The $7 Million by 2007 Mission

The Simon Estes Educational Foundation, Inc. (“SEEF”) is an Oklahoma nonprofit organization committed to promoting higher educational opportunities for financially-challenged, academically deserving Tulsa area students.

Campaign Overview

In the past sixteen years, the Foundation has raised in excess of $1,200,000 in actual grants and future commitments for scholarships to assist graduating Tulsa area high school seniors. 

Goal: 
Award 20 Scholarships per year to qualified SEEF students with an increased scholarship value

$20,000 disbursed over 4 years ($5,000 per year)

Endowed Scholarship Funding Levels

• Summa Cum Laude – Contributions of $350,000 or above to The Simon Estes Educational Foundation, Inc. in the name of the endowment fund are designated as a perpetual scholarship. Such contributions will permanently fund one student each year, at a rate of $5,000 per year.

• Donors reserve the right to designate particular programs of study or accredited institutions, by which scholars should be selected.
  
• Donors receive perpetual naming rights to the scholarship.  You may name the fund with your name, in the name of a loved one, to recognize another individual, or in the name of a foundation/organization.
  

• Donors will receive premier acknowledgement in all publicity and an award recognition piece from the Foundation.
  

• Magna Cum Laude – Contributions from $250,000 to $349,000 to The Simon Estes Educational Foundation, Inc. made in the name of the endowment fund.
  
• Donors reserve the right to designate particular programs of study or accredited institutions, by which scholars should be selected.
  
• Donors will receive temporary (5 –10 years) naming rights to the scholarship.  You may name the fund with your name, in the name of a loved one, to recognize another individual, or in the name of a foundation/organization.
  

• Donors will receive prominent acknowledgement in all publicity and an award recognition piece from the Foundation.
  

• Cum Laude – Contributions from $100,000 to $249,000 to The Simon Estes Educational Foundation, Inc. made in the name of the endowment fund.
  
• Donors reserve the right to temporarily (1 – 5 years) designate particular programs of study or accredited institutions, by which scholars should be selected and to which their funds should be directed.
  

• Donors will receive honorable mention in all publications and an award recognition piece from the Foundation.
  

• Honors - Contributions from $50,000 to $99,000 to The Simon Estes Educational Foundation, Inc. made in the name of the endowment fund.
  

• Donors will receive honorable mention in all publications.
  

• Scholastic - Contributions from $50,000 to $99,000 to The Simon Estes Educational Foundation, Inc. made in the name of the endowment fund.
  
• Donors will receive honorable mention in all publications.
  

• Merit - Contributions of less than $10,000 to The Simon Estes Educational Foundation, Inc. made in the name of the endowment fund.
  

• Donors will receive honorable mention in all publications.

Endowed Scholarship Funds

With all contributions, at any level:

• SEEF will work closely with you to ensure that your scholarship fund will support our mission and meet your goals.
• You may establish or contribute to the endowed scholarship fund with gifts of cash, securities, life insurance, real estate, or any other kind of property.
• The level of donation may be increased with additional contributions at any time.
• For tax purposes, you will receive a full charitable contribution during the year the gift is made.
• Scholarship recipients will be chosen by the SEEF Selection Committee based on financial need, work and life experience, educational plans, community involvement, and academic record.  Donors are encouraged to attend selection interviews to see the caliber of students being assisted and to become involved in the process.

Planned Giving

Effective estate planning is a complex and personal subject that requires an individual to make a number of very important decisions. The most important decision in developing an estate plan is to determine your objectives. For those people who want to give back to the society from which their wealth has come, there are many tools and options available that will benefit your estate and your favorite charities. These tools may also result in significant tax savings that will benefit your heirs.

The Simon Estes Educational Foundation, Inc. encourages our donors to consider the SEEF as a partner in your estate planning. Your investment in the SEEF will ensure that more children will be given opportunities to improve their lives.

If you would like to discuss options for including the SEEF in your estate plan in more detail, please contact us at (918) 583-0500 or consult your tax advisor or financial planner. Estate planning options that you can use to benefit both the SEEF, yourself and your estate are:

Chariatable Trusts, Bequests, Gift of Securities, Gifts of Life Insurance, or Gifts through Retirement Plans

Trusts

Trusts are very complex options for estate planning. However, charitable trusts established with The Simon Estes Educational Foundation, Inc., as a beneficiary offer flexibility, enormous tax advantages for you and your heirs, and the satisfaction of making a significant contribution to the future educational goals of local students.

How Do Trusts Work?

