The OSU Foundation accepts many types of gifts including cash, securities, real estate, insurance, real property, tangible personal property and even entire corporations. The staff of the Foundation have the skills and experience to handle complex gifts. Because of the unique nature of some assets, the Foundation reserves the right to accept or refuse a gift. We would be pleased to discuss any and all giving opportunities directly with you.
Many types of assets may be used to provide gifts for the university through the OSU Foundation. A variety of giving methods allow donors to choose the most appropriate for their circumstances and interests.
Types of Gifts
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Outright Gifts
Outright gifts are those placed with the Foundation for the immediate disposal by the university, and in which the donor retains no interest. They may be either restricted or unrestricted in purpose.
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Endowment Funds
The Foundation may approve the establishment of a special purpose endowment fund upon receipt of gifts or commitments that meet the approved funding levels and criteria established for the endowment. There are several types of endowments. The most commonly accepted are:
 *Endowed Chair -A fully endowed academic chair may be established with total commitments of $1 million.
*Endowed Professorships - A fully endowed academic professorship may be established with a total commitment of $500,000.
Fellowships - A fellowship may be established with a minimum endowment of $10,000.
Scholarships - An endowed scholarship may be established with a minimum endowment of $10,000.
President's Distinguished Scholarship - May be established with a minimum endowment of $55,000.
Distinguished Graduate Fellowship - May be established with a minimum endowment of $55,000.
Others - The Foundation will work with prospective donors on the terms and conditions of other endowment funds provided they support traditional academic activities or functions. An endowment may be established with a minimum commitment of $10,000. In all cases, the establishment of any endowment fund requires the approval of the Foundation president or a Foundation vice president. The Foundation president must approve any exceptions to the above guidelines.
*all chairs and professorships are eligible for a dollar-for-dollar match by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
Because conditions change over time, all endowment instruments contain the following contingency clause:
If circumstances should arise in the future that make it illegal, impossible, or impracticable to use the gift for the purpose specified above, then the President of the university may submit a request for modification of this purpose to the Board of Trustees of the Oklahoma State University Foundation. If, in the best judgment of the Trustees, such modification is deemed prudent and in keeping with the original intent of the donor, they may authorize the use of the spendable income from the Fund for the modified purpose. In the event of such modification, the name of the donor will continue to be associated with the fund.
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Cash Gifts
The most frequent method to make a gift to the Foundation for OSU is a check. Checks should be made payable to the Oklahoma State University Foundation and mailed or delivered to:
OSU Foundation
400 S. Monroe
P.O. Box 1749
Stillwater , OK 74076-1749 Top of page ^
Gifts of Securities
Publicly traded securities, shares of stock in closely held companies, bonds, and government issues may be given to the Foundation for the university. For more information please contact Brandy Huston at (405) 385-5111.
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Non-Traditional Investments
The Foundation may accept gifts of non-traditional investments, such as partnership interests, after a thorough review of the following factors:
Marketability
Nature of any applicable restrictions
Legal and other liabilities associated with the asset
Carrying costs such as administrative and legal fees
Exposure to unrelated business income tax liability
Appraisals - All appraisals of real and personal property contributed to the Foundation shall be made in accordance with IRS Publication 561. Expenses incurred obtaining an appraisal will be the responsibility of the donor unless special circumstances exist that make it appropriate for the Foundation to share the cost. Any appraisal cost borne by the Foundation must be approved by the Foundation president.
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Real Estate
The Foundation may accept gifts of real estate, including houses, condominiums and commercial properties, farmland, rental property and undeveloped land. The decision to accept gifts of real estate requires the approval of the Foundation's president.
When the Foundation receives a gift of real estate property from an estate, the Foundation controller will ensure that policies in regard to accepting gifts of real property are followed. The Foundation may disclaim ownership of the real property based on an evaluation by the outside consultant in the event a determination is made that potential problems exist.
These gifts are received after a thorough review of the following factors:
Usefulness of the property for the university purposes
Marketability of the property
Existence of restrictions, reservations, easements and/or other limitations
Existence of encumbrances, such as mortgages and mechanics liens
Carrying costs, such as property owner's association dues, taxes, insurance and other maintenance expenses
Fair market value in relation to the costs and limits listed above as determined by a qualified appraisal conducted in accordance with the IRC and regulations.
Prior to the acceptance of any parcel of real property, an assessment of the potential environmental risks will be conducted. This assessment shall include the following:
An inquiry of the present owner regarding his, her or its knowledge of the history of the property
A title search to determine who the prior owners might have been
A consultation with federal, state, and local environmental agencies to find out whether the property has any history of hazardous waste contamination
A visual inspection of the property for any evidence of environmental hazards The Foundation may also require an environmental audit conducted by a professional service.
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Gifts-in-Kind (Tangible Personal Property)
The Foundation may accept gifts of tangible personal property, including works of art; jewelry; antiques; coin, stamp and other collections; automobiles; manuscripts; and books. Such gifts may be accepted only after a thorough review indicates the property is readily marketable or may be used by the university.
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Corporate Matching Gifts
All matching gifts received by the OSU Foundation as the result of employee or employees contribution(s) will be directed to the same fund as the donor's gift unless specified otherwise by the donor or the contributing corporation. To find out if your gift qualifies for corporate matching, contact Mary Wiggs at 405-385-5130..
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Campaign gifts
Campaign gifts are designed to raise substantial funds, usually over a number of years, to finance major projects or programs of the university. Such gifts are considered to be above and beyond a donor's annual giving level. Read more about OSU’s current campaigns.
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Memorial & Honorary Gifts
Memorial and honorary gifts are encouraged by the Foundation as generous and thoughtful ways to recognize people's lives and accomplishments. When a memorial gift is made, the deceased individual's next of kin is notified by the Foundation. When an honorary gift is made, the honored person is notified.
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Final Approval, Acceptance & Execution by the Foundation
Documents effectuating the acceptance of all gifts, the creation of endowment programs and the transfer of real or tangible personal property to the Foundation must be approved by Foundation legal counsel and executed by the Foundation president or a vice president.
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