Your gift makes a difference.
With your gift to Sandburg, you’re helping our students take charge of a world-class education. A gift to the Foundation shows your commitment to the college, your connection to alumni, and your dedication to today's and tomorrow's students. No gift is too small — every gift makes a difference.
Giving Tuesday
Learn more about Giving Tuesday.Your gift can make a difference.
Scholarships & Endowments
Annual gifts and endowment scholarships directly impact Sandburg students.
Success grants make a difference.
Success grants can be the boost a Sandburg student needs to achieve their academic goals.
GIVING OPTIONS
There are many ways to make a difference. Select an option to learn more, and then view additional information:
SCHOLARSHIPS & ENDOWMENTS
Sandburg has a strong reputation as a national leader in value and affordability. Annual gifts and endowment scholarships directly impact Sandburg students by enhancing their student experience, providing financial aid, supporting academic programs and achieving success. With the generosity of many committed friends and donors, the Sandburg Foundation awards more than $250,000 each year in scholarship funds to Sandburg students.
Annual scholarships make a difference every year.
Creating an annual scholarship is a great way to honor a loved one, promote your business and give back to Sandburg students. Scholarship support is crucial to provide an exceptional education to deserving students from all backgrounds, regardless of their ability to pay. A simple way you can meet this need is with a gift to establish an annual scholarship.
Scholarships of $500 or more annually allow you to name your scholarship and meet your recipient(s) at the annual scholarship dinner in the fall.
Endowed scholarships leave a legacy.
An endowed scholarship is an act of belief — belief in the future of Sandburg. Belief the world needs. Sandburg and its graduates change the world for good. You’re joining the long legacy of donors who’ve contributed to student success at Sandburg.
Sandburg’s Foundation has a notably strong endowment ensuring long-term stability and financial security for Sandburg. Establishing a named endowed scholarship provides a permanent and personal way for you to make a difference in the life of a Sandburg student. The Foundation team will work with you to establish award guidelines.
Some criteria may reflect a/an:
- Special area of interest
- Academic discipline
- Geographic region
- Academic merit
- Financial need
An endowed scholarship becomes a permanently endowed fund when the contribution reaches a minimum of $10,000 and can be pledged over a number of years. The scholarship amount is based on the interest earned and accumulated each year, and to help your endowment grow, we take a small percentage of your interest earned each year and reinvest it with the principle. The more your endowment grows, the more scholarship dollars it produces.
Endowed funds are invested and managed by the Sandburg Foundation and overseen by the Foundation Board of Directors. Volunteers and staff members serve on the scholarship review committee to award scholarships each spring, and each fall, the Foundation hosts an annual scholarship dinner where you'll meet your scholarship recipient(s).
SUCCESS GRANTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Success grants can be the boost a Sandburg student needs to achieve their academic goals. These grants help reduce stress and lower financial barriers related to unexpected emergencies, textbook costs, course supplies, daycare expenses and availability, reliable transportation, fuel prices and other program fees.
The Sandburg Foundation currently offers the following grants designed to support students in various situations and fields of study:
- Crisis
- Nursing success (Nurses in Need)
- Tools of the Trade (automotive technology)
- Course supplies and textbooks
- Dental hygiene (coming fall 2024)
Now — more than ever — our students need your support. Your gift can make an immediate impact and will allow students to take chart of their future and finish #SandburgProud.
GIVING TUESDAY
#GivingTuesday is a day of sharing and generosity to show your Chargers pride by supporting Sandburg student success. Giving Tuesday 2024 is Dec. 3. A donation of any size helps. Whether your gift is $5 or $5,000, your support has an immediate impact and assists with the costs students incur during their time at Sandburg.
How does my support make a difference?
- $40 medical assisting scrubs
- $135 student-athlete running shoes
- $200 rad tech board exam fees
- $350 average textbook cost
- $500 sponsor-a-student success grant
- $800 welding toolkit
- $1,590 dental hygiene board exam fees
Call 309.341.5349, or send a check, made payable to Carl Sandburg College Foundation, noting the designation of your choice to: Carl Sandburg College Foundation, 2400 Tom L. Wilson Blvd., Galesburg, IL 61401.
