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Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Isn't Texas Woman's
University a state supported institution?
Doesn't tuition cover the cost of the
university?
A. TWU is a state-assisted
University, not a state-supported university.
Tuition only covers about 2/3 of the actual
cost of a TWU education.
Q. Does my gift
really make a difference?
A. YES! Every gift-no
matter what the size, makes a difference! The
gifts from thousands of alumni and friends
quickly add up. The percentage of donors who
give is also important. When foundations and
corporations consider grant applications,
they often will ask, "What percentage of
alumni support TWU?" They want to know if
those closest to the school still support its
mission.
Q: What is
an endowed scholarship?
A. An endowed scholarship
is a gift that creates a permanent legacy for
the benefit of Texas Woman's University
students. Endowed scholarship gifts provide
scholarships in perpetuity. Gifts are placed
in an investment fund and a portion of the
income earned from that fund finances a
scholarship for deserving students.
Q:
How may I establish an endowed scholarship?
A.
You can establish an endowed scholarship
through the university named for yourself,
family, friends or your company with an
understanding that it will not become a
named endowment until the balance reaches
$10,000. Scholarships can then begin
providing assistance when they reach a
minimum $10,000, and must be fulfilled in
five years.
Q:
Can I fund an endowed scholarship through my
estate?
A: Yes. Endowed
scholarships may be established through a
variety of planned gifts such as a bequest
through your will, insurance policy or
retirement plan, or through a life income
plan such as a Charitable Gift Annuity,
Charitable Remainder Trust or retained Life
Estate.
Q:
May I designate my endowed scholarship fund
for a particular school, academic discipline
or dept, and designate selection criteria for
my endowed scholarship?
A. Yes. The donor also may
focus the scholarship to merit-or need-based
students or give primary consideration to one
with secondary consideration to the other.
Based on federal guidelines, gender, age, and
ethnicity cannot be used as criteria or
preference for awarding scholarships.
Q: What
is the TWU Annual Fund?
A. The Texas Woman's
University Annual Fundraising Campaign (the
Annual Fund) is TWU's program for
unrestricted giving to current operating
support.
Q: What is
money given to the Annual Fund used for?
A. TWU
Annual Fund dollars support every area of
a TWU education from libraries to
lecture halls; from student life to capital
improvements; from faculty development to
financial aid. Since TWU's founding, the
gifts of thousands of alumni, parents and
friends, have helped secure TWU as an
outstanding institution of higher learning.
Q: Why should
I make a gift to the TWU Annual Fund?
A. Gifts from alumni,
parents and friends have a direct and
immediate impact on the quality of Texas
Woman's University education. As the quality
and reputation of a TWU education increases,
so does the value of a TWU degree. Gifts help
the university and its programs thrive and
allow TWU to react quickly to the needs of
students. Think how much more difficult it
would have been for you when you were a
student if you had been required to pay
the additional third of the cost of your
education which was raised in philanthropic
support. Your annual support is critical to
maintain the tradition of affordable
excellence TWU has provided through the
years.
Q: Will my
company match a gift to TWU?
A. Many companies offer
matching gift programs to encourage employees
to make charitable contributions. Matching
gifts are a great vehicle for donors to
maximize the impact of their gift. Corporate
matching programs will vary, so if you are
interested in availability of this program,
you should check directly with your employer.
Q: Can I
make a gift in honor or memory of a friend of
a loved one?
A. Yes. Memorial or tribute
gifts provide you with the opportunity to
recognize those who have make an impact on
your life. This type of gift is a sincere way
to celebrate the life and accomplishments if
a relative, friend, teacher or student.
Q:
Can I
make a gift of securities to the TWU
Foundation to benefit Texas Woman's
University?
A. Yes. Transferring
securities, either stocks or bonds, allows
you to make a gift to the TWU Foundation to
benefit the university and receive a
charitable deduction equal to the full fair
market value. You also may avoid paying
a capital gains tax on your charitable
contribution.
