F.A.Q. - Frequently Asked Questions
ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FOUNDATION
What is the University of Alaska Foundation?The State of Alaska supports UAA. Why are gifts needed?Who decides how gifts are used?Are gifts to UAA tax deductible?How can I learn about the tax benefits of giving?Why am I getting telephone calls from UAA?FIND HELP
How do I get help in making a gift?I’m trying to make a gift online and the site isn’t working right. Who do I call or e-mail?I’m a donor and have questions about a variety of issues. Where do I go?Who do I call with a problem regarding this Web site?GIVING ONLINE
What is the first thing I should do to make a gift online?What should I do if I don't see the program or department I want to support?Will I receive a printed receipt in the mail?What are my rights as a donor?How much of my gift will be used by the University to fund its operations?THE MECHANICS OF MAKING A GIFT
How do I make a donation to the University of Alaska Anchorage?Where do I mail a check with my donation?How do I learn about the fundraising priorities in my area of interest?GIFT PLANNING
What is gift planning?Is it possible to make a gift to the University of Alaska Anchorage through my will?What language should I use to make the University a beneficiary of my estate plans?How can I make a gift to the University that actually pays me income? How do these life-income gifts benefit me?May I designate my gift to a specific purpose at the University of Alaska Anchorage?Is it possible to name UAA as a beneficiary of my retirement plan?Can I use my life insurance policy to benefit UAA?Do I need to tell the University that I have included UAA in my estate plans?
ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FOUNDATION
What is the University of Alaska Foundation?The University of Alaska Foundation is a private non-profit corporation, operated as a public Foundation, which was established in 1974 to solicit, manage and invest donations for the exclusive benefit of the University of Alaska.
The Foundation is a tax-exempt organization as described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and donations made to the Foundation are deductible according to schedules established under income and estate tax regulations.
The Foundation is separate and distinct from the University of Alaska and is governed by its own Board of Trustees. These volunteers are composed of prominent Alaskans and include the University president, two members of the Board of Regents and the chancellors from each campus.
The Board of Regents of the University of Alaska has recognized the University of Alaska Foundation as the entity to manage private gifts made to support all campuses of the University of Alaska system.
The Foundation is a well established non-profit in Alaska with more than 30 years of experience in the management of funds to support the University of Alaska. The Foundation's operations are funded by Foundation unrestricted funds, university support, an annual endowment fee of 1% and a 1% gift fee.
The Foundation has experience with the acceptance, valuation and management of such diverse donations as developed and undeveloped real estate (raw land and office buildings, single family residences and condominiums), stocks, bonds, and a large variety of tangible personal property gifts, including gifts of raw gold, collections of Ivory, fine art pieces, copyrights, musical instruments, etc.
The Foundation has experience assisting donors in making gifts through trusts, bequests, life insurance policies and similar instruments and has the ability to provide such instruments to donors depending upon their needs.
The Foundation adheres to the highest ethical standards with regard to fundraising and fund management and subscribes to the Code of Ethics adopted by, and is a member of, the Council of Advancement and Support of Education. The Foundation staff regularly attends continuing education seminars to remain current in the field of charitable giving.
The treasurer oversees the accounts at the Foundation. The Foundation's financial records are audited annually by the accounting firm of KPMG and the audited financial statement appears in the Foundation's annual report.
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The State of Alaska supports UAA. Why are gifts needed?UAA is a state-assisted school receiving only 42% of its funding from the state. We are able to accomplish so much more through private giving support. It takes private gifts to help students achieve the extraordinary.
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Who decides how gifts are used?You do! Your gift can be designated to help the college, program or scholarship of your choice. Gifts can also be directed to a general fund, the UAA Annual Fund for Excellence, which is directed by the Chancellor. The University of Alaska Foundation ensures that donor requests are honored, and the deans of each college or program decide how to expend the money based on their specific needs.
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Are gifts to UAA tax deductible?Yes. The Foundation is a tax-exempt organization as described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and donations made to the Foundation are deductible according to schedules established under income and estate tax regulations.
