Share Your Treasure
Invest in the future of our community by supporting students and teachers through your financial gifts. Every contribution—whether large or small—helps ensure that children receive the education, care, and opportunities they deserve.
Our Foundation has a comprehensive strategic plan aligned with the School District’s strategic plan. This means that the priorities of principals, teachers, and students are clearly articulated and shared with the community, ensuring that your gifts directly address the most pressing needs.
Directing Your Gift
Your donation can be directed according to your passion:
Specific Programs or Services
For example, you may choose to support art therapy services at a particular school or fund experiential learning field trips.
Area of Greatest Need
Give broadly to empower school district leaders to respond to urgent needs across all schools.
Endowed or Named Funds
An endowed or named fund can be created to support any priority that matters most to you. These gifts are invested to provide sustainable, long-term impact for generations of students.
For example:
- If you have a heart for serving the poor and vulnerable, your fund could provide food, clothing, specialized tutoring, housing support, and other essential services for children in need.
- If you are passionate about supporting multilingual learning, your fund could provide international experiences, specialized tutoring, and more
By establishing an endowed or named fund, you leave a legacy that ensures students will continue to benefit from your generosity year after year.
Ways to give
- Cash or check donations
- Credit or debit card gifts
- Stocks, bonds, or mutual funds
- Real estate or property gifts
- Bequests and planned giving (wills, trusts, life insurance)
- Donor-advised fund contributions
- Matching gifts through your employer
- In-kind donations such as equipment, supplies, or professional services
Why It Matters
- Students gain opportunities and resources they otherwise would not have.
- Teachers receive critical support to enrich learning and relieve burdens.
- Communities are strengthened as we invest in the future workforce and leaders.
Planned Giving: Create a Legacy of Learning
Planned giving, sometimes called legacy giving, is a way to create impact that lasts for generations. These gifts are arranged now but given later, often through a will, trust, or beneficiary designation. They allow us to care for our loved ones and provide life-changing opportunities for students and teachers in our community.
Ways to Give
Bequests in a Will or Trust
Including the Upstate Education and Opportunity Foundation in your will or trust is one of the simplest ways to leave a lasting legacy.
- A specific dollar amount or asset
- The percentage of your estate
- The remainder (what’s left after other gifts to loved ones)
You can make your gift unrestricted (to meet the greatest needs) or designated (for example, music and arts programs, athletics, special education, experiential learning, or mental health).
Sample language for your advisor:
“I give to the Upstate Education and Opportunity Foundation, a nonprofit corporation in South Carolina, EIN 46-3113620, located at 1348 Griffin Mill Road, Easley, SC 29640, the sum of $____ (or ____% of my estate, or the residue of my estate) to be used for its general purposes [or a specific program].”
Beneficiary Designations (Bank Accounts, Retirement, Life Insurance)
Many people don’t realize how simple it can be to leave a gift by updating a beneficiary form – no lawyer required.
- Bank & investment accounts (POD/TOD): Ask your bank or broker for a “Payable on Death” (POD) or “Transfer on Death” (TOD) form. You retain complete control while you’re living, and can change the designation anytime.
- Retirement assets (IRA, 401(k), pension): Name us as a primary or partial beneficiary. Because nonprofits don’t pay income tax, your gift goes further than if left to individuals.
- Life insurance: Add us as a beneficiary, donate a paid-up policy, or even create a new one with the Foundation as owner.
Organization Information for Forms
1348 Griffin Mill Road
Easley, SC 29640
EIN: 46-3113620
Other Options
- Real estate: Homes, land, or rental properties (case-by-case with appraisal)
- U.S. Savings Bonds: Often more tax-efficient when left to charity
- Non-cash assets: Business interests, personal property, securities
Why It Matters
Planned gifts allow you to leave a lasting legacy on earth, impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands of students.
A Note of Guidance
This information does not constitute and should not be considered legal, financial, or tax advice. Any interested party is advised to consult with legal counsel or a financial or tax advisor regarding specific questions
Make a unique gift
Prefer to give outside of a credit or debit card?
Complete the form below to let us know how you would like to make your gift – our team will be in touch shortly to discuss your vision.