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Trinidad State College Foundation

Donor Information

The gifts invited are an investment in the future development of Trinidad State College and the communities it serves; an investment that will enhance the services and educational opportunities offered by Trinidad State.

Donors may contribute funds to match a particular program of their interest that fits within the College's and Foundation's priorities;
Or donors may contribute unrestricted funds to be applied at the Foundation Board's discretion for emerging challenges and needs not previously allocated.

The Foundation's Board of Directors and professional staff are available to work with donors to determine how best to accomplish their charitable objectives. From inception to completion, the Foundation will ensure that the funds are used in strict accordance with the donor's wishes.

Non-Title III Challenge Grant Endowment Funds
Introduction

As stated in the Trinidad State College Foundation's corporate charter, the purpose of the Foundation is to receive, hold, invest, administer, pay out and distribute all manner of funds, money, property and things of value made, donated, contributed, delivered, devised, bequeathed or otherwise transferred or communicated to the corporation from donors wishing to benefit Trinidad State College.

The intent of this document is to establish policy and guidelines which will provide for the maintenance and enhancement of Foundation assets. This document will be reviewed as needed to reflect changes in both the financial markets and needs of the Foundation in support of the College.

Purpose

This Investment Policy of the Trinidad State College Foundation shall provide guidelines for the management of assets in the Endowment Funds created through fundraising efforts, separate from the Title III, Challenge Grant Endowment Fund.

The purpose of the Investment Policy is to assist the Board of Directors in effectively supervising and monitoring its investment activities; and to provide guidance to investment managers employed to manage its assets on behalf of the Board. It is set forth by the Board in order to advise all concerned of their legal and fiduciary responsibilities.

The Board of Directors shall empower an Investment Committee to invest, manage, direct and monitor funds received as a result of fundraising efforts for the benefit of the current and future generations who are the ultimate beneficiaries of the Foundation.

The Investment Committee shall carry out the Investment Policies of the Foundation. Committee members shall follow the Prudent Expert Role which states a fiduciary shall manage the portfolio “with care, skill, prudence, and diligence, under circumstances then prevailing, and that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar which such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of like character and like aims.” The Investment Committee shall meet no less than semi-annually and will report to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors retains ultimate control of and responsibility for all investment activity.

Objectives

The Foundation’s assets exist to provide long-term support to Trinidad State College. Accordingly, the objective of the Investment Committee is to provide direction for the investment of the financial assets of the Foundation. The Investment Committee will consist of not more than seven (7) individuals, the President, the Director of Development and the Chief Financial Officer of Trinidad State College and not more than four (4) individuals specifically designated by the Foundation Board of Directors. This Investment Committee is charged with the following responsibilities:

  • To establish and maintain policies and guidelines for the receiving and investment of Foundation assets.
  • To determine the appropriate asset allocation among these assets.
  • To provide a system for monitoring the returns on these assets, and to review the performance of these assets.
  • To hire and dismiss investment managers as needed.
  • To report to the Foundation Board of Directors.
The investment objective is to achieve a total return including appreciation which will satisfy the current financial needs of the various endowment funds, protect and increase their long-term inflation adjusted value, and minimize short-run volatility.
 
To meet this broad objective, the specific performance objective is to attain, within acceptable risk levels, an average annual total return that MEETS OR EXCEEDS THE SUM OF THE FOUNDATION'S SPENDING (DISTRIBUTION) RATE plus inflation plus investment management and related fees.
Management

The Investment Committee has the authority to retain specialists as necessary to assist it in evaluating investment and asset management options and strategies. The Investment Committee is authorized to select investment managers to invest and manage the assets of the Foundation. Investment managers shall be selected from established and financially sound organizations that have a proven and demonstrated record in managing similar funds or assets. Selection of managers will depend upon factors established by the Investment Committee and will be consistent with the Foundation's investment philosophy and objectives, donor restrictions and such federal and state restrictions as applicable.

