Waycross College

Giving Opportunities

There are many ways to give to the Waycross College Foundation: cash, stock, real estate, life insurance, charitable lead trusts, bequests, memorials, etc. These methods may not suit your particular situation; it is best to contact an attorney, accountant, or tax advisor for additional information.

Gift Options

Cash
Gifts of cash are fully deductible - up to 50% of adjusted gross income.

Stock
It is often more tax-wise to contribute stock rather than cash. A gift of appreciated stock generally offers a two-fold tax saving - the donor avoids paying capital gains tax on any increased value of the stock as well as receives an income tax deduction for the full fair market value of “long term” appreciated stock at the time of the gift.

Real Estate
A gift of real estate may also be tax-wise. A residence, vacation home, farm, acreage, or vacant lot may be donated to the Waycross College Foundation either outright or as a deferred donation.

Matching Gifts

Many employers match the charitable donations of their employees.

Memorial and Honor Gifts

A memorial donation or a donation in honor of a family member, friend, or colleague may be made. These gifts are two-fold in that they pay tribute to someone special while also helping the students and programs of Waycross College. An acknowledgment is sent to the family or individual in whose honor or memory the gift is made. The amount of the gift will remain confidential.

Named Giving

Donors who make a significant donation to the general fund may have the privilege of naming a building, space, or street in honor of an individual, company, or civic organization. Another option for donors is to establish and name an endowed scholarship for an individual, company, or civic organization.

Planned Gifts

Bequests
A bequest may be made to the Waycross College Foundation by designating a dollar amount or a percentage of the estate. An option is to name the Foundation as the remainder beneficiary to receive funds only after specified sums have been paid to individual beneficiaries. This is the most common way of making a planned giving donation.

Life Insurance
A gift of life insurance can provide a significant charitable deduction by designating the Waycross College Foundation as both the owner and the beneficiary of the life insurance policy. Check with an insurance agent for more information regarding life insurance policies as a charitable donation.

Life Income Gifts “Charitable Remainder Unitrust”
If stock is paying low dividends, a “life-income” gift may be appropriate. Transferring the stock to the Waycross College Foundation and establishing a “charitable remainder unitrust” provides the donor and/or other named beneficiaries a greater annual return. This income would be paid to the beneficiaries for life, after which the assets would be distributed outright to the Foundation.

Charitable Lead Trusts
Charitable lead trusts are essentially the reverse of life income gifts. The income from the trust is first paid to the Waycross College Foundation; the charity’s interest leads the way (hence the name of the trust). Under this arrangement, assets are transferred to a trustee who makes payments to the Waycross College Foundation for a specified number of years, after which the assets are transferred to the heirs. The charitable lead trust allows assets to pass on to children and grandchildren either completely free or substantially free of all estate and gift taxes.

Once a method of giving is selected, see Funding Priorities for an overview of funds that benefit the students and programs of Waycross College. See Scholarships & Funds for an up-to-date listing of scholarships, grants, and funds. For additional information, contact the Foundation at (912) 449-7509 or dcs@waycross.edu.