Other Giving Opportunities

An endowed gift is one in which the principal funds are invested and only investment returns are utilized for the donor’s stated purpose. With professional investment management assistance, the Trustees manage the endowment to grow and keep pace with inflation. Bethany’s endowment includes gifts for scholarships, professorships, lectureships, library acquisitions, and programs.

Endowed Department

Endowed Department honors in perpetuity a person or persons named by the donor. The endowment assists with operational cost related to the department by underwriting equipment needs, technology, and faculty development expenses. Endowed Departments may be funded with minimum gifts of $5.0 million.

Endowed Majors

Endowed Majors honors in perpetuity a person or persons named by the donor. The endowment assists with operational cost related to the department by underwriting equipment needs, technology, and faculty development expenses. Endowed Majors may be funded with minimum gifts of $3.0 million.

Endowed Chair

Endowed Chair honors in perpetuity a person or persons named by the donor. Distinguished scholar-teachers will be appointed to fill these positions. Chairs may be funded with minimum gifts of $2.0 million.

Endowed Professorships

Endowed Professorships honors in perpetuity a person or persons named by the donor. Distinguished scholar-teachers will be appointed to fill these positions. Professorships may be funded with minimum gifts of $1.5 million.

Visiting Distinguished Professorships

Endowed Visiting Distinguished Professorships honors in perpetuity a person or persons named by the donor. Distinguished scholar-teachers will be appointed to fill these positions on an annual basis to bring special competencies or unique perspectives to the campus community. Visiting Distinguished Professorships may be funded with minimum gifts of $1.0 million.

Endowed Programs

Academic programs at Bethany may be endowed with a minimum gift of $500,000. The donor and the College agree upon the purpose and use of the income generated. There are few gifts as important to Bethany as those designated to enhance the teaching and learning process.

Endowed Lectureships

Endowed lectureships also honor in perpetuity a person named by the donor. Distinguished speakers are brought to campus for a lecture series in the academic department named by the donor. Lectureships may be funded with a minimum gift of $100,000.

Endowed Scholarship

Scholarships may be designated by certain criteria including, but not limited to, geographic region, area of study, academic standing, etc. Donors are encouraged to make additional contributions to their scholarships in order to increase the earnings. A scholarship endowment can be established with a minimum gift of $25,000.

Book-A-Year Endowments

Gifts of $500 to this endowment fund enable the purchase of a book for the T.W. Phillips Memorial Library each year; thus, the gift is perpetuated on an annual basis. Each gift is recognized with an inscription on a brass leaf that is placed on a Tree of Knowledge in the Library.

Reunion Class Gifts

The Reunion Class Gift Program provides a unique opportunity for members of each class to become new donors or increase their support of The Bethany Fund in honor of their reunion. There is no better way to honor your past than to invest in Bethany’s future. Gifts at all levels make a difference. Take this opportunity to join your classmates in making a gift to support the education and student life at Bethany.

Homecoming in the fall and Alumni Weekend in the spring present ideal occasions for alumni to celebrate the rewards and the memories of Bethany. During these events, special recognition is given to the 25th (Silver Anniversary) and the 50th (Golden Anniversary) class members. In addition, the classes celebrate their connection with Bethany by making a special “Reunion Class Gift.”

If your investments in the financial markets have been successful, you can use these assets without losing a substantial portion of your earnings to the capital gains tax by making your gift with appreciated stock. Also, a gift of stock held more than one year may qualify for a charitable income tax deduction equal to the securities’ full fair-market value. It is also possible to make a gift with appreciated securities in a mutual fund. You can give stocks through electronic transfer and stock certificates and stock powers.

Appreciated stocks, bonds, closely-held stock in family businesses or other property may be given to Bethany.

The value of the gift is determined by the average market value of the stock on the date the gift is transferred to Bethany. For further details, contact your broker and a member of the Bethany Development Staff.

Electronic Transfer

Giving stock through electronic transfer is the easiest method when a donor maintains holdings in a brokered account. Depository Trust Company, or DTC, is the clearinghouse for electronic security transfers. Each brokerage firm has a specific DTC number. When you wish to make a gift of stock, provide the following information to the transferring broker.

