Unrestricted gifts are among the most valuable to Science of Mind Foundation, because they allow us to allocate funds wherever the need is greatest, and to take advantage of unique opportunities as they arise. Your unrestricted contribution may be used to support costs associated with various activities including World Ministry of Prayer; Science of Mind Magazine; or Growth, Expansion and Ministerial Support to name just a few.
Directed gifts allow you to designate your gift to a specific program of United Centers for Spiritual Living; you enjoy the satisfaction of knowing you are supporting a program that is personally meaningful to you.
You also have the option of designating your gift for current use or for endowment. Current-use gifts provide funds and flexibility over the short term, whereas endowment gifts provide security over the long term by expanding the Foundation’s permanent financial base and creating a predictable source of future income.
Outright Gifts
When you make an outright gift to Science of Mind Foundation, your contribution can be put to work immediately — either providing funding for current programs or creating a reliable source of future income by expanding the foundation’s endowment. An outright gift may be composed of almost any asset of value:
- Cash gifts — the simplest and easiest gifts you can make — can be made through credit/debit card transactions, cash, personal checks, cashier’s checks, or money orders made payable to the Science of Mind Foundation. The foundation also has a wire account; please contact us for details about making a wire transfer to Science of Mind Foundation.
- Gifts of appreciated securities, stocks, and bonds also provide considerable tax advantages when transferred to Science of Mind Foundation before they are sold. If you have held your securities for more than one year, you may find that your gift will provide a twofold tax benefit, creating an income-tax deduction as well as helping avoid the capital-gains tax that would have been due on their sale.
If you wish to transfer stocks from a brokerage account:
- Science of Mind Foundation is in the process of setting up a brokerage account. Have your broker call the Science of Mind Foundation office for further details and information.
If you wish to make a gift of physical securities on hand:
- Physical stock certificates may be sent by certified mail or overnight express, with endorsement on the back of the certificate(s) exactly as stated on the face of the certificate(s). Do not fill in any other blanks. No stock power is necessary as long as you do not fill in the Foundation’s name on the back.
You also may make a gift of mutual funds, non-marketable stock, or closely held stock. Contact the Science of Mind Foundation office for information about giving these types of securities.
Science of Mind Foundation’s address in connection with gifts of securities is:
Science of Mind Foundation
United Centers for Spiritual Living
573 Park Point Drive
Golden, CO 80401
(720) 279-1629
(303) 526-0913 fax
Gifts of real estate — including personal residences, second homes, income property, and vacant land — offer a wide variety of tax and other benefits. Whereas most people give their entire interest away, it is also possible to give only a portion of the property (an undivided percentage interest) while retaining the rest for other purposes.
- Gifts of personal property — including rare books, works of art, valuable collectibles, and tangible items of demonstrable value — in some cases may enable you to make a significant gift to support Science of Mind Foundation with outstanding tax benefits to you. Likewise, gifts of intangible personal property, such as copyrights, patents, and mineral rights, can generate income for the program of your choice on a continuing basis.
Matching-Gift Programs
An easy way to double or even triple your donation to Science of Mind Foundation is to find out if your company has a matching-gift program. Such programs typically match all or a percentage of employee contributions to charitable organizations, making the employer a partner in employees’ personal philanthropy. Simply obtain a matching-gift form from your employer’s personnel office, fill it out, and provide it to Science of Mind Foundation with your contribution.
Gift Pledges
SOM FOUNDATION welcomes your gift through a pledge — a formal statement of intention to make a gift to the foundation. With a pledge, you may complete your gift by making regular payments over time, allowing you to give more generously than you originally may have considered. What is more, each payment on your pledge is eligible for an income-tax charitable deduction.
Bequest Language
The following are suggested forms for bequests to the Science of Mind Foundation, Inc.
These are suggestions only. Legal forms should always be prepared by your attorney.
It is most advantageous to your heirs to bequeath as much IRD (income in respect of a decedent) income to charity and other, less tax-burdened, assets to your heirs. Suggested wording:
"I instruct that all charitable gifts, bequests and devises should be made, to the extent possible, from assets that constitute income in respect of a decedent, as that term is defined in the Internal Revenue Code."
Unrestricted Gift
"I give, devise, and bequeath to the Science of Mind Foundation, a Colorado not-for-profit corporation, located at Golden, Colorado, a) the sum of $___________, or b) ______% of my estate, or c) real or personal property herein described to be used for the benefit of Science of Mind Foundation as the Foundation Board of Directors may determine."
Residuary Clause
"All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal property, I give, devise and bequeath to the Science of Mind Foundation, a Colorado not-for-profit corporation, located at Golden, Colorado, to be used (a) for the benefit of Science of Mind Foundation as the Foundation Board of Directors may determine; or (b) for the benefit of Science of Mind Foundation ___________________________________(a specified purpose)."
Restricted Gift
"I give, devise and bequeath to the Science of Mind Foundation, Inc. a Colorado not-for-profit corporation, located at Golden, Colorado, (a) the sum of $________ or (b) ______% of my estate for the purpose of _____________________ or if such use, in the judgment of the Foundation Board of Directors is or shall become impracticable or unwise, then for such purpose as the said Board shall determine."
Contingent Bequest
"If the above named legatees or devisees (or beneficiaries) should predecease me, then I hereby give, devise and bequeath the same to the Science of Mind Foundation, Inc., a Colorado not-for-profit corporation, located at Golden, Colorado, to be used (a) for its benefit as the Foundation Board of Directors may determine or (b) for the purpose of __________________________________. "
Suggestion If Restricted Gifts Are Made
Because the future is not predictable and because no donor wishes to have his/her gift go unused if the need for funds for purposes he/she may designate no longer exists, it is suggested that the following provision be made when gifts are made for restricted purposes:
" If, in the opinion of the Foundation Board of Directors or their successors, the need for funds for the purpose described above no longer exists, at some future date the Board of Directors is authorized to use these funds in the best interest of the Foundation, provided that the identity of The Fund is maintained."