Sustained and stable school funding has become a necessary goal in today’s education environment. Any forward thinking Oregon school district must look beyond budget cycles and pressures of State funding and establish an independent financial base. This issue can be addressed through planned giving to an endowment program or charitable bequest.

A Charitable Bequest is a gift made by a donor through the use of a will or a trust, and occurs when the descendent dies. The gift can be applied to the current donation campaign or, if specified, go to the Foundation's endowment fund (see below) in honor of the donor(s). Please click here for sample provisions that donors may wish to use for making gifts to the Foundation through wills or trusts.

The Stafford Society is the endowment fund of the Foundation. It maintains and invests donations to generate income for the Foundation. This income will fund teaching positions in the future and help ensure lower class sizes for students in Lake Oswego schools for generations to come. With this type of planned giving, the Foundation offers the community an opportunity to make a lasting gift to public education.

The easiest way to make a donation to the endowment fund is through a bequest in your will, trust or retirement plan. When you notify the Foundation of your commitment to leave a bequest to the endowment, we will honor and recognize that pledge by making you a member of The Stafford Society.

Click here for information you and your legal advisor may wish to consider for inclusion in your will.

Types of Membership

Founding Membership: Founding members of the Stafford Society will have made a gift of cash or securities in the amount of $20,000 over a period of three years and have dedicated the gift to the endowment fund.

Charter Membership: Charter members will have donated by establishing a bequest in their estate plan, beneficiary designation on a retirement account or life insurance policy, or through a life-income plan, an amount that will be equivalent to $40,000 or more upon receipt as a benefit to the Lake Oswego School District Foundation.

Founding and Charter members will receive recognition at an annual honoring event, on a placard at both high schools’ main entrance, with a certificate of appreciation, and in a public thank you through the news media.

Benefits to the Donors

• Planning: By using this approach, the donor will be able to set up in advance, a fund which will benefit a specific organization, purpose or field of interest within the Lake Oswego School District Foundation.

• Tax Deductibility: The donor’s estate will receive a full federal estate tax deduction for the amount of bequest in the year of death.

• Donor Control: However, during the donor’s lifetime, he or she will continue to enjoy the income benefits of the assets under their control.

• Simplicity: The charitable bequest is the simplest form of planned giving. All a donor needs to do is to add one or two lines to their own existing will.