Spread the word as a Charger advocate
- Send an e-mail or text your friends, family, coworkers, neighbors — anyone you think may be interested in supporting Sandburg. Share why you support Sandburg, and encourage them to tell their Sandburg story on #GivingTuesday.
- Share the giving link with your Sandburg story in your social media posts or emails to friends.
- Post a photo wearing your favorite Charger gear or post a photo from a Sandburg event or performance.
- Change your social media cover/banner to our Sandburg #GivingTuesday with our social media swag below.
GIVING OPTIONS
Cash, check, credit card
A gift of cash, checks or credit card is a simple and easy way for you to make a gift.
Benefits of gifts of cash, check, credit card
- Make an immediate impact on our mission.
- Benefit from a charitable income tax deduction.
Beneficiary designation gifts
A beneficiary designation gift is a simple and affordable way to make a gift to support Sandburg. You can designate us as a beneficiary of a retirement, investment or bank account, or your life insurance policy.
Benefits of a beneficiary designation gift
- Support Sandburg.
- Continue to use your account as long as you need to.
- Simplify your planning and avoid expensive legal fees.
- Reduce the burden of taxes on your family.
- Receive an estate tax charitable deduction.
How a charitable gift annuity works
- You make your gift, contact your financial advisor, broker, insurance agent or banker.
- Ask them to send you a new beneficiary designation form.
- Complete the form, sign it, and mail it back to the appropriate person.
- When you pass away, your account or insurance policy will be paid or transferred to Sandburg, consistent with the beneficiary designation.
If you’re interested in making a gift but are also concerned about your future needs, keep in mind that beneficiary designation gifts are about the most flexible of all charitable gifts. Even after you complete the beneficiary designation form, you can take distributions or withdrawals from your retirement, investment or bank account and continue to freely use your account. You can also change your mind at any time in the future for any reason, including if you have a loved one who needs your financial help.
Bequests
Designating Sandburg as the beneficiary of your asset by will, trust or beneficiary designation form is one of the easiest gifts to make. With the help of an attorney, you can include language in your will or trust specifying a gift to be made to family, friends or Sandburg as part of your estate plan, or you can make a bequest using a beneficiary designation form.
Benefits of a bequest
- Receive an estate tax charitable deduction.
- Reduce the burden of taxes on your family.
- Leave a lasting legacy to charity.
Here are some of the ways to leave a bequest to Sandburg.
- Include a bequest to Sandburg in your will or revocable trust.
- Designate Sandburg as a full, partial or contingent beneficiary of your retirement account (IRA, 401(k), 403(b) or pension).
- Name Sandburg as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy.
A bequest may be made in several ways.
- Percentage bequest: Make a gift of a percentage of your estate.
- Specific bequest: Make a gift of a specific dollar amount or a specific asset.
- Residual bequest: Make a gift from the balance or residue of your estate.
Charitable gift annuities
You transfer your cash or appreciated property to our organization in exchange for our promise to pay you fixed payments (with rates based on your age) for the rest of your life.
Benefits of a charitable gift annuity
- Receive fixed payments to you or another annuitant you designate for life.
- Receive a charitable income tax deduction for the charitable gift portion of the annuity.
- Benefit from payments that may be partially tax-free.
- Further the mission of Sandburg with your gift.
How a charitable gift annuity works
- You transfer cash or property to Sandburg.
- In exchange, we promise to pay fixed payments to you for life. The payment can be quite high depending on your age, and a portion of each payment may even be tax-free.
- You will receive a charitable income tax deduction for the gift portion of the annuity.
- You also receive satisfaction, knowing you will be helping further our mission.
