Endowment funds are critical to the future of the school. The endowment is a permanent fund in which only the earned income is spent and the principle is invested under the guidance of the Board of Trustees. The endowment ensures the future education of our students. Endowment gifts can be made at any time.

For more information on the S.S.H. endowment, please contact the Director of the Advancement Office at (337) 662-7063.

Want to make a difference in the lives of children? Have you remembered Schools of the Sacred Heart in your will? Consider a planned gift to Schools of the Sacred Heart.

The Academy of the Sacred Heart has a long, faithful history of providing young girls spiritual and academic excellence since 1821 and Berchmans Academy of the Sacred Heart is carrying on that tradition of excellence in educating young men. Whether supported through an outright gift or planned gift, Schools of the Sacred Heart programs are made possible through the generosity and commitment of people like you.

A planned gift helps Sacred Heart ensure its future – enabling the school to expand existing programs and create new programs. While vital to the school, your gift can also help further your financial and charitable goal.

What are planned gifts?
Planned gifts include gifts through your will, charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, gifts of life insurance, and gifts of retirement plans.

Please let us know if you have already included the Academy, Berchmans Academy, or Schools of the Sacred Heart in your estate plan or if you are considering doing this.

BEQUEST

How do I include Schools of the Sacred Heart in my will?

A will is perhaps the easiest and most effective means to ensure that you fully provide for your family and that your assets are distributed as you wish. Bequests both large and small have been important to Sacred Heart since its founding. Many faithful friends have remembered Sacred Heart in their will while still providing for their family. A bequest through your will also provides continuing support of the ongoing work of the Academy and Berchmans Academy.

If you choose to make a bequest to Schools of the Sacred Heart, the following language will be helpful to you and your lawyer:
“I give, bequeath and devise _____________% of my estate [ or $_______] to Schools of the Sacred Heart, Grand Coteau.”

There are three ways you can make a bequest:

Specific bequest – You designate a specific dollar amount, specific percentage or specific property to Sacred Heart.
Residual Bequest -Your estate will pay all debts, taxes, expenses and specific bequests. The remaining amount –the residue–will be transferred to Sacred Heart.
Contingent Bequest -You can have Sacred Heart receive all or a portion of your estate only under certain circumstances. For example, you can name Sacred Heart as a beneficiary of your estate only if there are no surviving close family members.

A gift to Sacred Heart through your will has several advantages:

• Charitable gifts made through your will are 100% deductible for estate tax purposes.
• A charitable bequest may place your estate in a lower tax bracket.
• You may specify that your bequest be used for general purposes of Sacred Heart or for a particular program or ministry.

Once you notify Sacred Heart of your bequest intention, you qualify for membership in our St. Philippine Duchesne Society (described below). When making a gift to Sacred Heart through your will, please consult your legal and tax advisors.

A trust is a legal agreement that specifies how the assets placed under the trust will be managed. The Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) is a wonderful way to achieve a variety of goals while providing income for life and knowing that after your lifetime, the property remaining in the trust will be used by Sacred Heart as you specified. Essentially, there are two types of CRT’s – the unitrust and the annuity trust.

Unitrust income fluctuates annually with the fair market value of the trust.
Annuity Trust income payments are fixed and determined when the gift is made.

The advantages of a CRT are many. For example, you receive income for life, avoid capital gains tax if funded with appreciated securities, receive an immediate charitable income tax deduction, the possibility of reducing your estate tax, and the satisfaction of supporting the Academy.

As with all planned gifts, please be sure to consult with your legal and tax advisors.

Many Sacred Heart friends today have large qualified retirement plans such as an IRA, 401(k), or Keough plan. These plans have been growing tax-free for several years, but once the owner begins to receive payments, the distributions are taxed. The plans are also included in the owner’s taxable estate. Many friends of Sacred Heart are now looking at these assets as a wonderful source of funds to make a gift.

Perhaps the most convenient way to make a gift is by simply changing the beneficiary designation to include Schools of the Sacred Heart. The gift will benefit Sacred Heart free of probate.

Another option is to create a Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) through your will. Your IRA assets will be transferred to a CRT, and there is no tax due because the CRT is a tax-exempt entity. The trust will provide life income to a beneficiary (for example, your children) with the trust eventually passing to Schools of the Sacred Heart. Your estate will receive an estate tax deduction for the value of Sacred Heart’s right to eventually receive the trust assets.

There are many sponsorship opportunities available throughout the year at Schools of the Sacred Heart. Participating in this way not only benefits you but your company through advertising and reaching a community of friends and potential customers.

Events include:

Dancing with the Stars, Christmas at Coteau, and Conge.

You may contact, the Special Events Coordinator at 337.662.5275, to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.

St. Philippine Duchesne Society
Planned giving is an excellent way to ensure the future of the Schools of the Sacred Heart for the generations to come. Any donor who leaves a planned gift to Sacred Heart is included in the St. Philippine Duchesne Society.

Please contact the Director of Advancement for more information about membership in the St. Philippine Duchesne Society and the benefits of leaving a legacy to the Schools of the Sacred Heart.

Giving By Check
Please send all gifts made by check to Schools of the Sacred Heart, 1821 Academy Road, P.O. Box 310, Grand Coteau, Louisiana 70541. Please enclose with the gift, information regarding the designation for the gift, who to acknowledge if other than the immediate donor, and donor receipt mailing information.

Giving Stock
A stock gift offers a double advantage in that the donor can avoid paying capital gains tax and receive a deduction for the full market value of the stock on the date of sale.

To make a gift of stock to Schools of the Sacred Heart, please notify your broker with the following information.

• The stock is a gift for the benefit of Schools of the Sacred Heart, Grand Coteau, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization.
• Name and number of shares to be transferred. (stock symbol is helpful)
• Tax ID number for S.S.H.
• S.S.H. account number
• DTC number

Please make mention of Schools of the Sacred Heart on all correspondence with your broker regarding this transfer. Please contact the Office of Advancement to obtain wiring information and answers to the above referenced list.

Matching Gifts
Donors may work for a company that provides matching gifts. Please contact the Director of Advancement or your company’s personnel office to obtain info on your company. Send in your gift, along with the matching gift form, to the Office of Advancement.