Click here to learn and review Sigma Nu’s new Planned Giving information. Included are various ways to give, a gift-calculator, numerous e-brochures and articles. This site is continuously updated to remain current with tax laws.
Our philosophy is that deferred or planned gifts should accomplish three very important objectives for the donor:
First: The gift should offer personal satisfaction for the donor.
Second: This gift should be an integral part of the donor's overall estate plan, meeting the objectives of the donor.
Third: This gift should provide optimal tax and financial rewards for the donor and for the donor's family and beneficiaries.
Deferred gifts may be designated to specify programs based on the donor’s wishes, or they may be left unrestricted to give the Foundation the flexibility to meet unforeseen needs. The Sigma Nu Educational Foundation’s staff welcomes to opportunity to work with you and your legal and financial advisors to establish individual deferred gift arrangements.
The Yates Legacy Society
Most people are familiar with the poem "The Bridge Builder." This timeless poem tells the story of a man who builds a bridge, not for himself, but for generations to come. Sigma Nu is fortunate to have had such a builder in William P. "Bud" Yates (Beta Rho/Pennsylvania), who made a bequest to Sigma Nu in 1945. Brother Yates left three-quarters of his estate to Sigma Nu, resulting in the formation of the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation, Inc. To salute Brother Yates for his vision and generosity, the Yates Legacy Society was established in 2000.
The Yates Legacy Society includes those individuals who have designated the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation in their estate plans. This can be accomplished through bequests, life insurance, trusts, or any other documented planned gift arrangement. In a short period of time, the affinity shown for the Yates Legacy Society has been phenomenal. To date, over 100 Brothers and/or their spouses have realized the tremendous benefits of making a planned gift to the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation. With effective gift planning, you can:
- Increase your current and future income (with ranges of 5%-12%, a portion of which may be tax-free);
- Reduce or eliminate capital gains taxes for gifts of appreciated assets;
- Reduce current income taxes;
- Reduce estate taxes; and, o Create a legacy for your family and Sigma Nu.
If you want to have a tremendous impact on the well being of Sigma Nu, while helping to provide for the development of ethical leaders, then, you should join the Yates Legacy Society.
The Foundation staff can help you determine the gift plan that will best fit your particular financial needs and your philanthropic intentions. Whichever gift option you choose, you can be certain your support will be gratefully received and will make a tangible and indelible difference in the lives of future Sigma Nu generations
Sample Bequest Language
Gifts via bequests may be the most significant way donors can benefit the Educational Foundation, and represent one of the Foundation's most important sources of individual support. Through a provision in your written and executed will, you can make a gift in the form of cash, securities, real estate, or personal property. A bequest removes assets from your estate and reduces exposure to federal taxes. You may choose to leave all or a portion of your bequest unrestricted, affording the Foundation the flexibility to address unforeseen priorities.
You may find the following language that has been approved by the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation's legal counsel to be helpful in making a bequest to the Foundation.
"I give, devise and bequeath the sum of/percentage of/residue of my estate (to the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation with principal offices in Lexington, Virginia, to be utilized for the general benefit of the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation, Inc., or for the specified program within the Foundation)."
