Annual Fund

The Bethany College Annual Fund supports the academic, athletic, fine arts and extracurricular programs that create the total Bethany experience. Annual, unrestricted giving is vital to teaching, service to students, and opportunities for student leadership.

Tuition does not cover all costs. Bethany depends on personal, foundation and corporate gifts to maintain a healthy budget and a strong future. Gifts from alumni, parents and friends of the college maintain the Annual Fund, enabling Bethany to keep its commitment to excellence in education.

Every Gift Makes a Difference. The Annual Fund provides vital support to current operations. Scholarships, library books, laboratory equipment and materials, student services, and campus maintenance are just a few of the areas that depend on your gifts to the Annual Fund.

Ways to Give

One-time, Recurring, or Monthly Gifts
• Credit/debit card: Bethany offers fast and secure online giving. Simply click the "Give Now" button above.
• Cash / Check: Prefer to write a check, give cash, or make another arrangement?
• Please visit us at Presser Hall or mail your donation to:

Bethany College
Attn: Advancement Office
335 E. Swensson Street
Lindsborg, KS 67456

• Other ways of giving include stock transfer, property transfer, other gifts in kind, and gifts that name Bethany College as a beneficiary. These usually require special forms and instructions. Please contact the Advancement Office for further help with these types of gifts.
• If you would like to speak to an advancement representative over the phone please call: (785) 227-3380 Ext. 8537.
Matching Gifts
Many organizations and businesses offer matching programs to help maximize the impact of your gift. Check with your place of employment about their corporate matching gift program or look at opportunities available through Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.
Visit Thrivent Financial
Giving Societies
Lifetime Giving Society
Recognizes the total amount of giving from a donor to Bethany College. The members of this society have contributed at least $25,000 accumulated giving in their lifetime. Thank you for your continued and generous support!
• The Nelander Award: $25,000 to $49,999
• The Bethania Award: $50,000 to $99,999
• The Founders Award: $100,000 to $249,999
• The Reaching Higher Award: $250,000 to $499,999
• The Legacy Award: $500,000 to $749,999
• The President’s Award: $750,000 to $999,999
• The Horizon Award: $1,000,000 and above

Annual Giving Society
Recognizes total gifts during a single fiscal year. The members of this society have contributed at least $250 within one fiscal year. Thank you for your generous support!
• Heritage Club: $250 to $499
• Founder’s Club: $500 to $999
• President’s Club: $1,000 to $2,499
• Silver Circle Club: $2,500 to $4,999
• Directors’ Club: $5,000 to $9,999
• Golden Circle: $10,000 and above

The Carl Aaron Swensson (CAS) Society
A group of distinguished alumni and friends who provide generous financial support to the college through planned giving. Established in 1994, the charter members of the Carl Aaron Swensson Heritage Society endeavored “to recognize those who continue the tradition of quality liberal arts education in the framework of Christian living.”
Membership is open to all alumni and friends of Bethany College who have included Bethany in their estate plan. Planned giving is a wonderful way to make a lasting impact. Thank you to the members of the Carl Aaron Swensson Society- your thoughtful gifts make a large impact on the future of Bethany College! If you have questions regarding making a planned gift or if you want to let us know of your plans please call: (785) 227-3380 Ext. 8537
Every Gift Makes a Difference
Designated Gifts
Your passions matter - make the impact you want to make in the area(s) that are important to you! Please let us know how you want your gift to be designated. You can do this by:
• Check: Put your desired designation in the memo line of your check
• Cash: Include a note with your cash stating how you want your donation allocated.
• Credit/debit card: Click the "Give Now" button above. Type where you want your gift to be designated in the “Donation Purpose” line.
• Other: Call or visit the Advancement Office in Presser Hall to learn more about designation options.

