Ways to Give

Making a planned gift ensures the long-term stability of our organization so we can support students and teachers.

When you donate with a planned gift, you help guarantee that our programs and initiatives that support students and teachers in Sarasota County can continue. Your investment will enable initiatives that our educators, leaders, and students haven’t even dreamed of yet.

Contact our development team to learn more today or get started with this letter of intent.

IRA DISTRIBUTIONS

Donors 70 ½ or older can donate up to $100,000 to charitable organizations directly from their IRA. Notify your plan administrator no later than December 15 if you intend to use your IRA.

To help you complete this easy process of making a charitable distribution from your IRA, we’ll provide you with a template letter you can send to your financial institution.

To get started, contact our development team.

STOCK TRANSFERS

You can support students and teachers in Sarasota County Schools—and receive a tax benefit at the same time. If you have appreciated stocks, you can transfer them to the Education Foundation. You’ll avoid a capital gains tax, and we’ll be able to assist teachers and help prepare students to lead successful lives. Contact your brokerage firm with this information to initiate a stock transfer for publicly traded stocks.

To get started, contact our development team.

SHIRLEY A. RITCHEY ENDOWMENT FUND

Founder Shirley Ritchey began an endowment fund giving generously to the Education Foundation to support our operations. Gifts to this fund help ensure we can develop comprehensive support and foster relationships so students and teachers can thrive.

LORI WHITE ENDOWMENT FUND

Former Superintendent of Sarasota County Schools Lori White served Sarasota County as an educator and administrator for nearly 40 successful years. Help us to ensure we can honor Lori’s legacy and promote teacher excellence.

Want to support an endowment fund? Contact our development team.

A year-end gift makes an immediate impact on our mission. Do you want to support students and teachers while maximizing year-end giving strategies? If so, check out these opportunities below!

Mutual Funds: Gifts of mutual funds can take as long as six weeks to complete. Please contact your investment advisor to initiate the transfer. The transfer must be initiated far enough in advance, so we receive it on or before December 31, 2023.

Wire Transfer: Contact your bank to initiate a wire transfer. The development team can provide detailed bank information directly to you. Wires must be received on or before 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2023.

Online/Credit Card: You can make your gift anytime on or before 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2023 on our website, or you can call our office M-F now through December 21 by calling 941-927-0965.

Checks: Make checks payable to the Education Foundation of Sarasota County and be sure it’s postmarked on or before December 31, 2023 by the US Postal Service. If you plan to hand deliver your check or use FedEX or UPS, please contact the office at 941-927-0965 M-F now through December 21 to plan for us to receive your check on or before December 31, 2023.

Matching Gift: Many employers will match current and retired employee gifts. Contact your employer benefits or HR department to learn how to initiate a match and see your gift’s impact grow!