Acct Name: Trustees of Bethany College

FBO NFS Acct: # WHQ-017566
DTC: 0226
Clearing Broker: Hazlett, Burt & Watson
Reference: [Donor’s Name]

Please alert the Center for Institutional Advancement at Bethany College, before the transfer so that the College can make arrangements with its broker to receive the stock. The College cannot retain an unidentified security. At the same time, please indicate the purpose of the contribution, such as an annual gift to a school, a pledge payment, or funds for a planned gift.

Stock Certificates and Stock Powers

If you send a stock certificate that is in your name, a letter of intent must be included. Under separate cover, please send a signed stock power. The College does not recommend sending signed certificates. Stock powers are available from the Office of Institutional Advancement or from any broker. On the stock power, your signature is the only item that is needed. If the certificate is in the College’s name, no stock power is needed. The process for re-registering stock certificates (transferring the certificate into the College’s name) can take from two to four weeks. Stock certificates should be sent to:

If sent by U.S. Postal Service:
Center for Institutional Advancement
Bethany College
31 E Campus Dr
Bethany, WV 26032

If the certificates have been re-registered to Bethany College, a letter should be included identifying the donor and the purpose of the gift.

Old Main stands proudly at the heart of Bethany, a bastion of tradition, welcoming students, teachers, and administrators into its Gothic embrace. When you think of Bethany, you can’t help but picture Old Main. It’s only natural.

Please make a tax-deductible donation to Bethany for The Preservation of Old Main. Reaching our goal of $2.5 million will ensure that Old Main continues to stand tall, allowing future generations the same experience that has inspired so many who have come before.

For more information regarding naming Naming Opportunities, Giving Levels or Commemorative Brick and Pavers please download The Endowment for the Preservation of Old Main brochure. Thank you.

Donate online or contact us at the Center for Institutional Advancement, 304.829.7723 to discover the many additional ways in which you can make a difference.

To mail in a gift, please print The Preservation of Old Main return card and mail to:

Questions? Please contact Sven de Jong at 304.829.7723 or send an email to sdejong@bethanywv.edu.

The Joseph Kurey Fund is a fundraising effort to honor the life and memory of Bethany College alumnus and longtime employee Joseph M. Kurey ’62.

Gifts of Cash

Cash contributions may be made by check, money order, or credit card (Visa, Master Card, Discover, American Express) through one gift or installments. Gifts may be doubled or tripled through matching gift plans with employers.

Give a Gift Now

Gifts of Personal Property

Bethany accepts gifts of art, jewelry, antiques, rare books, manuscripts and similar property. Should you choose this type of gift, you will need to secure an independent appraisal of the value for tax purposes.

Gifts of Real Estate

Real estate may provide a convenient way to support the College. You may contribute real estate as an outright or deferred gift. For example, a donor can make a gift of a home or farm while retaining life tenancy. Contact a member of the Development Staff for further information.

Bequests

Bequests are the most common form of planned giving. With a bequest, you make provisions for Bethany in your will, designating either a dollar amount or percentage of your estate to the College. Whatever the amount, bequests to Bethany are free from federal estate tax and the estate and inheritance taxes of most states. Bequests should be drawn and executed with your attorney’s advice.

Gifts of Life Insurance

You may assign Bethany as a beneficiary or co-beneficiary of your life insurance policy. When Bethany is named as the owner of the policy and/or the irrevocable beneficiary, the cash value of the policy may be deducted on your income tax return. Premiums paid thereafter also are income tax deductible.

The Order of the Bronze Bison serves as the highest recognition bestowed by Bethany upon those individuals who have included the College in their long-range financial planning.

Membership is conferred upon alumni and friends who help underwrite the future of Bethany College in their wills or through an alternate planned giving program.
The late Pearl Mahaffey, a revered long-time professor at Bethany, was honored as the first member of the Order of the Bronze Bison. Each year since Professor Mahaffey’s induction in April 1968, Bethany has recognized those who have been received into membership

If you would like to know more about including Bethany in your estate plans, please contact a member of the Development Staff.