From the President

Year-End Giving!

12/8/17 Hannibal-LaGrange University has experienced many decades of educational success because of God’s goodness and support from friends like you. In choosing to support Hannibal-LaGrange University, you have joined hands with thousands who, through more than 150 years, have helped provide quality education in a distinctively Christian atmosphere.  Thanks so much for investing in the lives of our young people.

Planning your year-end giving strategy is the key to enhancing your gift. Charitable incentives in the tax laws offer many opportunities for you to assist Hannibal-LaGrange University in reaching its goals, while protecting or even strengthening your own financial objectives.

Both outright and deferred gifts are tax deductible, reducing the net cost of the gift to the donor. While tax advantages are rarely the primary motive for giving, they often play a role in determining how the gift should be made and how large it should be.

Deciding What To Give:

  • Cash – Cash gifts and pledges are tax deductible for up to 50% of your adjusted gross income in any one tax year. Generally, the higher your tax rate, the greater your savings are. Pledging campaign gifts over a three to five-year period may allow you to give more than is possible with a one-time cash gift. Pledges are deductible in the year of payment. Give online here.
  • Matching Gifts – Be sure to ask if your employer participates in a matching gifts program. Your gift to HLGU could be multiplied!  To contribute a matching gift to HLGU, contact your employer’s human resources department to see if they offer a matching gift program.

Noncash Property –

  • Marketable Securities – Marketable securities may be assigned directly to the University or transferred through your broker. The amount of your contribution is the fair market value on the day of the transfer. A gift of securities avoids a capital gains tax and is an excellent vehicle for making a substantial gift or payment on a pledge.
  • Real Estate – An often overlooked opportunity for charitable giving is real estate. While all gifts of real estate must be approved in advance by the Office of Institutional Advancement, a gift of property allows you to use assets that may offer you little or no current benefit to generate a tax deduction. You may even elect to give a residence, farm, or vacation home, reserving the right to occupy the property for as long as you or your spouse lives. If the gift is irrevocable, you may qualify for an immediate tax deduction for the present value of the remainder interest in the property.

I am happy to assist with any end of year giving questions you might have.  Please contact me at anthony.allen@hlg.edu or 573-629-3252.

P.S. If your gift envelope is postmarked on or before December 31, you may be eligible for a 2017 tax deduction.  Thank you in advance for your generosity!

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