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Annual fund gifts to the Educational Foundation help fund MYLC, Convocation, and similar programs from year-to-year. However, these resources must be secured at the same or higher level each and every year, leaving the programs at the mercy of the ebbs and flows of the economy as well as our ability to raise funds, which also varies from year-to-year.An objective of the Educational Foundation is to create endowments for the MYLC and SPU, in the hopes to ensure the long-term stability and sustainability of these programs. Endowed funds under prudent management and investment would produce income capable of supporting the annual expenses of the programs. Growth of the endowments over time would allow for expansion and improvements to the already excellent programs.

Let there be no doubt that these endowments are important. For many of our young brothers, the personal and professional training they need to be truly successful men and leaders does not come just from their school work. It comes from their involvement in Sigma Pi. SPU and the MYLC reinforce Sigma Pi’s mission “to advance man’s quest for excellence.” Your gifts of support help us achieve that outcome.

These endowments are not a luxury but a necessity. As Foundation and Fraternity expenses increase every year along with the cost of fundraising, it is irresponsible to function in a manner that requires operating funds and educational expenditures to be raised in the same year they will be spent. Yet at the same time, we cannot afford to let programs like MYLC and SPU be neglected because of rising costs. The impact they have on our Fraternity and the young men who attend is just too great.

In 1947, HGS Byron R. Lewis (Illinois 1905) established the modern Sigma Pi Educational Foundation with a series of personal gifts, thereby beginning a 60 year tradition of alumni brothers giving back to their Fraternity. The Byron R. Lewis Heritage Society was established in 2012 to honor Brother Lewis’ spirit of giving and to recognize those alumni who have made a documented legacy gift to the Foundation.

Legacy giving allows you to show your appreciation for the impact of Sigma Pi on your life and to establish a lasting legacy in the form of support for the many future generations of Sigma Pi men – ensuring that they too will have the same enriching Sigma Pi experience that you enjoyed. 

Benefits include:

• Charitable tax deduction
• Removal of assets from a taxable estate
• Elimination or reduction of capital gains tax on appreciated assets
• Continued income from assets during your lifetime

Legacy giving options include:

• Bequest by a will
• Gifts of real estate
• Retirement plan assets
• Charitable remainder trust
• Charitable gift annuities
• Charitable lead trust
• Life insurance proceeds
• Please contact us if you would like further information or if you have already made a planned gift that needs to be documented. 

SPEF ESTATE GIFT INTENTION FORM

Why Make A Stock Gift:

Gifting appreciated stock is one of the most effective strategies for tax savings available*. In addition to supporting causes that you care about, there are two main benefits to the donor when transferring appreciated stock to the Sigma Pi Foundations:

• Capital gains tax is avoided on the stock
• You will be eligible to receive an income tax charitable deduction for the full fair-market-value of the stock at the time of the gift

How To Make a Stock Gift:

In order to take advantage of the tax benefits listed above, appreciated securities must be transferred directly to the Sigma Pi Educational Foundation. Work with your broker to initiate a charitable stock transfer. Do not sell the security in the open market then try to donate the proceeds to charity as you will be taxed on the stock’s capital gains.

*Please consult with your own legal and financial advisors for professional tax advice

Why Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD):

If you are over the age of 70½ and have an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), then Qualified Charitable Distributions may provide the most significant tax savings of any charitable contribution. While you are eligible to make a QCD starting at 70½, as of January 1, 2023, when you turn 73 you must take a Required Minimum Distribution* (RMD) from your IRA, and a QCD will count towards that RMD!

Note:

• If you will turn 72 in 2023 you are not required to take your first RMD until 2024.
• If you turned 72 in 2022 and deferred your first RMD, you will still be required to take that RMD by April 1, 2023.
• The RMD age will change again to 75 in 2033.

Transfer Instructions To Share With Your Ira Administrator:

Legal Name: Sigma Pi Educational Foundation
Address:Sigma Pi
479 Sam Ridley Pkwy
Suite 105, PMB 334
Smyrna, TN 37167
Sigma Pi Educational Foundation Tax ID Number: 22-6034109

Many employers (companies, corporations, foundations, etc.) have established Matching Gift Programs in order to incentivize employees to make gifts to certified charitable foundations – including the Sigma Pi Foundations. These Matching Gift Programs can often double or even triple your gift to the Foundations.

Employer donation matching is provided by our partner at Amply. On our donation forms, just check the box for “Would you like your employer to match?” and input your employer name. Amply will handle the follow up to ensure your matching takes place.

One of the most powerful ways to support Sigma Pi Fraternity is by creating a bequest in your will or Revocable Living Trust. It is a gift that costs you nothing today but ensures that Sigma Pi can continue to develop the leaders of tomorrow.

To start your legacy today, Sigma Pi invites you to use FreeWill, a free, online tool that guides you through the process of creating your will in just 20 minutes. It’s always free and can be used with an attorney to finalize your estate plans. 

Start your legacy using FreeWill today.

For additional assets not covered in your will, including (but not limited to): 401ks, IRAs, Life Insurance Policies, and Bank Accounts, you must designate a beneficiary. If you would like to name Sigma Pi as your beneficiary, you can use this online tool to help organize your accounts and name beneficiaries