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How can I learn about the tax benefits of giving?For more information on the tax benefits of giving click here.Back to Top
Why am I getting telephone calls from UAA?The Student Caller Program is a way for UAA alumni to stay connected with the University.
UAA Student Callers are committed to helping support and improve the student experience of today and tomorrow. Student callers work tirelessly to reach alumni to provide information on UAA campus activity and verify contact information. Their other mission is to garner support for UAA through an annual gift to the University. Seawolf spirit and enthusiasm lend to their roles as UAA ambassadors, as does their passion for increasing private support to strengthen the student experience at UAA. Gifts provide for student scholarship, programs of distinction, investment in faculty excellence, facility and more. The calling program works to increase alumni giving participation, while also establishing important ties with our community. Student callers are an important link to campus for our alumni and not only call to ask for support, but also to say thank you!
Total dollars raised in Fall 2007: $49,456
Total gift and pledges since phonathon’s inception: $171,726
If you would like more information regarding alumni giving or becoming a Student Caller, please contact the Office of Annual Giving at UAA, (907) 786-1278, ayannual@uaa.alaska.edu.
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FIND HELP
How do I get help in making a gift?Please contact the UAA Office of Development at (907) 786-1010 for help.
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I’m trying to make a gift online and the site isn’t working right. Who do I call or e-mail?Please contact the UAA Office of Development at (907) 786-1010 for help.
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I’m a donor and have questions about a variety of issues. Where do I go?Please contact the UAA Office of Development at (907) 786-1010 for help.
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Who do I call with a problem regarding this Web site?Please contact the UAA Office of Development at (907) 786-1435 for help.
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GIVING ONLINE
What is the first thing I should do to make a gift online?To get started, click here. Making a gift by credit card to UAA makes giving online to UAA simple. Simply tell us where you would like your gift to go, the amount, enter some information about yourself, submit your payment information, and the transaction is completed through UAA’s secure server.
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What should I do if I don’t see the program or department I want to support?Please contact the UAA Office of Development at (907) 786-1010.
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Will I receive a printed receipt in the mail?Yes, the University of Alaska Foundation confirms with a receipt. The University of Alaska Foundation through UAA’s Office of Development officially acknowledges all gifts to University of Alaska Anchorage of cash, checks, securities and most other types of gifts.
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What are my rights as a donor?Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is essential to the quality of life. To assure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the not-for-profit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:
- To be informed of the organization's mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
- To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization's governing board and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.
- To have access to the organization's most recent financial statements.
- To be assured gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
- To receive appropriate acknowledgment and recognition.
- To be assured that information about donations is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
- To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
- To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors.
- To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
- To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.
The text of this statement in its entirety was developed by the American Association of Fund-Raising Counsel (AAFRC), Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and adopted in November 1993.
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How much of my gift will be used by the University to fund its operations?The Foundation's operations are funded by Foundation unrestricted funds, University support, an annual endowment fee of 1 percent and a 1 percent gift fee.
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THE MECHANICS OF MAKING A GIFT
How do I make a donation to the University of Alaska Anchorage?- Check – payable to the University of Alaska Foundation
- Credit Card – MasterCard or VISA
- Payroll Deduction – a donation deducted directly from your paycheck
- Telephone – call (907) 786-1010
- Electronic Funds Transfer
- Online
Questions? Contact the UAA Office of Development at (907) 786-1010.
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Where do I mail a check with my donation?University of Alaska Anchorage
Office of Development
3211 Providence Drive, ADM 236
Anchorage, AK 99508
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How do I learn about the fundraising priorities in my area of interest?The Office of Development has experienced and dedicated Development Officers to help you through your gift process.
Beth Rose, Assistant Vice Chancellor, (907) 786-1954
- ANSEP
- Health Sciences
- School of Engineering
- WWAMI Program (Alaska's Medical School)
Sue Marchant, Senior Development Officer, (907) 786-1251
- Athletics
- College of Business and Public Policy
- College of Education
- Community and Technical College
Ivy Sponholz, Senior Development Officer, (907) 786-1944
- College of Arts and Sciences
- Honors College
- Integrated Science Building
- UAA/APU Consortium Library
Julia Martinez, Annual Giving Manager, (907) 786-1228
- Annual Giving
- Student Calling Program
For all other inquiries please contact UAA’s Office of Development at 786-1228.
