How to give to Fredonia

An endowed fund exists in perpetuity for the benefit of a Fredonia student, project or program. While your gift (the principal) remains invested, the income it earns becomes available for expenditure. Endowment funds are invested by the Fredonia College Foundation with the goal of providing both annual distribution and appreciation of the fund balance.

• Required size of gift: A named endowment threshold is $20,000 with restrictions or $10,000 with no restrictions, but you may build your fund beyond this level so a larger expenditure is available every year.  
• Memorandum of Agreement: The donor and the Fredonia College Foundation sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that states the name and purpose of the endowment.
• Permanent and on-going: One year after a fund becomes fully endowed (reaches $10,000 unrestricted or $20,000 restricted use), the permanent and on-going awards process begins.
• Spending the endowment: Four and a half (4.5) percent of the endowment's value is spent annually. The Fredonia College Foundation's Board of Directors determines the spending rate annually.

Endowing a new fund

• Start with $10,000 unrestricted use or $20,000 restricted use - this amount establishes your named endowment immediately. 
• Start with $2,000 - build toward your goal. To establish a Building Towards Endowment fund, an initial gift of $2,000 is requested, with a six-year time frame provided to reach the fully endowed level of $10,000 for unrestricted use or $20,000 for restricted use. While a Memorandum of Agreement is completed at the time of the initial gift, a description of the awards process is not published until the fund has reached the fully endowed level with $10,000  or more in gifts within the six year timeframe. If the fund has not realized the endowment threshold within the six years provided, the fund balance is then re-directed after discussions with the donor. The transfer may be to an appropriate fund in the foundation, as identified in the original Memorandum of Agreement, or to the Doors to Opportunity Pooled Funds.
• Start with $1,000  A gift of $1,000 gains entry into the Doors to Opportunity Pooled Funds, where donors will be acknowledged through use of either their name or the name of the account they are building. Once a donor's cumulative giving to the account has reached the level, $10,000 unrestricted use or $20,000 restricted use, the funds may be moved from their account in the pooled fund to a traditional Named Endowment. Awards are made for the academic year beginning after twelve months have passed since the separation from the pooled fund in accordance with the Memorandum of Agreement signed by the donor at the time of entry into the pooled fund. Donors may also elect to leave their account permanently in the Doors to Opportunity Pooled Funds, even though their giving total to the account exceeds the $10,000 threshold required for a separate named endowment.
• Doors to Opportunity Pooled Funds award process: Awards from the pooled funds are made in the name of the Doors to Opportunity Pooled Funds and divided between scholarships (at a minimum of 50 percent) and other priorities established by the Fredonia College Foundation Board of Directors.

Review the 500+ scholarships and awards currently managed by the Fredonia College Foundation.

Existing funds

Look at the naming opportunities available across Fredonia's 256-acre campus.

Naming opportunities

We will work with you to find a charitable plan that works for you. 

Planned giving

The Fredonia College Foundation welcomes gifts of appreciated securities

Many donors choose this type of gift because it is simple to execute, has many income tax advantages and may allow you to make a larger gift than what you might have been able to donate otherwise.

A gift of stock entitles you to a federal income tax charitable deduction. If you itemize and if the stock you wish to donate has been held for more than one year, you are entitled to base it on current fair market value of the securities, regardless of their lower original cost, and you can avoid capital gains tax on any appreciation of the stock by donating the stock prior to sale. 

Thank you for your interest in giving a gift of securities to support Fredonia. Once you decide to make this type of gift, transferring the stock to the Fredonia College Foundation is simple. It's important to let us know of your intended gift or transfer so we can identify the source and receipt your gift properly. Please contact our office at 716-673-3321 or by email at foundation@fredonia.edu.

Instructions:

Authorize your broker or agent to transfer the stock to Fredonia College Foundation's account at:

Account Name: The Fredonia College Foundation
Clearing Broker:  Fidelity Investments
Account Number: 614-414565
Depository Trust Company Number (DTC): 0226

Information for transferring broker:
Chase Manhattan Bank
One Chase Manhattan Plaza
New York, New York 10005
ABA: 21000021
PTC System, NFSCF

What is it?

This is an extraordinary time-limited giving opportunity with potential tax benefits. You can make an impact on SUNY Fredonia students by making a charitable gift to the SUNY Impact Foundation that can be directed back to the program of your choice at SUNY Fredonia. And you will also benefit: 85% of your gift will qualify for a non-refundable New York State tax credit. 

• There is a $10 million cap on this SUNY-wide program.
• Gifts must be at least $10,000 and no more than $100,000.
• If the cap is surpassed, the SUNY Impact Foundation will prorate requests. Example: if applications from all SUNY Campuses total $20 million, all donors will receive 50% of their requests.

Tax Benefits

A donor gets a benefit of both a deduction and credit on their NYS tax filing

• 85% tax credit on New York State taxes.
• 15 % deduction on New York State taxes for those who itemize their deductions.
• 15% deduction on federal taxes for those who itemize their deductions.

Participation Deadline

Applications must be completed by September 30, 2025, without exception. 

Gifts must be paid in full by November 26, 2025.

Who can participate? 

Any individual with a personal tax liability in New York State is eligible. Individuals should check with their tax advisor to understand if this program would be advantageous for their personal circumstances. Donors should ensure their New York State tax liability is equal to or more than their authorized gift amount. Donations through a donor-advised fun, family foundations and IRAs are not eligible for this tax credit program. 

How to participate

Donor must submit the online application by September 30, 2025, no exceptions.  Be sure to select SUNY Fredonia as your preferred campus.   You can designate which fund or funds you would like to support at SUNY Fredonia. 

• Work with your major gift officer or a representative from Fredonia College Foundation. We can guide you through the process.  Email for assistance: Foundation@fredonia.edu.
• The tax credit must be used in the 2025 tax year and does not carry forward.
• There is a 2% SUNY administrative fee to process your gift, which is assessed before your gift reaches SUNY Fredonia.
• In early October, SUNY Impact Foundation will email you the gift amount you are authorized for, along with a tax authorization certificate, to use when filing your 2025 taxes.
• Gifts must be PAID IN FULL by November 26, 2025. Only gifts of stock/securities, cash, credit card, wire transfer or a combination will be accepted (no checks).  Gifts from donor-advised funds, family foundations and IRAs are not eligible. No in-kind gifts are accepted.
• If you haven't already done so, work with a major gifts officer or a Fredonia College Foundation representative by December 31, 2025, to determine where your gift will be allocated.
• The Fredonia College Foundation will receive the transfer of funds from SUNY Impact Foundation in February of 2026. 

Questions?

• Contact us at foundation@fredonia.edu