Cash Gifts
The easiest gift to value for tax purposes (i.e., checks, cash, credit cards).
Gifts-In-Kind
Gifts that directly offset Athletic Department expenses and are accepted on a limited basis. All gifts-in-kind must be pre-approved.
Appreciated Assets
Securities, including stocks and bonds, may be used to make a gift to The Bulldog Club, often with a minimal amount of out-of-pocket cost.
Click here to download instructions on how to make a gift of stock.
Matching Gifts
Many companies offer to match their employees' philanthropic gifts to athletic scholarship funds or facility campaigns, however, most will not match gifts made for required seat donations. Please note that gifts to the Bulldog Club unrestricted fund are considered philanthropic gifts and are not applied toward required seat donations. All matching gifts to benefit athletics must be made payable through the MSU Foundation. Contact your human resources office as policies affecting qualifying gifts vary. A company reserves the right to change their gift policy at any time.
Planned Giving Opportunities
Several options exist for donors to make gifts to the Bulldog Club outside of cash donations. Often, deferred gifts qualify you for an income tax deduction and preferential capital gains tax treatment. Irrevocable deferred gifts will be recognized by the Bulldog Club in an individual's cumulative giving priority points total. However, for a planned gift to receive Bulldog Club credit the gift must be irrevocable and the donor must make their planned gift to the MSU Foundation for the benefit of the Bulldog Club. More detailed information on planned gifts is available through the MSU Foundation's
website.
Gifts of Real Estate:
Gifts of real estate may be made to the Bulldog Club as part of the Bulldog Properties and Bulldog Forest program through the MSU Foundation. Such gifts are eligible for priority point credit once the gift is received by the Bulldog Club.
Charitable Remainder Trust:
You may fund the trust with cash or appreciated assets and receive income for your life and the life of a loved one after the donated asset is sold by the trust. Again, all capital gains taxes are avoided on the sale. You receive a partial income tax deduction based on your age and the amount of income you receive from the trust. Further, the trust assets are removed from your estate.
Bequests/Living Trusts:
You may include the Bulldog Club in your will or living trust by giving a dollar amount, a percentage of the estate, or the residuary (what is left after specified bequests are made). Download a bequest commitment form
here.
IRA/Retirement Assets:
You may make the Bulldog Club the full or partial beneficiary of an IRA or other tax-advantaged retirement plan and avoid income taxes which might be charged to the estate based on its account value.
Charitable Gift Annuity:
If you'd like to support the Bulldog Club and receive steady payments during your retirement years, a charitable gift annuity may be right for you. Through a simple contract, you agree to make a donation of cash, stock or other assets to the Mississippi State University Foundation. In return, you (and someone else, if you choose) receive a fixed amount each year for the rest of your lifetime, as well as a charitable income tax deduction in the year the gift is made. When the annuity terminates, the remaining assets are earmarked to support the Bulldog Club.
More detailed information on planned gifts is available through the MSU Foundation's
website.
Additional Ways To Give
Endowed Funds:
An endowment is a permanent gift that provides Bulldog Athletics with a secure source of future revenue. Endowed funds can be made to a specific athletic scholarship or be directed toward Bulldog athletic facilities. They can also be classified as unrestricted (endowed) funds to support Bulldog Athletics. A minimum commitment of $25,000 is required to establish an endowed fund while Bulldog Club donors may also make gifts to existing endowed funds. Endowed athletic gifts may not be used toward priority seating obligations; however, Bulldog Club donors may receive priority points credit for gifts to athletic endowed funds.
Mississippi State University Foundation:
The Mississippi State University Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization that assists the university in accomplishing its goals and mission by cultivating and soliciting private support and ensuring stewardship for all contributions benefitting Mississippi State University. Created in 1962 to attract support from private sources for Mississippi State University, the Foundation's mission has been to build relationships between the institution, its donors and prospective donors. The Foundation exists solely for the benefit of Mississippi State University.
Gifts to Bulldog Athletics count toward your lifetime giving to the MSU Foundation. However, non-athletic gifts to MSU are not eligible for Bulldog Club priority points. If you are already making an academic gift through the MSU Foundation and would like to discuss Bulldog Athletics, or if you are making a gift through the Bulldog Club and would like to include a gift to a college, program or service at MSU, please contact us at 662-325-3074.