If you decide to fund your gift annuity with cash, a significant portion of the annuity payment will be tax-free. You may also make a gift of appreciated securities to fund a gift annuity and avoid a portion of the capital gains tax. Please contact us or your attorney to inquire about other assets you might be able to use to fund a charitable gift annuity.
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Charitable lead trust
You fund a trust that makes gifts to Sandburg for a number of years. Your family receives the trust remainder at substantial tax savings.
Benefits of a charitable lead trust
- Receive a gift or estate tax charitable deduction.
- Pass inheritance on to family at a reduced or zero cost.
- Establish a vehicle from which you can make annual gifts to charity.
How a charitable lead trust works
- You contribute your property to fund a trust that pays Sandburg income for a number of years.
- You receive the gift of estate tax deduction at the time of your gift.
- After a period of time, your family receives the trust assets plus any additional growth in value.
Charitable remainder unitrust
You can transfer your cash or appreciated property to fund a charitable remainder unitrust. The trust sells your property tax-free and provides you with income for life or a term of years.
Benefits of a charitable remainder unitrust
- Receive income for life, for a term of up to 20 years, or life plus a term of up to 20 years.
- Avoid capital gains on the sale of your appreciated assets.
- Receive an immediate charitable income tax deduction for the charitable portion of the trust.
- Establish a future legacy gift to Sandburg.
How a charitable remainder unitrust works
- You transfer cash or assets to fund a charitable remainder trust.
- In the case of a trust funded with appreciated assets, the trust will then sell the assets tax-free.
- The trust is invested to pay income to you or any other trust beneficiaries you select based on a life, lives, a term of up to 20 years, or a life plus a term of up to 20 years.
- You receive an income tax deduction in the year you transfer assets to the trust.
- Sandburg benefits from what remains in the trust after all of the trust payments have been paid.
Insurance
A gift of your insurance policy is an excellent way to make a gift to charity. If you have a life insurance policy that has outlasted its original purpose, consider making it a gift.
Benefits of gifts of insurance
- Receive a charitable income tax deduction.
- If Sandburg cashes in the policy, you'll be able to see firsthand how your gift supports our institution.
- If we retain the policy to maturity, or you name us as a beneficiary, once the policy matures, the proceeds of your policy will be paid to Sandburg so we can use the proceeds to further our mission of providing everyone the opportunity of education.
Life estate reserved
Benefits of a life estate reserved gift
- Receive a federal income tax deduction for the value of the remainder interest in your home or farm.
- Preserve your lifetime use and control of your home or farm.
- Create a life estate based on more than one life. This will preserve the use of the property for you and a loved one, such as a spouse or dependent child.
How a life estate gift works
- You deed your home or farm to Sandburg. The deed includes a provision that gives you the right to use your home or farm for the rest of your life and that of any other life estate party named in the deed.
- You and Sandburg sign a maintenance, insurance and taxes (MIT) agreement to explain you will do your best to keep the property in good condition, maintain property insurance and pay the property taxes.
- When the owners of the life estate have passed away, your home or farm will belong to Sandburg. We’ll use or sell the property to further our educational mission.
The life estate can last for your life or based on your life and that of another person, such as a spouse or loved one. It’s possible for you to make a gift of your property even though there’s a mortgage upon the residence. You’re responsible for the maintenance, insurance and taxes on the property, just as you were prior to creating the life-estate gift. If, at some point in the future, you’re no longer able to live independently in your home, we may be able to help you use your life estate to create a lump-sum cash payment (with joint sale) or create an income stream (using the life estate to fund a charitable remainder trust or charitable gift annuity).
Real estate
Donating appreciated real estates, such as a home, vacation property, undeveloped land, farmland, ranch or commercial property, can make a great gift to Sandburg.
Benefits of gifts of real estate
- Avoid paying capital gains tax on the sale of the real estate.
- Receive a charitable income tax deduction based on the value of your gift.
- Leave a lasting legacy to Sandburg.
Retirement assets
Donating part or all of your unused retirement assets, such as a gift from your IRA, 401(k), 403(b), pension or other tax-deferred plan, is an excellent way to make a gift to Sandburg.
