This fall semester, the Wabash campus returned to more normal academic, athletic, and extracurricular experiences. As students complete projects and papers and prepare for final exams, they’re expressing gratitude for this return.
“This semester, back at our beloved Wabash, has been refreshing for the students,” said Student Body Vice President Davionne Garrett ’22. “Having a traditional Wabash semester with all our usual events back in place has been a type of reconstruction of the Wabash brotherhood.”
The generosity of alumni, parents, and friends provided a strong foundation for such a memorable semester. As the Giant Steps Campaign enters its fourth year, the Wabash community has sustained great momentum with generous gifts in support of Wabash students and faculty.
Here are six ways you can take your own giant step for Wabash before 2021 ends.
Click Here to Support Wabash Students Before December 31, 2021
Whether you click, mail, call, or deliver your gift in person, the Advancement Office makes it easy to make your gift:
The Wabash Advancement Office will be open Monday, December 27 through Friday, December 31 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST.
Just like subscribing to your favorite streaming service or paying your utility bill, you can set up monthly, quarterly, or even annual recurring gifts to support Wabash students and spread out gifts automatically. Plus, you’ll save the cost of the College sending out emails or mailing pledge reminders.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 extended the temporary universal charitable deduction for non-itemizers for cash gifts to non-profit organizations including Wabash College. Donors who take the standard deduction on their federal income taxes are entitled to an additional “above the line” deduction for charitable gifts in 2021 not to exceed $600 for joint filers and $300 for single filers. Those who itemize on their federal tax returns can deduct cash contributions up to 100% of their Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).
If you file an Indiana income tax return, the state will credit up to 50% of your gift to Wabash against your state income taxes. Individual filers receive $100 credit for the first $200 contributed to Wabash, while joint filers receive $200 credit for the first $400 contributed to the College.
If you are age 70½ or older, consider making a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from your IRA. While the minimum age for taking a required minimum distribution (RMD) from an IRA is 72, it does not affect your ability to make a tax-advantaged QCD starting at age 70½. Amounts distributed as a QCD can be counted toward satisfying your RMD for the year, up to $100,000. The QCD is excluded from your taxable income. Consult with your tax adviser about these changes and their impact on your giving strategy.
For more information, click on Charitable IRA FAQs and if you want to make a QCD gift, please use our IRA Gift Instructions.
What’s better than making your gift to Wabash? When your company matches it. Make sure you’re not leaving money on the table by visiting our Matching Gift database to find out if your company has a program that can double or even triple the impact of your gift. Some companies will even match gifts by retirees, spouses, or partners of employees. Most companies will match donations made at any point during the last year!
If you are buying gifts online this holiday season, think about using Amazon Smile, which donates 0.5% of eligible purchases to the charitable organization of your choice. You can select Wabash for your charity, and although this will not provide you with any personal giving credit, you can know that you are making an impact even while you shop.