Types of Gifts

Endowments

Establishing an endowment is a way to perpetually lend your support to SFA. The funds that establish an endowment are invested, and a portion of its average annual earnings are used for the purposes specified by the donor. The minimum amount required to create an endowment is $25,000, and donors can work with personnel from the Office of Development regarding the many ways this amount can be achieved.

Donors can create endowments to fund the following items: 

• Student Scholarships: $25,000+
• Academic Program Support: $25,000+
• Full-Tuition Student Scholarships: $650,000+
• Faculty Support Professorships: $500,000+
• Academic Chair: $2 million+
• and many other areas.

Naming Opportunities

Stephen F. Austin State University has naming opportunities that enable donors to link their philanthropic interests with enduring recognition for either themselves or others.

Donors can name university facilities and spaces or portions of facilities and external spaces. Donors can also name a college, school or division, academic departments,  a university-wide center/institute or a college/unit center/institute.

Philanthropic namings of buildings and programs can help support the bricks-and-mortar needs of a campus as well as the academic work taking place within those same buildings. To assist with the understanding of the process and for specific guidelines and procedures, please view the University of Texas System Naming Policy | Board of Regents Rule 80307.

Gifts of Stock

Gifting stock can be more valuable than the cash equivalent. By donating stock that has appreciated for more than a year you avoid capital gains taxes. So you are actually giving 20 percent more than if you sold the stock and then made a cash donation.

Gifts of Land

A direct gift is the simplest method of donating real estate. The deed or title is transferred from the donor to SFA. As the donor, you generally receive a tax deduction equal to the fair market value of the property. Learn more about the SFA Real Estate Foundation.

Gifts of Retirement Assets (IRAs)

You can give up to $100,000 from your IRA directly to SFA without having to pay income taxes on the money. This popular gift option commonly called the "IRA charitable rollover" or a "qualified charitable distribution."

By including SFA in your will or estate plan, you can supplement your current giving to provide continued support for decades to come. You maintain the flexibility to make changes in your bequest provisions that include both the gift amount and how you wish your gift to be used.

Planned giving can include charitable gift annuities, gifts of life insurance or simply including SFA in your will or trust.

Gifts of Life Insurance

Gifting a life insurance policy is a wonderful way to support SFA. The process is simple, as it only requires that you name the SFASU Foundation as the beneficiary. By making the SFASU Foundation the owner of the policy, you get the added benefit of your annual premiums being tax deductible. For more information please contact the Office of Development.

Sample language for making SFA a beneficiary of your will

Specific Amounts

"I give, devise, and bequeath to Stephen F. Austin State University Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit corporation located in Nacogdoches County, Texas, the sum of $ ________, for use in (state the purpose for which you wish your bequest to be used, or indicate ‘general purposes’)."

Percentages

"I give, devise, and bequeath to Stephen F. Austin State University Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit corporation located in Nacogdoches County, Texas, ____% of my residual estate, both real and personal, for use in (state the purpose for which you wish your bequest to be used, or indicate ‘general purposes’)."

Specific Assets

"I give, devise, and bequeath to Stephen F. Austin State University Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit corporation located in Nacogdoches County, Texas, ____, (specific asset such as a piece of property or mineral interest), for use in (state the purpose for which you wish your bequest to be used, or indicate ‘general purposes’)."

Please view estate gift forms to help facilitate your next planned gift.

For more information and help with these types of gifts, email giftplanning@sfasu.edu or call 936.468.5406.

The Annual Fund is a yearly campaign to raise funds for colleges and academic departments on campus. It supports essential needs that might not otherwise be provided for through state funding.

Annual Fund contributions can be made via mail, telephone or secure online form. Make an online gift now or feel free to use the printable mail-in gift form and return it with your contribution to the address shown on the form. To make an Annual Fund gift over the phone, simply call the SFA Development Office at 800.319.9517 or 936.468.5406, and one of our friendly office staff will be happy to take your credit card donation.

Parents Fund

One hundred percent of Parents Fund gifts go to the areas specified by you, the donor. That ensures that your student’s area of study or interest will benefit directly from your gift.

Unrestricted Annual Giving

Unrestricted annual gifts give the university the discretion to apply funds where they are needed most. There are four levels of giving:

• President’s Club ($10,000+)
• 1923 Society ($5,000-$9,999)
• Vista Society ($2,500-$4,999)
• Loyalty Fund ($1,000-$2,400)

Faculty/Staff Fund

This fund gives SFA faculty and staff members the opportunity to support the university by giving to their areas of interest.

Student Fund

Even students have the opportunity to show their Lumberjack pride by giving to the university and directing the funds to their areas of interest.

Impact Jacks is the crowdfunding website for Stephen F. Austin State University. It is open to all SFA students, faculty and staff who are raising money for university-based and affiliated student initiatives and projects. The Office of Development Annual Giving coordinator serves as the administrator for the website and works with a representative for each initiative or project. If you’re interested in fundraising for your student success project, contact Advancement Services.

To see current fundraising initiatives, please visit the Impact Jacks Crowdfunding site.