Ways to Give

Growing Limestone

Limestone front quad campus students

Limestone Fund

The cornerstone of Limestone’s fundraising, the Annual Fund supports our budget, strengthens our programs, and helps to bridge the gap between the rising costs of educating students and the income from tuition and endowment. Each year our alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends, businesses, and corporations make their investment in Limestone University, providing us the necessary funds to look toward the future while maintaining our traditions.

An unrestricted gift to the Annual Fund is arguably the most valuable, as it provides The University the flexibility to direct the funds where the need is greatest. Unrestricted giving impacts the entire campus — every program, every person, and every aspect of The University. These unrestricted funds support our budget, deliver support services and financial assistance to our students, maintain our buildings and grounds, and pay for technological improvements such as library and computing enhancements.

All gifts, regardless of the amount, are welcome and appreciated. Your tax-deductible donation will enhance the educational experience of our students.

 
Winnie Davis Building front campus

Your Planned Giving Options

A Current Will

Features

  • Insures that your property is distributed according to your wishes
  • Allows flexibility in carrying out your wishes
  • Fully deductible from estate taxes
  • Not irrevocable, may be adjusted as circumstances dictate

A Case in Point

Sally and John’s children were now independent. At age 62, their retirement was just beginning in a new home and in a new state. This was an important time to review their will and to consider changing earlier provisions. An attorney helped them clarify their assets and ensured that their will met state requirements. Bequests were identified for their heirs and for charitable considerations. Upon both their deaths, Limestone University will receive a bequest to create a scholarship endowment in their name. It will provide a wonderful legacy to their alma mater.

Charitable Gift Annuity

Features

  • Provides a fixed income for life for yourself and perhaps one other person based on age
  • Considerable tax-saving consequences
  • Remainder transferred to Limestone upon death

A Case in Point

Deb and Jessie desire a fixed income for both of their lives to supplement their social security and other retirement funds. They hold under-performing, but highly appreciated assets. By creating a charitable gift annuity and naming Limestone University as the recipient of the assets, they are eligible for a rate of return of over seven percent since they are both over seventy years old. Their new-found annual income even allows them to provide a year-end gift to Limestone University’s Annual Fund.

Charitable Lead Trust

Features

  • Enhances your ability to make larger gifts to Limestone University
  • Trust pays selected amount of income to charity for predetermined number of years
  • Preserves assets for your family
  • Reduces your taxable income
  • Reduces your estate tax

A Case in Point

John wanted to make significant annual gifts to Limestone University to fund a scholarship in his father’s memory. It was important, however, that his three children inherit the assets he had accumulated. The Charitable Lead Trust accomplished both goals, and he established significant tax savings. John will enjoy helping students receive educational benefits offered by Limestone University to deserving students during his lifetime.

Charitable Remainder Trust

Features

  • Trust provides flexible investment
  • A significant charitable deduction is realized
  • Capital gains tax is eliminated
  • Your trust is professionally managed
  • Trust pays selected percentage of at least 5% income for life
  • Remainder of Trust transferred to Limestone at death

A Case in Point

Jane’s late husband left her with a huge block of appreciated stock currently yielding a 2% dividend. By creating a Charitable Remainder Trust, she earns a significant charitable deduction, an annual yield of 6%, and she doesn’t have the worries of how her portfolio is performing. Most importantly, Limestone University will receive the remainder, which will endow a faculty chair in honor of her favorite professor.

Life Insurance

Features

  • By naming Limestone University as the owner and beneficiary, you are entitled to charitable deductions
  • Funds are paid to Limestone upon death and are removed from estate
  • May be an inexpensive way to replace the value of another gifted asset
  • Names Limestone irrevocable owner and beneficiary

A Case in Point

Greg is recently widowed. The children are out of college and gainfully employed. Both sets of parents are deceased leaving Greg with a sizable paid up life insurance policy no longer needed for family protection. By gifting the policy to Limestone University and making Limestone the owner and beneficiary, Greg has accomplished a lifelong goal of helping build his alma mater’s endowment.

Living Trust

Features

  • The provisions are fully revocable and amendable at any time
  • You name the beneficiary of the income of the trust
  • The remainder goes to those you have named
  • You name the trustee

A Case in Point

As middle aged alumni, Joan and Ted had achieved early financial security, had no children, and now wanted to travel without worrying about their personal financial matters. By working with a trust officer at their bank and creating living trusts, they can fulfill their dreams and accomplish their charitable goals. Limestone University has been named to receive the remaining principal upon their deaths. This endowment will provide earnings doubling the amount of their Annual Fund gift in perpetuity.

Retained Life Interest

Features

  • Gift of personal residence or farm
  • Continue to stay in your residence for life
  • Immediate deduction for present value of remainder
  • You may gift a segment of your property and still receive charitable deductions
  • Home used or sold at death by college

A Case in Point

Al and Judith wished to make a significant gift to Limestone University, continue to live on their farm, receive sizable tax deductions, and lessen their estate tax. The retained life gift was the perfect answer. It also provided Al and Judith a way to make an even larger commitment to the capital campaign.

Retirement Plan

Features

  • Fully deductible from estate tax
  • Limestone receives assets of retirement plan
  • Avoids income tax

A Case in Point

Sally has an estate made up of her home and other assets over $10 million, a life insurance policy of $1 million, and her husband’s IRA of $1 million. Sally has named Limestone University beneficiary of her husband’s IRA. Upon her death, Limestone receives the remainder of the IRA without having to pay income tax. If Sally had named a family member as the beneficiary, the family member would owe income tax on the IRA, thereby reducing its value as a gift.

Big Tree on Front Campus

General Scholarship

More information coming soon.

Endowed Scholarship

More information coming soon.

Annual Scholarship

More information coming soon.

Two students on front campus

Join a Giving Society

The Limestone Legacy Circle

The Founder's Circle$1,000,000 and up
The Heritage Circle$500,000 - $999,999

The Limestone Annual Giving Societies

The President's Society$25,000 and up
The Cornerstone Society$10,000 - $24,999
The Guardians' Society$5,000 - $9,999
The Champions' Society$2,500 - $4,999
The 1845 Society$1,000 - $2,499
The Fountain Society$500 - $999
Advocates$250 - $499
Contributors$1 - $249
Hamrick Building

Report to Investors

More information coming soon.