Benefits of gifts of retirement assets
- Avoid paying potential estate tax on retirement assets.
- Your heirs avoid income tax on any retirement assets funded on a pre-tax basis.
- Receive potential estate tax savings from an estate tax deduction.
Stocks & bonds
Donating appreciated securities, including stocks and bonds, is an easy and tax-effective way to make a gift to Sandburg.
Benefits of gifts of stocks and bonds
- Avoid paying capital gains tax on the sale of appreciated stock.
- Receive a charitable income tax deduction.
- Further our mission today.
Vehicle donation program
Donating your vehicle to the Sandburg Foundation is a great way to support student success. Donations may be accepted when the vehicle:
- Has received prior approval from the Foundation Board of Directors on a case-by-case basis. Any vehicles staged on campus prior to approval and transfer of title will be towed at the owner’s expense.
- Is relevant to the automotive technology program and new enough to provide students with meaningful, live workplace scenarios aligned with Sandburg’s problem-based automotive curriculum.
- Is in operating condition and can be driven to campus.
- Has an exterior condition reflecting Sandburg’s core values: Excellence, collaboration, integrity and respect.
- Has a clear title in the name of the donor.
- Is delivered to the college with the original title, free of all liens by the donor.
To have your vehicle considered for donation, complete the vehicle donation form, email Michael Hagedorn, instructor of auto technology, or call 309.341.5267. Completion of the form is no guarantee of acceptance. No monetary value can be assigned to a donation by any college personnel. Donations are recognized by letter.
FAQS
Q. What type of vehicles do you accept as donations?
A. We accept most cars, trucks and vans, as long as they’re in operating condition and can be driven to campus.
Q. Is my donation tax-deductible?
A. Because we’re a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, your car donation to the Foundation is tax-deductible. Learn more.
Q. What paperwork do I need to donate my vehicle?
A. Complete the vehicle donation form, and mail or deliver the original title to: Carl Sandburg College Foundation, 2400 Tom L. Wilson Blvd., Galesburg, IL 61401. Additionally, learn more about and complete an IRS Form 1098-C form.
Vehicle donation employee contacts
- Michael Hagedorn / Instructor of Auto Technology / 309.341.5267
- Ellen Burns / Dean of Career and Technical Education / 309.341.5274
- Eric Johnson / Chief Advancement Officer / 309.341.5349
Personal property GIFT ACCEPTANCE POLICY
Jewelry, artwork, collections and other personal property are accepted only after prior approval of the Foundation Board of Directors on a case-by-case basis. The Foundation considers all gifts of tangible personal property after making two determinations:
- The asset’s marketability
- Its intended use by the Foundation
Careful consideration is given where the Foundation is obligated to maintain ownership of the property in perpetuity.
Questions considered regarding the acceptance of tangible personal property may include:
- Does the property fulfill the mission of the Foundation?
- Is the property marketable?
- Are there any undue restrictions on the use, display or sale of the property?
- Are there any public relations issues related to acceptance of the property?
- Are there carrying costs, such as insurance, lease space, maintenance to preserve value or costs of sale or appraisal, that will create a negative cash flow for the Foundation?
Additional information
- All gifts of equipment and materials donated through the Foundation become college property.
- Gifts of motor vehicles, boats and airplanes must include title, bill of sale (if applicable) and IRS Form 1098-C. Learn more under vehicle donation program.
- If the value is more than $5,000, IRS Form 8283 signed by an IRS qualified appraiser and written appraisal is required.
- You may be required to contact the Foundation for the title transfer process.
Email us, or call 309.341.5349 for additional information.
To mail your charitable, tax-deductible gift (with the exception of personal property), send to: Carl Sandburg College Foundation, 2400 Tom L. Wilson Blvd., Galesburg, IL 61401.
The Foundation welcomes your gifts and will provide appropriate written confirmation as required by the tax laws. Thank you for supporting Sandburg!