Giving
A gift to Mizzentop Day School is an investment in the future.
Ways of Giving
There are many ways to make a charitable gift to Mizzentop Day School. Annual Giving gifts help support the quality of education at the school today, Capital or Endowment gifts help us realize improvements to our campus and facilities, and Planned gifts help provide for the well-being of the school now and in the future. Each manner of giving may yield a specific tax benefit, so your gift may be tailored to your own interests. Whle we have listed different giving options for your convenience, please seek specific financial or tax guideance from your personal financial advisor.
Cash
Cash gifts are the most common form of support to Mizzentop Day School. Checks should be made payable to Mizzentop Day School and sent directly to 64 East Main Street, Pawling, NY 12564.
Pledges
Donors who wish to contribute to Mizzentop Day School, but do not wish to make an immediate payment may make a pledge of support. A pledge is a promise to make a specific payment or payments within a defined period of time. If you would like to make a pledge to the Annual Fund or for another purpose, mail notification of your pledge directly to the Advancement Office or e-mail your intentions to asheeley@mizzentop.org. Your pledge will be recorded upon receipt. You will receive an acknowledgement of your pledge, and pledge reminders will be mailed to you periodically. All Annual Fund pledges must be paid by June 30th in order to be credited in the current fund year.
Corporate Matching Gifts
Many corporations offer matching gift programs to their employees and their families. Matching gift support often doubles or triples your gift, and all matching support is credited to you. Please obtain a matching gift form from your company's human resource office, complete the necessary information, and mail it to the Advancement Office as noted above. We will then certify the receipt of the gift and return the form to your company.
Gifts-in-Kind
Items and collections of value may be contributed directly to Mizzentop Day School. The contribution of these items may provide the donor with a tax deduction when the value of the gift has been clearly determined. Mizzentop Day School welcomes gifts-in-kind, but reserves the right to refuse such gifts.
Memorial and Honor Gifts
Each year Mizzentop Day School receives many gifts in memory of alumni, students, faculty, parents, etc. Gifts may also be made to honor living individuals. These gifts will be printed in the Annual Report and notification of individuals and relatives will be made by the Development Office.
Restricted and Unrestricted Gifts
Gifts of any size may be designated for a specific goal chosen by the giver or a gift may be made without restrictions. Unrestricted gifts have the advantage of enabling Mizzentop Day School to allocate the funds where they are most needed.
Named Gifts
There are many opportunities to make a gift to Mizzentop Day School. You may make a gift in honor of someone close to Mizzzentop, or you may choose to associate a special name with a major project, a scholarship, classrooms, or other school facilities. We will be pleased to discuss other naming suggestions with you.
Gifts of Securities
Donors may realize substantial tax advantages by transferring gifts of appreciated stock to Mizzentop Day School. Capital gains on the amount of appreciation may be avoided, and the donor may recieve a tax deduction for the stock's full market value.
Life Insurance
A life insurance policy may be used to make a gift to Mizzentop Day School. This may provide a tax deduction and enable the donor to make a much larger gift than otherwise thought possible. Frequently, current policy beneficiaries are otherwise adequately provided for, making this a good way for the donor to show his support for the future effforts of Mizzentop Day School.
Residences, Real Estate, and Other Property
Gifts of residences and real estate can be advantageous ways of making more sizeable gifts to Mizzentop Day School. Residences can be given, allowing the donor to realize a tax deduction, avoid the capital gains tax, and retain lifetime occupancy if desired. Gifts of tangible property may result in an immediate tax deduction for the donor, with the amounts of the deduction determined by whether or not the gift is related to the educational purposes of Mizzentop Day School. The gift may also lessen or eliminate the donor's estate taxes. All gifts-in-kind will be credited to the school at the appraised value. Gifts-in-kind include donations of art, equipment, services, and similar non-monetary contributions.
Planned Gifts and Bequests
Many donors discover that they can make a substantial gift to Mizzentop Day School through planned giving. Usually, planned gifts are trust funds from which income is paid to the donor during his or her lifetime, with the principal going to the school after the donor's death. Donors may enjoy full tax benefits for such contributions, enhancing their own financial situation even as they make a lasting contribution to the school. Unrestricted bequests, expressed as a percentage of an estate, often convey the donor's intentions more accurately than a specified sum. Mizzentop Day School can provide details about the many forms that a planned gift may take and the tax advantages associated with each.
Please Seek Advice
We strongly urge you to seek guidance from your financial advisor to determine the method of giving that best suits your financial situation. Whichever method you use, you can be assured that your gift to Mizzentop Day School will benefit thousands of children in the years to come.
Contact
For specific questions regarding giving you may contact Wendy MacKenzie, Director of Advancement, by telephone at 845-855-7338 or by e-mail at wmackenzie@mizzentop.org.