• There are several different types of charitable trusts that can be established to reflect your needs and desires as well as those of your family.
• The basic concept of a charitable trust is that you and any beneficiaries you designate will receive income from the trust during their lifetimes or the future remainder balance. Upon your death and those of your beneficiaries, the trust assets go to The Simon Estes Educational Foundation, Inc..
• Some of the more popular charitable trusts that can be established are Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust; Charitable Remainder Unitrust; and Charitable Lead Trust.

Because of the complexities of establishing a trust, SEEF recommends that you consult with a qualified tax advisor or estate planner to understand your options and the tax consequences to you and your family.

Bequests

Making a will provides an opportunity to plan thoughtfully for the disposition of your estate. Your decision to include The Simon Estes Educational Foundation, Inc. as a beneficiary increases the effectiveness of our scholarship programs and guarantees local students an opportunity to improve themselves and break the cycle of generational poverty. A bequest to The Simon Estes Educational Foundation, Inc., will help ensure educational opportunities for Tulsa-area children will continue beyond your lifetime.

How Can I Include The Simon Estes Educational Foundation, Inc., in my Will?

A bequest of any size is welcome by SEEF. The laws governing the disposition of estates provide many opportunities for remembering a favorite organization through your will. You and your attorney may choose:

• A specific bequest of cash, personal property, or real estate.
• A proportionate bequest, which represents a percentage of your gross or net estate.
• A contingent bequest, effective if your primary beneficiaries fail to survive you.
• A residual bequest, which includes the balance of your estate after specific bequests have been distributed.

What are the Benefits of Making a Bequest to SEEF?

• You may decrease estate tax liabilities because taxes are calculated after the value of your gift has been deducted from your estate.
• You continue to support SEEF and its mission to educate locally deserving students.
• You can change your will at any time to reflect your changing situation and interests.

Securities

A gift to The Simon Estes Educational Foundation, Inc., of securities increases the effectiveness of our programs that address the needs of local children who otherwise may not be able to further their education. Your investment in our professionally managed endowment increases the principal that generates income, thereby increasing funds available for additional scholarship recipients and mentoring programs.

What Kind of Securities Can I Donate and What are the Benefits?

• You may give any type of securities, but a gift of appreciated stocks or bonds held more than one year may be particularly advantageous. Transferring ownership allows you to deduct the full fair market value of the securities as a charitable contribution, and pay no income tax on the appreciation.
• If you hold long-term securities that have depreciated in value, you can sell them and give the proceeds from the sale to SEEF, resulting in tax deductions for the capital loss as well as the charitable contribution.

How Can I Arrange a Gift of Stocks or Bonds?

1. Send your certificates with a letter of transmittal and stock power to SEEF.
2. Ask your bank or broker for assistance in transferring your certificates.
3. If your bank or broker holds securities for you, they can handle the transaction directly.

Life Insurance

Gift of Life Insurance or Retirement Plan Assets

A gift to The Simon Estes Educational Foundation, Inc. of your insurance policy, IRA, or retirement plan increases the effectiveness of programs that address the needs of local children who otherwise may not be able to further their education. Your investment in our professionally managed endowment increases the principal that generates income, thereby increasing funds available for additional scholarship recipients and mentoring programs.

What Benefits Does a Gift of Life Insurance Offer?

• Insurance policy gifts are convenient and easy to arrange.
• The full value of your gift benefits SEEF, since the policy is payable to SEEF immediately upon your death, without probate or estate settlement, with no taxes or fees.

How Does a Gift of Life Insurance Work?
There are many options for using life insurance as a gift to SEEF:

• If you own a policy that no longer serves its original purpose, you can receive tax advantages by assigning ownership of the policy to SEEF.
• The value of the policy can be deducted as a charitable contribution.
• You can continue to pay the annual premiums and deduct these payments as a charitable contribution.
• Upon your death, the proceeds of the policy go directly to SEEF, bypassing the probate process.
• Upon your death, the policy is removed from your estate, minimizing the estate taxes your heirs will pay.
• You may choose to buy a new policy naming SEEF as owner and irrevocable beneficiary.
• You would pay the annual premiums and deduct these payments as a charitable contribution.
• You can name SEEF as a contingent beneficiary of your policy.
• You retain ownership of the policy and all rights to it.
• Although you do not receive a tax deduction for the premiums, any proceeds that SEEF receives after your death are deducted from your estate for federal estate tax purposes.

How Can I Give to SEEF Through an IRA or Retirement Plan?

• You can add SEEF as a beneficiary for your IRA or retirement plan.
• Such a gift may qualify for a federal estate tax deduction in your estate.

Note: Lifetime transfers of retirement funds have assignment of income issues.