Donate to the Foundation Stafford Society Giving Options
FOUNDING MEMBERS
Everyone who contributes to the endowment fund is welcomed as a Stafford Society member. Special recognition as a Founding Member will be given to those who contribute during the Stafford Society’s initial fund development period (through December 2013).
CHARTER FOUNDING MEMBERS
Members who make outright contributions valued at $20,000 or more (at once, or over a 3 year period) or planned gifts of $40,000 or more will receive special recognition as Charter Founding Members.

There are many ways to structure a gift to the Stafford Society:
  1. Outright Gifts
    Outright gifts may include cash, appreciated securities like stock and bonds, real estate or other property.
  2. Bequests
    A bequest is a gift made by a donor through the use of a will or a living trust, or via a beneficiary designation on a retirement account or life insurance policy. It is the most direct form of planned gift, and occurs when the descendent dies, or following the death of the donor’s spouse or life partner.
  3. Life Income Gifts (Figure 1)
    Life Income Gifts allow you to make a gift to the Foundation through a trust or annuity that will pay you and/or another beneficiary annual income for life, and provide estate tax benefits in the year of the gift. At the death of the last income beneficiary, the remaining principal is transferred to the Foundation. Life income gifts can include Charitable Remainder Trusts and Gift Annuities.

  4. Charitable Lead Trust (Figure 2)
    A Charitable Lead Trust allows you to pass assets on to your family with significant estate tax savings while making a gift to the Foundation. In a lead trust, income is paid to the Foundation for a specified number of years. During the term of the trust, the Foundation receives the income earned from your gift. When the term of the trust is completed, the principal may be transferred to other beneficiaries (often children or grandchildren), with estate or gift taxes usually reduced or even eliminated.

  5. Retained Life Estate
    A Retained Life Estate gift allows you to give your primary residence or vacation home but continue to use them during your lifetime. By giving the property now, you can claim a tax deduction for part of the property’s value (based on your age and the value of the property). You continue to live in or use it just as before, and continue to be responsible for property taxes and maintenance. After your lifetime, the property comes directly to the Foundation, avoiding probate.

Click here for information and sample provisions to consider when making gifts to the Foundation through beneficiary designations, wills or trusts.
For more complex planned giving, the Foundation and our Oregon Community Fund endowment management partner will provide advice and consultation to donors and their legal advisors. Please contact Foundation Director, Mary Puskas by email at puskasm@loswego.k12.or.us or call (503) 534-2106.
Leadership Giving Opportunities

MATCHING CHALLENGE GIFTS (Grant levels start at $25,000)
Matching Challenge Gifts are grants offered with the stipulation that in order to receive them, the Foundation must raise additional contributions—up to the amount of the matching gift—often within a specific timeframe. When they do, the Matching Challenge Gift donor agrees to match, or effectively double, the amount raised by the Foundation. For example, when a donor offers a $100,000 Matching Challenge Gift, if the Foundation can raise $100,000 in other contributions, the Matching Donor will match that amount and contribute $100,000.


NAMING OPPORTUNITIES (Levels range from $25,000 to $1 million)
Naming Opportunities are a unique and heartfelt way for donors to recognize, honor or memorialize a loved one through their gift. The funds raised can be used to name a classroom, special interest room (music, art, etc.) lab, gymnasium, library, cafeteria, auditorium, theater, sports field, garden, or main entrance. Click here for more information and named facilities to date.


ENDOWED TEACHING POSITION (Donation level $1.4 million)
An Endowed Teaching Position carries the name of the donor and offers a deeply personal and distinctive option for supporting the Foundation. With this gift of $1.4 million a teaching position is permanently maintained for the district.


 
Benefits & Planned Giving Options
There are many ways to structure your gift giving to the Stafford Society endowment program. Here are quick links to more information:
Stafford Society Options (click the links to jump to the information)
Bequests
Life Income Gifts
Charitable Lead Trust
Retained Life Estate

Leadership Giving Opportunities:
Naming Opportunities
Matching Challenge Gifts
Endowed Teaching Position

Donor Stories
Tax and Legal Information
Authorization for Charitable Gift of Securities Form

To download a pdf of our Endowment brochure, please on the image to the right.