Scholarships & Endowments
Establishing a scholarship is a deeply rewarding way of supporting Bethany College students. The primary purpose of a scholarship is to encourage students to pursue academic excellence. Scholarships also recognize the special abilities, interests, or individual characteristics of students. Because many Bethany College students come from families with limited means, scholarships often make a crucial difference in a student’s ability to attend college. There are two very different and important types of scholarships, annual scholarship and endowed scholarship. There are also endowed funds that are not a scholarship – these are used to support positions, programs, and departments.

Annually Funded Scholarships
Given by donors to assist students with the cost of tuition, fees, room, and board. Scholarships may be created in honor or memory of a specific family member, friend, or faculty member. Annual scholarships begin at $1,000 and will be awarded in the fiscal year (July 1- June 30) that they are given.

Endowed Funds and Scholarships
You can create a lasting and powerful impact by contributing to or establishing an endowed fund or scholarship. Endowed funds provide a permanent funding source for Bethany College. The funds are invested so that they can produce an annual award based on a board-approved payout rate. Please contact the Advancement Office for more information.
Planned Gifts
Give Now
• Appreciated Securities (or other assets): Often in the form of common stock or mutual funds. You are able to receive a tax benefit based on the fair market value of the assets.
• Charitable IRA Rollover: This is a giving opportunity for those that are over 70 ½. The Federal legislation allows you to make a tax-free distribution from your IRA directly to Bethany College. This distribution is not included in your adjusted gross income.
• Real Estate: You are able to deed out your real estate directly to Bethany College or you can leave it to Bethany College by bequest. This can be a complex gift in which you will work directly with Bethany College. The Irrevocable Gift of property may provide you with an immediate tax deduction allowing you to avoid capital gains – under current tax laws.
• Life Insurance: You may designate Bethany College as the beneficiary on a life insurance policy.

Gifts that pay income
The following financial arrangements can be made available through the ELCA. Please contact the Advancement Office for more information.
• Charitable Gift Annuity: You transfer your cash or appreciated property to Bethany College in exchange you will receive fixed payments (with rates based on your age) for the rest of your life. You will also receive a charitable income tax deduction for the gift portion of the annuity. After your passing, the residual value of the annuity goes to Bethany College.
• Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust: You transfer your cash or appreciated property to a charitable remainder annuity trust. If needed the trust will sell your assets tax-free. It is invested to provide payments to you or other trust beneficiaries you selected based on a life, lives, or a term of up to 20 years. You will receive an income tax deduction in the year you transfer assets to the trust. After your passing, the residual value goes to Bethany College.
• Charitable Remainder Unitrust: You transfer your cash or appreciated property to a charitable remainder unitrust. If needed the trust will sell your assets tax-free. It is invested to provide payments to you or other trust beneficiaries you selected based on a life, lives, a term of up to 20 years, or a life plus a term of up to 20 years. You will receive an income tax deduction in the year you transfer assets to the trust. After your passing, the residual value goes to Bethany College.
• Charitable Lead Trust: You transfer your property to fund a trust that pays Bethany College income for a number of years. You will receive a gift or estate tax deduction at the time of your gift. After a period of time, you or your beneficiaries will receive the trust assets plus any additional growth in value.

Give later
• Bequest: You designate Bethany College as the beneficiary or contingent beneficiary of your assets by will, trust, or beneficiary designation form. You can choose a specific item, a percentage, or a residual bequest.
• Retirement Plan Assets: You name Bethany College as the beneficiary or contingent beneficiary of a retirement plan.
• Bank or Investment Account: You name Bethany College as a beneficiary or contingent beneficiary of a particular investment or bank account.

Thank you for considering a planned gift to Bethany College! We are happy to help you with finding the best fit for you. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or to notify us of your already established planned gift.

To discuss how you can leave a permanent legacy through a planned gift, contact us at: (785) 227-3380 Ext. 8537.

Donor Bill of Rights

Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To ensure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the nonprofit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:

To be informed of the organization’s mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization’s governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.
To have access to the organization’s most recent financial statements.
To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition.
To be assured that information about their donation is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors.
To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.

The Donor Bill of Rights was created by the American Association of Fund Raising Counsel (AAFRC), the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

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