Q: How do I make
a charitable bequest to the TWU Foundation in
my will?
A. A charitable bequest, a
simple provision in your will, is the most
common planned gift received by Texas Woman's
University Foundation. You may make a
charitable bequest in a variety of methods.
You can give a specific amount, a specific
property, a percentage of your total estate,
the residue of your estate or a contingent
bequest. Your charitable bequest
is deductible for estate tax purposes. This
gift may significantly reduce or eliminate
federal estate tax. For sample bequest
language and additional information on
including a charitable gift to Texas Woman's
University in your will or other estate
plans, please contact us at (940) 898-3863.
Q: What is gift
planning?
A. Gift planning is the
process of making a charitable gift in a way
that provides maximum benefit to you, your
family and the Texas Woman's University
Foundation. Through careful gift
planning, several forms of planned gifts can
be considered. For more information, please
contact the Texas Woman's University
Institutional Development Office at (940)
898-3863.
Q: Can I
determine where my charitable bequest is used
within the University?
A. Yes. Your charitable
bequest to the Texas Woman's University
Foundation may be restricted (designated
for a specific purpose) or unrestricted. TWU
utilizes unrestricted funds for areas of
greatest need.
Q: What is a
Charitable Remainder Trust?
A. A trust that holds and
invests assets in such a way that income is
paid out to the donors for life or a
determined number of years. After the trust
terminates, the "remainder" of the principal
amount in the trust is distributed to the
Texas Woman's University Foundation.
Q: What are the
features and benefits of a Charitable
Remainder Trust?
A. To provide an income
stream for lifetime or a specified duration,
receive attractive rate of return, receive
charitable income, receive a gift or estate
tax deduction, federal estate tax savings,
and a reduction of capital gains on
appreciated assets; also provides a "gift of
a lifetime" to the Texas Woman's University
Foundation.
Q: Can I make a
gift to the TWU Foundation by designating the
University as the beneficiary to a life
insurance policy?
A. Yes. Life insurance
provides a convenient way to find meaningful
gifts. You may simply name the TWU Foundation
as the beneficiary of part or all of your
insurance policy proceeds. A policy that
is no longer needed for the protection that
was originally intended, may be used to help
you meet your philanthropic goals. By making
the TWU Foundation the owner and beneficiary
of a life insurance policy, you receive a
charitable deduction. Wealth replacement
insurance can be used for the benefit of your
heirs to replace the value of assets given to
the Texas Woman's University Foundation. You
may utilize the income tax savings resulting
from a gift of cash or other property to help
pay the life insurance premiums. For
additional information on giving through life
insurance, please contact us at (940)
898-3863. We would be glad to provide
assistance to you and those advising you with
your estate plans.
Q: Can I make a
gift to the TWU Foundation by designating it
as a beneficiary to my retirement assets?
A. Yes. Naming the Texas
Woman's University Foundation as a
beneficiary of your retirement assets is
easily accomplished. Retirement assets would
include IRA's, 401-K Plans, etc. Ask your
retirement plan administrator for a Change of
Beneficiary form and indicate the amount or
percent you wish to give to the TWU
Foundation. Your beneficiary designation can
be changed at any time, should your needs or
wishes change. For additional information on
giving retirement assets to the TWU
Foundation, please contact us at (940)
898-3863. We would be glad to provide
assistance to you and those helping you with
your estate plans.
Q: Why don't I get the
TWU Times?
A. TWU Times is mailed each Fall and Spring
to
alumni and friends of TWU. If you are not receiving the TWU Times and
would like to, your address may not be up to date. To find out, give us a call at (940)
898-3863.
Q: When Is
Homecoming 2008?
A. Homecoming, an annual April event,
will be held April 24-27, 2008. The homecoming parade will be
held on April 24 with our homecoming Convocation on April 25, 2006 The event welcomes alumni
from the College of Industrial Arts (CIA),
Texas State College for Women (TSCW),
and TWU back to the campus to relive memories and to experience the University as it is today.
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