Foundation & Development
The Francis Marion University Education Foundation was organized in 1974 to provide a means for soliciting and accepting substantial gifts of money or property in order to build an endowment fund that would promote the educational purpose and welfare of Francis Marion University.
Purpose & Structure
The Francis Marion University Education Foundation allows the university to meet a number of diverse needs that would be impossible to meet with state funds alone. Its primary focus has been scholarship support for students.
The Foundation also assists faculty members by granting funds for professional development and sponsored various lecture series and cultural events.
The Francis Marion University Education Foundation is governed by an independent 35-member volunteer board of directors, with additional honorary and ex-officio directors, including the president of the university and other key administrators. Through its board and committee structure, the Foundation gives friends and alumni a personal involvement in the fundraising and asset management program.
The Francis Marion University Education Foundation is located in the Stokes Administration Building on the FMU campus. Contact us Monday through Friday at 843-661-1195. Hours may vary slightly in the summer.
Ways to Give
Make a one time or recurring contribution to any scholarship, fund, or program in the form of cash, check, or credit card. This is a particularly convenient method for end-of-the-year giving. Make sure that the check and envelope, if mailed, are dated or postmarked by December 31 if you wish to take advantage of the tax benefits within that calendar year. This will assure the gift is deductible in that year, although it may not be received until the following year.
Rather than making a cash gift, you may wish to pledge your contribution over a number of years. Please check with the Education Foundation for more information.
A gift of appreciated securities brings the donor greater tax savings than gifts of cash. You avoid paying capital gains on the increased value of the stock. You receive a charitable deduction for the full fair market value of the stock when the gift is made. In order to do this, your stock generally must have been held long-term (more than one year).
A gift of real estate provides considerable savings in capital gains tax due upon the sale of appreciated property. At the same time, you receive a charitable deduction for the full market value of the property subject to the limitations described under the Securities section.
The cash-surrendered value of a life insurance policy is immediately tax deductible. By designating the Education Foundation as both the owner and beneficiary of a life insurance policy, premiums are tax deductible to the donor. This is an easy way to provide a sizable gift.
Many employers have corporate matching gift programs. You can double – sometimes triple – your gift through matching gift programs. Check with your company’s personnel or human resource office about their matching gift program.
A gift in memory or in honor of a professor, student, alumnus, or friend is a special way to recognize a person’s life and accomplishments. When an honorary or memorial gift is received, the Education Foundation notifies the honoree or next of kin and the gift is administered as the contributor specifies. Please provide the Education Foundation with the name and addresses of those you would like notified.
A donor’s property of virtually any description may be used to establish a charitable trust or annuity. With a charitable lead trust, the FMU Education Foundation receives the income for a period selected by the donor, after which the trust corpus is returned to the donor or this family. With a charitable remainder trust, the donated asset could be sold without incurring the capital gains tax and the donor would receive the trust’s income for his lifetime. Upon his death, the assets would pass to the FMU Education Foundation.
The Education Foundation can be named as a beneficiary in Wills to receive specific gifts of funds or property, or can be named as a residual beneficiary, or the donor’s Will may set up a split-interest trust for the joint benefit of the Education Foundation and the donor’s family, of the nature described above. Because of its taxable nature, it is particularly advantageous to name the Education Foundation as a beneficiary of one’s IRA.
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You may make a payroll deduction contribution to any Francis Marion University Education Foundation or Swamp Fox Club scholarship, fund or program listed below by completing this form. The payroll deduction can be for any amount and length of time.
Annual Fund
You have the opportunity to impact the University in a significant and powerful way through your support of the FM Annual Fund. When you give, your gift will be combined with gifts from other alumni, parents, and friends. Your participation does even more than provide opportunities to students; it also shows your desire to see the University advance. Every gift, no matter how large or small, makes a difference.
Gifts to the FM Annual Fund support student scholarships, instructional technology, library acquisitions, and faculty development.
Your gift support designated for the FM Annual Fund continues Francis Marion University’s vision of building an institution committed to quality education at affordable costs. And the success of our fundraising campaign is a testament to the commitment of our alumni, parents, friends, corporations, and foundations.
Ask if your employer will match your gift. Many companies will match employee gifts made to educational institutions, making the impact of your gift even more significant.
Benefits of Giving:
When you make a contribution, you will receive:
– invitations to special events;
– subscriptions to the Francis Marion View magazine and other publications;
– recognition in the annual Honor Roll of Donors; and,
– the joy of knowing that you are supporting and making a difference at Francis Marion University
Scholarships
Francis Marion University and the Francis Marion University Foundation express their sincere appreciation to all of the individuals, businesses, and organizations that have contributed funds for scholarships. Through this generosity, the best and brightest students may be recruited and retained, and students with financial need may receive assistance.
Institutional Scholarships are made available in varying amounts to students through the generosity and outstanding community commitment of businesses, individuals, and organizations including the Francis Marion University Foundation, the FMU Fund, and the Swamp Fox Club. Through these gifts, students receive needed scholarships and financial assistance.
Meet Our Staff
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Daugherty D. LeeD. Lee Daugherty Director of Alumni Affairs and Annual Giving ddaugherty@fmarion.edu Phone843-661-1228 DepartmentsAlumni AffairsEducation FoundationOfficeSAB 111
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Sanderson Chelsea A.Chelsea A. Sanderson Administrative Assistant-Foundation Chelsea.Sanderson@fmarion.edu Phone843-661-1225 DepartmentsAlumni AffairsEducation FoundationOfficeSAB 111
Tax Status
The Francis Marion University Education Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization. Under IRS guidelines, the Education Foundation is classified as a private foundation operated for the benefit of a state university as defined in the IRS code of 1986 section 170 (B) 1 (A) (iv).
Contributions to the University through the Education Foundation are tax deductible. The Foundation exists solely to raise, receive, and manage private gifts for the advancement and benefit of Francis Marion University. The Francis Marion University Education Foundation does not receive public funds, such as state or federal grants.
Gifts to the Foundation fall into two categories: restricted and unrestricted. Most gifts are restricted to certain purposes, as agreed to by the donors, the Foundation, and the University. For example, gifts can be directed to a named scholarship, a specific academic department, or an endowed professorship. Unrestricted gifts are used for University priorities, programs, and services not supported by state funds or other sources.
For additional information, contact:
Lauren Stanton, Executive Director
Francis Marion University Education Foundation
P.O. Box 100547
Florence, SC 29502
Phone: 843-661-1295 | Fax: 843-661-1293