Easy Ways to Give to STEM
Feel free to choose the giving method that works best for you:
Giving by Cash or Check
Cash
Feel free to give actual cash, but only in-person at the STEM Minneapolis office or at a STEM Event. (We’ll give you a temporary receipt until our accounting system kicks out an official receipt for you.) We don’t recommend you send cash by mail.
Check
Make your check payable to “STEM” and mail it to: STEM Int’l, PO Box 386001, Minneapolis MN 55438-6001.
Giving by Credit Card or Debit Card
To use your credit or debit card, we need your name as it appears on the card, the card type and card number, the card expiration date, and your mailing address. You can provide this information in the following ways:
On-Line
This is the most secure way to give. Your credit/debit card information is encrypted and secure.
In-Person
Either at the STEM Minneapolis office or at a STEM Event, you can use your credit/debit card to make a donation, or to purchase publications or products from STEM, just like you would anywhere else.
Telephone
You can telephone in a donation or publications purchase during normal business hours, by providing your credit/debit card information over the phone to a STEM staff member. Call toll-free 1-877-STEM-646 or 952-996-1385.
Postal Mail
Several of our office forms allow you to send in your credit card information and signature by way of postal mail.
Fax
You may also fax your credit/debit card authorization to STEM at 952-996-1384.
Although it’s possible to email us your credit card information, the email transmissions are not secure nor are they encrypted; we don’t recommend you use this method.
NOTE: Use your credit wisely! STEM does not encourage high-rate credit card debt. We provide this service for our supporters who prefer to manage their finances by use of bank credit and debit cards which may award benefits to the cardholders.
Giving Automatic Monthly Donations to STEM
Save time and postage by authorizing a monthly Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) from your checking or savings account! Or simply authorize a monthly charge to your credit or debit card. These options work well if you are a regular monthly supporter of a STEM Staff Member, or you want to make a regular monthly gift to the STEM Sender's Fund.
To get started, simply download the checking/savings EFT form "Authorization Agreement for Automatic Withdrawal of Funds;" or the "Credit/Debit Card Monthly Authorization Form" . Complete the information, and return it to STEM. EFT withdrawals are made on the 20th day of each month. Your authorization will remain in force until you notify STEM of your desire to cancel it. You may cancel at any time.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us (toll-free 1-877-STEM-646 or locally 952-996-1385); ask for someone in the STEM Accounting Department.
Giving In-Kind Tangible Assets to STEM
STEM benefits greatly from "in-kind" donations of certain personal or business items that you no longer need (computers, musical instruments, photo equipment, antiques, etc.) If you have an item worth $75 or more that you would like to donate to STEM, we have a partnership with The Charity Group, which converts unused items into cash and gives the proceeds to STEM. For more information, or to donate an item, go to http://www.thecharitygroup.com
Do Your Online Shopping through ShopWith A Purpose
You'll find many of your favorite online vendors at Shop With a Purpose. At no cost to you, STEM will receive a donation worth 1% to 18% of your total online purchase.
Giving Shares of Publicly-Traded Securities to STEM
Shares of (appreciated) stocks, ETFs, bonds, mutual funds, and other publicly-traded securities can easily be donated directly to STEM as follows:
Postal Mailing or Hand-Delivering
If postal mailing or hand-delivering actual certificates to STEM:
- All owners must endorse certificates as indicated
- All owners must sign and date a personal donation instruction letter stating their desire to make this donation to STEM Int’l of x-amount of shares in x-company.
- If postal mailing, please send your endorsed certificates and donation instruction letter via registered/certified/insured mail to: STEM Int’l, PO Box 386001, Minneapolis MN 55438-6001
Broker to Broker
For most people, this is the easiest and quickest way to donate publicly-traded securities. And for donors who wish to remain anonymous, a Broker to Broker transaction works well.
Whether anonymous or not, simply instruct your Broker to transmit x-amount of shares in x-company from your Brokerage Account to STEM’s Brokerage Account:
Fidelity Investments for STEM Int’l
STEM ID #36-336-7669
STEM Account #X63-201065
DTC #0226
Planned Giving (Charitable Gift Annuities, Estate Bequests, and Real Estate Gifts)
Charitable Gift Annuities, Real Estate Gifts, and Estate Bequests are three great methods of planned giving that can help sustain STEM in future years while also creating a lifetime income stream for you and your spouse.
Charitable Gift Annuities
Much
like an annuity purchase from a life insurance company, you will enter
into a contract with STEM to transfer cash or appreciated property to
STEM, in exchange for guaranteed fixed payments for life. You’ll
receive an immediate tax deduction for a portion of the gift,
calculated according to actuarial tables (your age). Payments are
determined based on rates recommended by the American Council on Gift
Annuities and may be paid monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or
annually.
Click here to view or print out a 1-page copy of "STEM's Gift Annuity Disclosure Statement." And please don’t hesitate to call us with your Charitable Gift Annuity questions (call toll-free 1-877-STEM-646 or 952-996-1385); ask for Jon Larson or Roger Peterson.
REAL ESTATE GIFts
If
you own real estate, you may want to consider the tax benefits of
donating it to STEM. You can donate your property and still
retain the use of it for the remainder of your or your spouse's
lifetime through a Retained Life Estate. Or you may choose to donate it through a Charitable Remainder Trust,
which provides tax benefits while also setting up an income stream for
the remainder of your life. You might also consider an outright gift of
real estate, or a gift by will or bequest. The Minnesota Real Estate Foundation is equipped to assist you with your donation of Real Estate to STEM so that you will receive the maximum benefits allowed by law. Read more about your options here, and please feel free to call us if you have any specific questions
(call toll-free 1-877-STEM-646 or 952-996-1385, and ask for Jon Larson).
Estate Bequests
Another great way to plan a longer range gift for STEM is to designate STEM as a beneficiary in your Will, Life Insurance Policy, or IRA/Retirement Account. You can do this anonymously if you’d prefer. Or if you need to, please feel free to call us if you have any specific questions (call toll-free 1-877-STEM-646 or 952-996-1385, and ask for Jon Larson).
Your bequest instructions should specify “STEM Int’l, #36-3367669” (that’s STEM’s Federal Identification Number).
Giving in Memory of a Loved One
For any gift that you give to STEM, you may indicate on a separate piece of paper (on on the website giving form) that this gift is given in memory of a person you have the opportunity to name.
Personal & Business/Corporate Sponsorship of STEM Events
STEM has 2 or 3 major Events every year where we welcome personal and business/corporate sponsorships. It’s an opportunity for you to support the work of STEM, while at the same time to get exposure for your business or organization. If you might be interest in being one of our welcomed sponsors for our next Event, please email us and let us know of your interest.
NEXT EVENT: STEM Classic 1800 Golf Event (summer 2008) at Parkview Golf Club in Eagan, Minnesota. See 2006 Golfers' Information here, and Corporate Sponsorship information here.
