Development Office

Ways to Give

Your generosity strengthens MTSU by supporting students, faculty, and programs across campus. Whether you want to make an immediate difference, build a long-term legacy, or provide special resources, there are many meaningful ways to contribute. Explore the options below and choose a method that’s right for you.

Types of Gifts

Give Online

You can make your gift online now by credit card using our secure online giving website.

By Mail

Make your check payable to the MTSU Foundation and mail it to:

Office of Development
MTSU P.O. Box 109
Murfreesboro, TN 37132

Be sure to note the purpose, or designation, of your gift on the memo line of your check or include a brief note. Gifts without instructions will be placed in the Annual Fund account.

Credit Cards or Electronic Fund Transfer

A one-time or recurring bank draft or gift using your credit card can be set up by calling 615-898-5006.

Corporate Matching Gifts

Many companies will match the gifts of their employees to qualifying charities. Some double or triple the amount of your gift. Your company’s Human Resources Department can provide details and the matching gift form to include with your check.

Securities (Stock Gifts)

Your gift of appreciated stock is tax-deductible and helps you avoid long-term capital gains tax. It is typically to your advantage to transfer appreciated securities to the MTSU Foundation directly rather than selling them and giving cash. Please contact our office at 615-898-5006 for instructions on making this transfer. Even if you have given stock previously, please notify our office so that your stock is transferred to the appropriate designation, and you receive proper tax credit.

Real Estate

Private residences, farms, commercial property, or land can all be donated to support MTSU. Each gift is unique, and we encourage you to discuss your options with our office as well as your financial or tax advisor since a variety of tax benefits may be available.

Gifts in Kind

Works of art, rare books, equipment, and other tangible personal property can help support education at MTSU. Such gifts must be appraised by an outside expert if the value is more than $5,000, or the donor must provide a documented receipt value.

Planned or Deferred Gifts

Planned or deferred gifts from individuals can include will bequests, life insurance policies or proceeds, or gifts using other charitable estate planning vehicles such as trusts or charitable gift annuities.

Planned Giving
Planned gifts, such as bequests or charitable trusts, can be an advantageous way to provide for a future
gift to charity. You can take care of yourself and take care of MTSU.

WHAT IS “PLANNED GIVING?”
Planned giving involves providing for a future gift to charities through your financial and estate plans.
The university welcomes gifts made through different planned giving arrangements. These
arrangements can:

Provide for you or your loved ones
Entitle you to charitable income or gift or estate tax deductions
Enable you to leave a legacy for MTSU

Different types of planned gifts:

BEQUESTS AND ESTATE PLAN GIFTS
You may make a bequest or gift through your estate by including a provision in your will or living trust,
or by naming MTSU as a beneficiary of a retirement plan or life insurance policy. The amount left to the
university (or any charity) can be expressed as a dollar amount or as a percentage of the assets to be
given.

LIFE INCOME GIFTS
A life income gift allows you to give assets to MTSU while providing yourself or others with income for a
period of time before MTSU is permitted to use your gift. You may make a life income gift by
transferring securities, cash, or other property to MTSU or a trustee. The university or trustee then
manages the investment of the assets and pays an income to you, your designated beneficiaries, or
both. Income payments continue for the beneficiaries’ lives or, in some cases, for a term of up to 20
years.

There are several kinds of life income gifts available at MTSU:

Charitable Gift Annuities
In exchange for an outright gift, MTSU agrees by contract to pay a fixed amount each year to you and/or
another beneficiary for life.

Charitable Remainder Unitrusts
You establish a trust from which you and/or other beneficiaries receive variable annual payments for life
and/or a term of years. At the end of the term, the remainder of the trust assets go to MTSU for the
purposes you designate.

Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts
You establish a trust from which you and/or other beneficiaries receive annual payments of a fixed
dollar amount for life and/or a term of years, after which the remainder of the trust assets pass to MTSU
for the purposes you designate.

ASSETS TO GIVE: SECURITIES, REAL ESTATE, AND MORE
Whether you are making an outright gift or a planned gift, MTSU welcomes many types of assets.
Options include cash, publicly traded securities, non-publicly traded assets, real estate, retirement plans,
life insurance policies, and other possibilities.