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Ways to Give

Each gift made to the University, whether large or small, deeply impacts our students.  As you consider supporting this year, there are a number of ways in which to make your gift.


Giving Options

  1. Cash

    A cash gift is usually the easiest and most convenient way to make a gift. Mount Union is able to make use of your cash gift right away with immediate impact. You receive a valuable income tax charitable deduction to offset your taxes on this year’s return. Gifts of cash are deductible up to 50% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). Any excess deduction can be carried over for five years.

  2. Credit Card

    You may make your gift to Mount Union via credit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. You may contact us directly at (330) 829-4136 to submit your credit card information, submit it via our secure online gift form, or mail your credit card information, including number, card type, full name as it appears on the card, expiration date, security code, and gift amount to the University of Mount Union, Office of University Advancement, 1972 Clark Ave., Alliance, OH 44601.

  3. Electronic Funds Transfer

    If you so choose, you may establish an electronic funds transfer (EFT) to occur one time or over a period of time. In order to begin the EFT process, please mail a voided check to the University of Mount Union, Office of University Advancement, 1972 Clark Ave., Alliance, OH 44601, along with your intended payment schedule and gift amount.

  4. Securities

    A gift of stocks or bonds may provide you with an even greater tax benefit. If you have owned securities for more than one year and their value has increased, you can avoid capital gains tax and receive a charitable income tax deduction equal to the fair market value of your gift up to 30% of your adjusted gross income with a five-year carry over for unused deductions.

  5. Individual Retirement Account (IRA)

    If you are 70 ½ or older, you can receive benefits by making a gift from your IRA account to help support Mount Union. Gifts made from your IRA (up to $100,000 per year) are not reportable as taxable income. They also qualify for your required minimum distribution (RMD), which can lower your taxes. In addition, an IRA rollover gift does not count towards the 50% of your adjusted gross income annual limitation on charitable gifts. Contact your IRA plan administrator to learn their procedure for making a rollover gift to Mount Union.   

  6. Real Estate

    A gift of your real estate that has been held for more than a year also has the advantage of providing you with a charitable tax deduction based on the current value of the property, as well as enabling you to avoid capital gains tax on the sale of your property. The full market value of a gift of real estate is deductible up to 30% of your adjusted gross income. Any amount in excess of the 30% can be carried forward for five years. The donor is responsible for obtaining an appraisal of the property by a qualified appraiser. In most instances, no gift of real estate encumbered by a mortgage or lien shall be accepted.

  7. Personal Property

    Selected artwork, rare books, and antiques are examples of personal property that may also make nice gifts to Mount Union. You would be entitled to a charitable deduction for the full market value of the property subject to the 30% ceiling and five-year deduction carry over for the remainder. You will be asked to provide a qualified appraisal to submit to the University. To ensure that your gift of personal property qualifies for a favorable charitable tax deduction and that the property has a related use to Mount Union, please contact the Office of Advancement.

  8. Donor Advised Funds

    Through a unique partnership with the Stark Community Foundation, your University of Mount Union Donor Advised Fund allows you to decide which Mount Union programs and other eligible charities to support according to your own interests and timetable. You can establish your donor advised fund with a gift of cash, appreciated stocks, bonds, or other eligible marketable assets and receive an immediate charitable income tax deduction. As part of Stark Community Foundation’s well-diversified portfolio, your hard-earned dollars are strategically invested to provide for long-term growth. This allows you to give more as your fund grows tax-free, ready to support your next philanthropic endeavor when the moment is right for you.

  9. Gifts by Will

    A bequest is one of the easiest ways for you to make a planned gift. You can create a bequest of any dollar amount, gift a specific property, or designate a percentage of your estate. Your estate will receive a charitable deduction to help offset estate taxes, and you will be happy knowing your gift will enable us to continue our work into the future.    

  10. Retirement Assets

    You can name Mount as a beneficiary of your retirement plan. By making a gift of your retirement plan, your estate will receive a 100% charitable deduction, thereby saving estate taxes, and will avoid the income taxes on those assets. In most cases, there is no need to amend your will, thus saving legal fees. Simply fill out a brief beneficiary designation form provided by the plan or account administrator.

  11. Life Insurance

    The gift of life insurance can be made by simply naming Mount Union as the beneficiary of your policy. Your life insurance proceeds will help further our mission, and your estate will benefit from an estate tax charitable deduction based on the value of the proceeds paid.

  12. Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA)

    A CGA is a contract between you and Mount Union. In exchange for a gift of cash or securities, Mount Union agrees to make fixed payments for life to you or you and your spouse. After all payments have been made, Mount Union will receive the remaining value of your gift. The benefits of a CGA are that your payments are fixed as of the date of your gift. This means that your payments will never change, even if interest rates fluctuate or the stock market changes. Depending upon your gift, you may receive the added benefit of mostly tax-free payments. You will also receive a charitable deduction in the year in which you set up the gift annuity.

  13. Deferred Charitable Gift Annuity

    A deferred Charitable Gift Annuity allows middle-aged donors to make a gift while they have high current income. They receive a current income tax deduction, and the assets in the annuity accumulate tax-free until the annuity payments begin – a year agreed upon when the annuity is entered into, such as retirement age.

  14. Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT)

    A CRT can help you avoid capital gains tax on the sale of appreciated assets, generate regular increased income for you, provide you with a charitable income tax deduction, and fulfill your philanthropic objectives. In addition, a charitable remainder trust can make payments to your heirs for their lives or a term of years. Your CRT will be invested income to produce and take advantage of investment growth opportunities that help counteract the effects of inflation on a fixed income. There are two types of CRTs. An annuity trust  pays a fixed dollar amount to the income beneficiaries. A unitrust pays a fixed percentage of the value of the trust, as re-determined annually, to the income beneficiaries.

  15. Matching Gift

    Many companies strongly support philanthropic activity by their employees through a matching gift program. These types of programs double (even triple) the impact of your gift. Click here to see if your employer has a matching gift policy.