Donor Resources

Donor Bill of Rights

Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To ensure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the non-profit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:

To be informed of the organization’s mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
To be informed of the identity of those serving on the Foundation’s governing board, and to expect that the board exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.
To have access to the Foundation’s most recent financial statements.
To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
To receive appropriate acknowledgment and recognition.
To be assured that information about their donation is handled with respect and confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
To expect that all relationships with individuals representing the Foundation will be professional in nature.
To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the Foundation or hired solicitors.
To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.

The text of this statement was developed by the American Association of Fund-Raising Counsel (AAFRC), Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and adopted in November 1993. The text was altered by the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation to reflect proper Foundation language and policy.

Planned Giving

Phi Kappa Tau brothers from all walks of life, with estates ranging from modest to complex, have shared a common bond through the years: their abiding interest in assuring the lasting fiscal strength of their Fraternity. Through their determination to act on that interest, they establish a legacy of support, most commonly by including a charitable bequest in their will or other estate planning document. A bequest to Phi Kappa Tau may be made through a will or living trust in the form of cash, securities, real estate or other property. You should specify that the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation is to receive a certain amount or percentage of your estate or particular assets, or the remainder of your estate after providing for heirs. Please contact us if we can assist you and your attorney or financial advisor in establishing a bequest for the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation. We acknowledge members whose gift a bequest, trust assets, life insurance or other deferred gifts have helped sustain the mission of Phi Kappa Tau by entering them into the prestigious Heritage Society. When including the Foundation in a bequest, the following language may serve as a guide:

For Unrestricted General Use

For a Specific Purpose

“I give and bequeath to the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation, an Ohio not-for-profit corporation whose current address is 5221 Morning Sun Road, Oxford, Ohio 45056, the sum of $______ [or _______ percent of my estate] for the following purpose: ______________________________. It is understood and agreed that should the purpose for which this gift is made cease to exist, then the Foundation Board of Trustees shall direct the gift for such other uses and purposes as it determines to be in accordance with my original intent in making this gift.”

Residue of Estate

“All the rest, residue and remainder of my property, real and personal, I give, devise and bequeath to the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation, an Ohio not-for-profit corporation whose current address is 5221 Morning Sun Road, Oxford, Ohio 45056, to be used in fulfillment of its charitable purposes as its Board of Trustees shall determine.”

Bequest Coordinated with IRA Beneficiary Designation

“Upon my death, I intend to make charitable gifts in the amount of $ _____________ to the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation, an Ohio not-for-profit corporation whose current address is 5221 Morning Sun Road, Oxford, Ohio 45056. I intend to make this gift by naming the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation as the designated beneficiary of my Individual Retirement Account(s) or other accounts. To the extent that all gifts passing to the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation as a result of those beneficiary designations are less than the amount stated in this paragraph above, I give cash or other estate assets to the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation in such amount as will result in the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation receiving the total amount stated in this paragraph above, as a result of my death, under this last will and testament and under all other non-probate arrangements.”

Tax Status

The Phi Kappa Tau Foundation, founded in 1945, is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization, incorporated in the state of Ohio. The Foundation’s federal tax identification number is 31-6024975.

Notice

The information contained herein is not presented as legal opinion or advice. As with all legal matters, you are strongly encouraged to consult with a qualified attorney regarding your will and other matters relative to your estate plan.

Memorial Gifts

A memorial gift is an appropriate way to recognize someone’s life and accomplishments. Donations may be made in any amount. Once received, a personalized note will be sent in the donor’s name to the honoree or family member notifying them of this kind gesture. A memorial gift allows a donor to pay tribute to a departed member, friend, parent or son. Memorial contributions are often made in lieu of flowers or sympathy cards.

Honorary Gifts

An honorary gift is an appropriate way to recognize someone’s life and accomplishments. Donations may be made in any amount. Once received, a personalized note will be sent in the donor’s name to the honoree or family member notifying them of this kind gesture. An honorary gift allows a donor to commemorate a member, friend, parent or son on special occasions by making a gift in their name. Honorary contributions can be made to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, retirement, holiday, award, volunteer service or any other special occasion.

Donor Recognition

The Phi Kappa Tau Foundation recognizes donors in five different giving recognition structures: annual giving, undergraduate giving, non-member giving, planned giving and lifetime giving. Each giving recognition structure runs on a calendar year basis and will be recognized in the annual report. Varying recognition and stewardship efforts will be available for each society and level.

Ewing T. Boles Society

The Ewing T. Boles Society is the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation’s society for annual giving. Membership in the Ewing T. Boles Society is awarded to donors who contribute $1,000 or more annually. The Ewing T. Boles Society includes four leadership levels which honor donors who give leadership gifts to the Foundation.

