date of the gift. If there is no postmark, the date the check is received constitutes the gift date.
Credit cards: The day the charge is authorized is considered the gift date.
Pledges: Only payments made during the tax year are deductible. Pledge payment dates follow the same rules as gift dates.
Securities
Electronic transfers: The day the securities enter the organization's account is the gift date.
Hand delivery: The day the securities are received by the charity or its broker is the date of the gift.
Mail: The mailing date is the gift date. It is important to send, by registered or certified mail, the unsigned certificates in a separate envelope from the signed stock power and letter of intent. Stock market fluctuations after the date of delivery will not affect your charitable deduction.
Property
Real estate: The day the organization receives the signed deed is the gift date. However, if your state law requires recording of the deed to fulfill the title, then the date of recording is the gift date.
Artwork, jewelry and other tangible personal property: The gift date is the day the nonprofit organization receives the property with a signed document transferring ownership.
If you would like to discuss your gift, please email development@tiemles.com or call 706-880-8244.