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The scholarships really changed my life and gave me the opportunity to come to Doane. -Dustin Axline '19, Exeter, Nebraska

  1. Planned Giving
  2. Why I Give
  3. Award Your Own Scholarship

Award Your Own Scholarship!

Cassel Open Air AuditoriumDoane has about 250 endowed scholarships for roughly 1,000 students. Doing the math, you can see why growing our scholarship program is critically important. There are several ways you can make a difference.

First, you can have a scholarship named after you and help a future student. With the Alumni Referral Scholarship, you can help students have the same Doane experience as you. This scholarship will include your name on their yearly financial aid package and be a testament to the importance of your involvement in their life during their four years at Doane. All you need to do is complete a quick online form.

Second, you can donate to an existing scholarship. You may have received a scholarship and want to help that scholarship grow. There aren’t any administration costs or fees, so every dollar donated goes directly to the scholarship.

A third option: Consider starting an endowed scholarship of your own. The minimum needed is $25,000, and you have up to five years to fully fund it. Scholarships can also be established with a future gift—through your will or trust. Another way to finance it is by naming Doane as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, IRA or 401(k) plan.

You can also fund a scholarship in a way that provides you a lifetime income stream. It pays you! A charitable gift annuity could provide you with a tax break, help Doane with a scholarship and provide you with an income stream.

With a new scholarship, you establish the criteria—perhaps your hometown, school or state, major or career field. You could also make it simple and allow it to be awarded to any student. We include information about you, a picture and biography so students know where their gift came from. Students also get the opportunity to meet their donor or a representative from the donor’s family at an endowed scholarship dinner each spring.

We hear a lot about staggering student debt and the cost of education. The need for more scholarships is critically important. No doubt someone made a difference for you in your life, and now you can make a difference in a student’s life. Contact Thom Reeves, Director of Planned Giving, at 402.450.0613 or thomas.reeves@doane.edu for more information.

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Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to Doane University a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

I give _____ percent (%) of the residue of my estate [or ____________ and no/100 Dollars ($ _____)] to Doane College, a Nebraska nonprofit corporation for its unrestricted use and purpose (or choose from one of the following). Choose from the following: 1. This gift shall be used for the benefit of ___________________. (e.g. a specific program area at one of Doane College's campuses.) 2. This gift shall be used for the creation of an endowed scholarship. 

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to Doane University or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to Doane University as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to Doane University as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and Doane University where you agree to make a gift to Doane University and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.
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