Brothers Trust

The Brothers Trust is the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation’s society for undergraduate donors. Membership in the Brothers Trust is awarded to undergraduate donors who contribute $19.06 or more annually. The Brothers Trust includes two leadership levels, one of which honors individuals who make a greater commitment to the Foundation and the other honors chapters who have high overall participation rates of giving.

Heritage Society

The Heritage Society is the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation’s society for planned giving. Membership in the Heritage Society is awarded to members who have informed the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation of a planned gift or bequest in their will.

Lifetime Giving Levels

Lifetime giving levels are the Phi Kappa Tau levels for lifetime giving. Lifetime giving levels are earned through cumulative gifts made to or through the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation. All gifts to the Brotherhood Fund, Men of Character Programs Scholarships, Chapter Educational Grant Funds, General Endowment, capital funds and endowments earn lifetime giving credit.

Giving Level

1906 Society: named in honor of Phi Kappa Tau’s founding year, membership in the 1906 Society is awarded to all donors who have a lifetime giving level of $1 million+
Alpha Circle: named in honor of Phi Kappa Tau’s first chapter at Miami, membership in the Alpha Circle is awarded to all donors who have a lifetime giving level of $750,000+
Beta Circle: named in honor of Phi Kappa Tau’s second chapter at Ohio, membership in the Beta Circle is awarded to all donors who have a lifetime giving level of $500,000+
Gamma Circle: named in honor of Phi Kappa Tau’s third chapter at Ohio State, membership in the Gamma Circle is awarded to all donors who have a lifetime giving level of $250,000+
Delta Circle: named in honor of Phi Kappa Tau’s fourth chapter at Centre, membership in the Delta Circle is awarded to all donors who have a lifetime giving level of $175,000+
Epsilon Circle: named in honor of Phi Kappa Tau’s fifth chapter at Mount Union, membership in the Epsilon Circle is awarded to all donors who have a lifetime giving level of $125,000+
Zeta Circle: named in honor of Phi Kappa Tau’s sixth chapter at Illinois, membership in the Zeta Circle is awarded to all donors who have a lifetime giving level of $100,000+
Borradaile Circle: named in honor of Honored Founder Taylor A. Borradaile, Miami ’06, membership in the Borradaile Circle is awarded to all donors who have a lifetime giving level of $75,000+
Shideler Circle: named in honor of Honored Founder William H. Shideler, Miami ’06, membership in the Shideler Circle is awarded to all donors who have a lifetime giving level of $50,000+
Boyd Circle: named in honor of Honored Founder Clinton D. Boyd, Miami ’06, membership in the Boyd Circle is awarded to all donors who have a lifetime giving level of $30,000+
Douglass Circle: named in honor of Honored Founder Dwight I. Douglass, Miami ’06, membership in the Douglass Circle is awarded to all donors who have a lifetime giving level of $20,000+
Phrenocon Circle: named in honor of Phi Kappa Tau’s second name, membership in the Phrenocon Circle is awarded to all donors who have a lifetime giving level of $15,000+
Old Main Circle: named in honor of the Miami University building which Phi Kappa Tau was founded in, membership in the Old Main Circle is awarded to all donors who have a lifetime giving level of $10,000+
Phi Link: named in honor of one of Phi Kappa Tau’s Cardinal Principles, membership in the Phi Link is awarded to all donors who have a lifetime giving level of $7,500+
Kappa Link: named in honor of one of Phi Kappa Tau’s Cardinal Principles, membership in the Kappa Link is awarded to all donors who have a lifetime giving level of $5,000+
Tau Link: named in honor of one of Phi Kappa Tau’s Cardinal Principles, membership in the Tau Link is awarded to all donors who have a lifetime giving level of $2,500+

Gift Types

Brotherhood Fund Gifts

The Foundation invests your unrestricted gifts where the opportunity is greatest. You join thousands of Phi Taus in assuring that leadership, service, and educational priorities are well-funded.

General Endowment Gifts

When a donor makes a contribution to the general endowment fund but does not earmark it for any particular purpose such as Chapter Education Grants, scholarships, Leadership Academy, etc., that contribution and the related investment income it earns are both unrestricted. However, the Board of Trustees has currently designated the unrestricted portion of the General Endowment Fund such that the funds will be held in perpetuity pursuant to an annual spending policy of 5% of the average five-year fund balance. The Board can choose to “undesignated” these net assets at any time in which case the fund could be used to fund operations, although the Board does not intend to do so. Contributions made to the general endowment fund whereby the donor restricts the funds for a particular purpose (e.g., the donor states that the contribution is for Chapter Educational Grants, scholarships, Leadership Academy, memorials, physical plant, etc.) are temporarily restricted with the related investment income earned on these funds temporarily restricted.

Restricted Gifts

The Foundation invests your restricted gifts where you, the donor, specify. These funds are only used for the purpose designated by the donor. Restricted funds include, but are not limited to Men of Character Programs Sponsorship Funds, SeriousFun Stipend Fund, and Chapter Educational Grant Funds.