Distribution
Current Funds
  • Restricted – Funds will be distributed from the Foundation's Operating Fund to the appropriate College account upon their receipt for utilization by the benefiting program. Those funds not transferred but retained at the Foundation will continue to be held in interest bearing accounts until further distribution is required or requested. Any income earned from current funds will become part of the Operating Fund.
  • Unrestricted – Funds contributed for current unrestricted needs will be distributed to the appropriate College account as identified through a committee process established by the College, subject to approval by the College President, whereby recommendations are received by the TSC Foundation Board. These funds will be directed to the area(s) receiving final approval of the Foundation Board in consultation with the College.
Endowment Funds
  • Restricted – Funds will be spent as available from proceeds of the investment of the corpus. These funds will be spent in accordance with the spending policy and the written donor/Foundation endowment agreement.
  • Unrestricted– Funds will be spent as proceeds from the investment of the corpus are realized. These funds will be directed to the area of greatest need as identified through a committee process established by the College, subject to approval by the College President, whereby recommendations are received by the TSC Foundation Board. These funds will be directed to the area(s) receiving final approval of the Foundation Board in consultation with the College.
It is the policy of the Board of Directors to pay 5% of the ending balance of the endowment fund at year's end, average over the past three (3) years. The Distribution (Spending) Policy should take into account any rebalancing needs to the Foundation's portfolio. Distributions can be paid from interest income, dividends, and capital gains as the Investment Committee deems appropriate. At no time shall the corpus of an endowed fund be spent. The corpus is defined as that amount originally gifted to the Foundation by a donor, and excludes any interest, dividends, or appreciation of the originally gifted amount.
Additions/Modifications

This statement of Investment Policy and objectives may be altered or amended at any time by the Investment Committee. Any modifications are subject to the final approval of the Foundation's Board of Directors.

Conclusion

The Foundation is committed to doing all that it can to ensure, in perpetuity, a reliable and secure source of funds for Trinidad State College's programs and priorities.

Named gifts provide a perpetual means to honor and recognize an individual, a family, or an organization. For more information on these opportunities, please contact the Foundation Office.

Tax Tip
A charitable gift to the Foundation should be made on or before December 31 of the year in which you wish to receive the charitable income tax deduction.

Related-Use Regulations
If the College can use items of personal property (including equipment), you will receive a maximum allowable deduction. If there is no related use, you will receive a smaller deduction. Contact your financial adviser for special related-use issues in giving.

Appraisals
You must obtain an appraisal for any noncash contribution which exceeds $5,000. The appraisal summary section of IRS Form 8283 must be completed and attached to your income tax return on which the deduction is claimed. No appraisal is required for a gift of publicly traded securities for which market quotations are readily available on an established securities market.

Gift Stewardship
Your gift will be used specifically for the purpose(s) they were given and treated with the utmost care and confidentiality per your instructions.

Gift Recognition
All gifts to the Foundation qualify for appropriate levels of recognition from the TSC Foundation.

Consult Your Tax Adviser
The information on this page is not offered as legal advice. For legal advice, please contact your tax attorney and/or your accountant.

Where to Direct Your Gift
The Trinidad State College Foundation is the official recipient for all gifts to the College. Checks should be made out to the TSC Foundation, property should be transferred to the TSC Foundation, and property should be sold in the name of the TSC Foundation. If you need the Foundation’s tax ID number, please contact the Foundation Office.

The Foundation's mission is to support the growth and development of Trinidad State College.

The Trinidad State College Foundation believes that equal opportunity is important for the continuing success of our organization.

The Foundation is committed to a policy of fair representation and will not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, veteran status or marital status.

This policy applies to all activities of the TSC Foundation, including but not limited to employment, selection of volunteers, and selecting vendors or consultants.

The Foundation's mission is to support the growth and development of Trinidad State College.

PHILANTHROPY is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
  5. To receive appropriate acknowledgment and recognition.
  6. To be assured that information about their donations is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
  7. To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
  8. To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors.
  9. To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
  10. To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.

Developed By

American Association of Fund Raising Counsel (AAFRC)
Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP)
Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)
Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)

Endorsed By

(IN FORMATION)
Independent Sector
National Catholic Development Conference (NCDC)
National Committee on Planned Giving (NCPG)
Council for Resource Development (CRD)
United Way of America

The Foundation's mission is to support the growth and development of Trinidad State College.