Ways to Give to the University
More than 71,000 individuals, corporations and foundations participated in the Reach for Excellence Campaign which ended September of 2000. The Foundation staff is dedicated to assisting these donors in finding the most efficient, personally satisfying and financially advantageous way to make their contributions.      The special interests of donors may best be served by restricting their gifts to a particular program, department or college. Other donors prefer to make unrestricted contributions, to be used when and where the need or opportunity is greatest, as determined by the Foundation's Board of Trustees in consultation with University officials.      Tax and/or estate planning benefits can be maximized by employing certain methods of philanthropic giving. Foundation professionals are available to share expertise in these areas with donors and their attorneys and/or financial advisers. Cash Gifts      A gift of cash is the simplest and easiest method of supporting the University. Checks should be made payable to "The University of Oklahoma Foundation, Inc." Restricted gifts should include the fund name on the memo line. Securities      Stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit and other securities may be donated to the Foundation. Depending upon circumstances of the gift, the Foundation either will manage or liquidate the securities to achieve the donor's goals. Gifts of Property      Many donors contribute their personal residences, farmland, commercial or other property to the Foundation. Certain personal property, including works of art, books, furnishings and other valuables, may be appropriate gifts to enhance a particular discipline or one of the University's museum or library collections.		Deferred or Planned Gifts      An increasingly popular method of giving is the charitable remainder trust, of which there are two varieties the charitable remainder unitrust, and the charitable remainder annuity trust. Both can be funded through a gift during a donor's lifetime or through a testamentary disposition. Both provide life income for the donor and/or a designated beneficiary(ies). Life insurance      This can become a gift of much greater value than the actual money expended when the policy is given to the Foundation, which is named as the beneficiary. The donor either can pay up the entire policy or make annual contributions to the Foundation for the cost of the premiums.      The Foundation often is named beneficiary in the wills of the University alumni and friends. The donor may elect to leave all or part of an estate to benefit the University. Memorials      A fund may be established to honor the memory of loved one, friend or mentor, or donors may contribute to an existing fund for that purpose.  Not all such funds are memorial, however, for a number of donors also make contributions to honor individuals during their lifetimes. Matching Gifts      Many corporations match the gifts their employees make to the Foundation.  Donors should consult their employers to determine if such a program exists in their firms. For further information, contact: Guy L. Patton Executive Director The University of Oklahoma Foundation, Inc. 100 Timberdell Road Norman, OK 73019-0685 (405) 321-1174 FAX (405) 321-1180 E-mail: gpatton@ou.edu