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GIFT PLANNING
What is gift planning?Planned giving is arranging to make a donation to the University in the future. Often it is done in the form of a provision in a will or a charitable trust.
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Is it possible to make a gift to the University of Alaska Anchorage through my will?A bequest – a gift through your will or living trust – is the most common method of deferred charitable giving. Through a bequest, you can direct specific assets, your entire estate or a percentage of your estate to UAA. A specific bequest is the most basic type of bequest – it simply designates a fixed-dollar amount or specific property to a beneficiary. A residuary bequest designates that all or a certain percentage of your estate go to a beneficiary. Finally, you might also choose to make a contingent bequest – a bequest that is only carried out under certain circumstances. For example, if all other beneficiaries are deceased, the university is a contingent beneficiary.
It is important to work with an attorney to draft or amend your will because it is a legal document. We are available to work with you and your attorney to ensure your gift is directed to the purposes most important to you.
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What language should I use to make the University a beneficiary of my estate plans?I hereby give to the University of Alaska Anchorage, a tax-exempt organization described under Subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, located in Anchorage, Alaska, the sum of $____________________________________________________.
OR all my interests in the following described property:
_____________________________________________________.
OR ___________ percent or all of the residue of my estate, to be used for the benefit of the University of Alaska Anchorage.
OR to be used for the benefit of
(university branch, college, department and/or program)
at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
OR to be used for the benefit of
(i.e. student financial aid, research, faculty development, other purpose)
at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
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How can I make a gift to the University that actually pays me income? How do these life-income gifts benefit me?Life income gifts enable you to receive income while making a lasting gift to UAA. To put it simply, you make an irrevocable gift of cash, securities or real estate, and we pay you in return. After your lifetime or the lifetime(s) of other designated beneficiaries, the university uses the remaining balance of assets for the purpose you designate. A variety of life income gift options are available to help you meet your personal financial goals as well as your philanthropic goals, and university development staff is happy to discuss these options with you. It is important, however, to seek the professional advice of your attorney or financial advisor as you choose which options are best for you.
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May I designate my gift to a specific purpose at the University of Alaska Anchorage?Your gift can be designated to help the college, program or scholarship of your choice. There are hundreds of opportunities to invest in to make a difference. Some areas you may wish to support include:
- UAA Annual Fund for Excellence
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- Provides flexible dollars to fund the university’s highest priorities
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Business and Public Policy
- College of Education
- College of Health and Social Welfare
- School of Engineering
- Community and Technical College
- Kenai Peninsula College
- Kodiak College
- Matanuska-Susitna College
- Prince William Sound Community College
- UAA/APU Consortium Library
- Seawolf Athletics
- Honors College/ Undergraduate Research
- Alumni Relations General Support
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Is it possible to name UAA as a beneficiary of my retirement plan?You may consider designating the University to receive any remaining assets of your IRA, KEOGH, TIAA-CREF or other qualified pension or profit-sharing plan. You maintain complete access to the assets during your lifetime, and any gifts that later come to the university can be deducted from your taxable estate. Your plan administrator or financial institution can provide you with the necessary forms to designate the University as a beneficiary.
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Can I use my life insurance policy to benefit UAA?You may also give to the University by transferring all right of ownership to your existing life insurance policy. If you do so, you may take a charitable deduction equal to the policy’s replacement value or your basis in the policy, whichever is less. If you choose to continue to pay premiums on the policy, an income tax deduction is allowed for each payment.
The University has the option of holding the policy, terminating the policy and taking the cash surrender value, or taking out a loan against the policy. A gift of life insurance is a good choice for giving when the original purpose of the policy, such as mortgage protection, is no longer relevant, the policy is paid up or you can continue to make payments, and there is a high cost basis or replacement value for the policy.
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Do I need to tell the University that I have included UAA in my estate plans?Yes. You can notify UAA of your inclusion of the University in your estate plans. We recognize planned giving as part of our Legacy Society.
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