The Foundation is the principal recipient of private gifts under a policy established by the Board of Trustees of Clemson University. While donors may designate their gifts to either Clemson University or the Clemson University Foundation, the Foundation has in place the mechanisms to direct gifts and gift income as required by the University and/or the donor.
Gifts of cash, negotiable securities, equipment, real property and deferred gifts may be used to provide for endowed chairs, endowed professorships, scholarships, awards, and other educational and public service programs.
Gifts of property are specifically accepted into the Clemson Real Estate Foundation, a support foundation of Clemson University and the Clemson University Foundation. It is separately incorporated with its own board and tax-exempt status. As property is sold, the income is transferred to the proper accounts in the Foundation or the University.
In addition to gifts of cash and property, which offer immediate benefits to Clemson, deferred gifts can be given to the Foundation. Deferred gifts are an excellent way to experience today the personal satisfaction of making a significant gift to Clemson that will benefit the University in the future, typically at the donor's or beneficiary's death. This also can be an excellent method for estate planning, obtaining investment diversification, increasing income, and reducing state and federal income and estate taxes.
Deferred gifts that may be made to the Clemson University Foundation include:
- Making a bequest in the donor's will to the Clemson University Foundation, leaving Clemson a specific dollar amount in the donor's estate;
- Deeding real estate to the Foundation but retaining a life interest in the property, thereby providing benefits to the donor during his or her lifetime;
- Naming the Foundation as owner and beneficiary of a life insurance policy, offering the donor tax deductions for the approximate cash value of the policy;
- Establishing a charitable remainder trust, a flexible option that can receive additional transfers of cash or property and provide a lifetime income to a non-charitable beneficiary and the remainder to Clemson;
- Establishing a charitable lead trust, a flexible option that can receive additional transfers of cash or property and provide a lifetime income to a charity and the remainder to the estate of the donor;
- Participating in a pooled income fund, which allows several donors to invest in Clemson through a single fund that yields to the donor, or a beneficiary, a proportionate share of the fund's net income.