Give to Bethel University
The Bethel Investor
News for donors to bethel university
Practical Giving – While Reaping a Benefit
And All Count Toward the Campaign Goal
Planned gifts provide the resources that create extraordinary opportunities and preserve Bethel’s future. Myriad easy giving options are available—from naming Bethel University as a beneficiary in your will to a more complex trust arrangement.
Here are some creative giving strategies discovered by some of Bethel’s friends that may prove useful to you and help us as well.
“I never knew I could make a gift to Bethel and receive income for life.” –Vi Bergquist-Redding
More than 10 years ago, Dr. Violet Bergquist-Redding discovered she could make a gift to Bethel and in exchange, receive a charitable deduction and income payments for life. Since then, Bergquist has added a gift annuity agreement with Bethel nearly every year. Proceeds from her gift annuities will eventually be added to her endowed scholarship at her death, providing a stream of scholarships for future Bethel students.
“We discovered we didn’t have to use cash to make a gift to Bethel: we can buy low and give high by making our gift with appreciated securities instead.” – Ray & Genevieve Brace
When Ray and Genevieve Brace want to support Bethel and other favorite ministries, they transfer stock instead of writing a check. Giving appreciated stock to Bethel accomplishes several things: it eliminates paying capital gains tax, it makes for a larger gift because of the appreciated value of the stock, it provides a sizeable charitable deduction, and it has little or no effect on cash flow for living expenses.
“I didn’t know I could give an asset I no longer need or care for.” –Raymond Olson
Raymond Olson bought silver bars several years ago for investment purposes and for a hedge against inflation. Not needing the silver bars any longer, he wanted to dispose of the property but since silver had appreciated over the years, he was faced with having to pay a considerable amount of capital gains taxes. The solution? He decided to give the silver bars to Bethel. Bethel could sell them for their full value and avoid paying any taxes because of its status as a public charity. Olson received a charitable deduction for the full value of the silver bars, including the appreciated portion.
“We never knew we could create an endowment that costs us nothing during my lifetime.” – Carl & Mary Schmuland
Carl and Mary Schmuland have for years supported several Bethel students from northern Minnesota through generous annual scholarship gifts. They wanted to see their scholarships continue after their lifetimes, but did not want to curtail their current giving that provides so much joy. The solution? The couple created endowed scholarships through a provision in their estate plan that will continue to make scholarship awards long after they are gone. It cost the Schmulands nothing now, but gives them peace of mind and satisfaction in knowing their legacy will continue.
“We didn’t know we could make a gift to Bethel and benefit other charities, as well.” – John and Susan Roise
(donor advised funds through the Bethel Foundation)
John and Susan Roise love to give. And not just to Bethel, but to a variety of other Christian ministries. So when they wanted to make a gift of some property they owned, Bethel’s Foundation and the Office of Development assisted by creating a donor advised fund that accepted the property, sold it, and then distributed gifts to various charities according to advice provided by the Roises.
“Investing in Bethel is investing in lives,” says John, who also serves on the Bethel Board of Trustees. “It’s raising up future leaders for Christ. We are honored to be a small part of this place.”
“You don’t have to be wealthy to make a significant gift to Bethel.” – Doug Stimers
A retired pastor, Doug Stimers couldn’t believe it was possible to provide substantial gifts from his modest estate to his family, while also making significant gifts of support to his favorite ministries—Bethel and the Baptist General Conference. He and his family agreed to a plan that distributes his whole estate value twice: once to his family, then to the Lord’s work!
“If we have a choice between giving our IRA to Uncle Sam or to Bethel University, we choose Bethel every time.” –Bev & Wayne Thompson
Like many professionals, the largest asset that Bev and Wayne Thompson have in retirement is their IRA plan. Faced with the prospect of possibly losing much of that asset to estate taxes upon their deaths, the Thompsons made a provision in their will that pays their children an income for several years, then makes a significant gift to Bethel. This plan preserves the Thompson’s estate for their family and at the same time, promotes Bethel’s mission for the progress of God’s kingdom.
Contact Dan Wiersum at 651.635.8052 or d-wiersum@bethel.edu to find a giving option that might work for you.