Giving to CU

Cameron University Foundation, Inc.

The 1908 Heritage Society recognizes those who have made a commitment to Cameron University through a planned gift. In 1908, just a year after statehood, our school was established by the Oklahoma Legislature as the Cameron State School of Agriculture. The heritage society name honors this milestone in Oklahoma history. Any donor who voices their intent to leave a planned gift to Cameron University is considered a member of the 1908 Heritage Society.

Becoming a Member 

Planned Giving

Cameron University Foundation, Inc. can assist donors in achieving their tax structuring, estate planning, and philanthropic goals. A variety of flexible financial options are available to generate immediate tax deductions, help to avoid capital gains taxes, and reduce estate taxes while making a lasting difference at Cameron University. Some options even guarantee income to donors.

Current Gifts

Gifts of Cash, Securities, Real and Personal Property

Federal tax laws encourage gifts of cash, securities, real and personal property to the university by permitting you, as a donor, to take a charitable contribution deduction for a gift in support of Cameron University's mission. If you are an itemizer, your gift is generally deductible up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income. Any excess may be carried forward for up to five years.

Appreciated Securities

An outright gift of long-term, appreciated securities, in most cases, allows the donor to claim a charitable income tax deduction equal to the full fair market value of the securities at the time of transfer. By making this type of gift, the donor eliminates capital gains tax liability which would result if the donor sold the property and then made a gift of the proceeds.

Gifts of Closely Held Stock

Stock in closely held corporations may also be donated to Cameron University. The donor will generally receive a charitable deduction for the fair market value of the stock at the time of the contribution.

Gifts of Insurance Policies

A donor may obtain a significant tax deduction and provide a generous benefit to the university by transferring an insurance policy to Cameron University and receive a charitable contribution deduction for the value of the policy which they give to the university. Another option is to purchase a life insurance policy and name the Cameron University Foundation as the owner of the policy. This option would allow the donor to take a charitable contribution deduction for each premium payment.

Gift of Undivided Interest

When a donor holds, or prefers to give, a percentage interest in real or personal property, the tax laws accommodate the donor's wishes by granting the donor a current income tax deduction for the fair market value of the undivided interest. The donor thereby makes a gift in support of the university's mission and simultaneously removes the value of the gift, along with future appreciation, from taxation at the donor's top tax bracket.

Deferred Gift Programs

Charitable Remainder Unitrusts

Certain types of trusts allow a donor to take a current income tax deduction for a charitable gift that won't actually pass to the university until sometime in the future. In a charitable remainder unitrust, the donor places the gifted assets in a trust, and the trustee pays the donor a fixed percentage of the earnings or value of the trust assets annually for the lifetime of the donor or a specified amount of time up to 20 years. Following the designated time period or event, the trust assets pass to the university. This type of gift often provides current income and capital gains tax savings, as well as estate tax reductions. The donor is taxed only on the income distributed to him or her. The unitrust is tax exempt, and does not pay any income taxes. Thus, when a donor transfers highly appreciated, low yield property to a unitrust, followed by a sale of the property in the unitrust, capital gains taxes are avoided. The trustee of the unitrust then invests the proceeds in a higher yield asset, and the donor will benefit from a greater income without suffering the capital gains tax bite from the transaction. What a wonderful benefit to those who want to support Cameron!

Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts

A variation to the unitrust is the charitable remainder annuity trust. This is similar to the unitrust, except that the donor receives a fixed payment from the trust each year for his or her lifetime or for a specific period of years. Like unitrusts, charitable remainder annuity trusts also enable a donor who owns appreciated low yield assets to make a gift to the university and thereby increase his or her lifetime return while bypassing the capital gains tax.

Life Estate Contracts

A donor may deed a personal residence, farm or other property to Cameron University, receive a current income tax deduction, and retain the use of the property for his or her lifetime.

Charitable Lead Trust

Another type of trust providing significant tax planning advantages to the donor is a charitable lead trust. This type of trust allows a donor to make a "temporary" donation to Cameron University in trust. Pursuant to the trust, the trustee pays an income to the university for a fixed period of years. At the end of the term of years, the trustee is required by the trust to transfer the property to children, grandchildren or other beneficiaries designated by the donor in the trust document. These gifts produce dramatic gift and estate tax savings and also preserves assets for the donor's family and other heirs.

Estate Gifts

Will Provisions for Cameron University

Wills provide many donors an excellent opportunity to support the Cameron University mission. In a will, a donor may bequeath a fixed percentage of his or her estate or a specific amount to the university in support of its mission. A will may also provide for specific heirs to disclaim assets distributable to them in favor of the university if they later decide to do so. State laws often distribute assets to the government if heirs are not located. A donor may avoid this possibility by including Cameron in their wills as a final contingent beneficiary if there are no other heirs upon the death of the donor.

Testamentary Charitable Remainder Trusts

Wills may be drafted to include charitable remainder trusts which provide income to a spouse, parent, brother, sister, or other survivor for life, followed by a gift to Cameron upon the death of the life beneficiary. These gifts may result in substantial estate tax savings, and can provide an increased income for a spouse or other beneficiary.

Testamentary Charitable Lead Trusts

A donor may also save estate taxes and provide a wonderful benefit to the university by including a charitable lead trust in a will. Similar to the lead trusts described earlier, this type of trust would provide an income payment to the University for a specific period of years. At the end of the designated period, the trust property would be distributed to children, grandchildren, or other beneficiaries named in the will. These gifts produce dramatic estate tax savings and preserve the estate for their heirs.

Make a Difference

To learn more about how you can save taxes and assist Cameron University achieve its vision for the future please contact: