One mark of the success of an educational institution is its ability to attract and educate diverse students, regardless of their ability to pay for their education. Yaxche has long prided itself on its ability to offer scholarships to those students in need. In fact, 55 percent of all students fund a portion or all of their tuition through scholarships.
Giving opportunities that support families transform not only the individual student and her family but also the local and global community from which she comes. The opportunity for children from various backgrounds and cultures to learn and grow together benefits each child who shares such an environment. It is critical in this era of a shrinking world that we provide a place for various cultures to meet and share ideas, history, and experience. Your gift to Yaxche can make a significant difference in the lives of students who might not otherwise be able to attend Yaxche.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Yaxche is deeply committed to educating students in need of our scholarship funds, which we are working hard to maintain and expand:
1. Chief Oren Lyons Native American Scholarship Fund: “The environment isn't over here. The environment isn't over there. You are the environment,” says Chief Oren Lyons, one of the most striking figures in the global Environmental Youth Movement. According to Chief Oren Lyons, he and his clan are committed to caring for the Earth just as the Earth cares for them. Honoring Chief Lyons’s beliefs in cultural diversity, informed and honest youth, and their ability to heal the wounded Earth, Yaxche prides itself on its ability to offer scholarships to those Native American students in need.
2. Hispanic Scholarship Fund: Yaxche is committed to actualizing our vision of diversity. In honoring the strengths and values of our multicultural traditions, we provide a valuable education for all Hispanic students, even for those without the financial resources to pay tuition. The Hispanic Scholarship Fund ensures that Yaxche will continue to offer an exceptional education to young Hispanic students.
3. Earl Stroh Legacy for the Arts Fund: Honoring the memory of nationally known Taos artist Earl Stroh, Bill Scheid, of Scheid Motors, Taos, NM, established this fund. The Earl Stroh fund provides financial aid to students seeking excellence in the arts. Through our Artist-in-Residence Program, visiting faculty mentors influence Yaxche students to discover new ways of thinking and expressing themselves. Art forms offered include puppet making, photography, textile art, pottery, creative writing, painting, dance, film production, welding, silversmithing, and woodworking. Yaxche selects participating artists with great consideration. The evidence of the wealth of talent experienced thus far may be witnessed in the varied art gracing our campus.
ANNUAL GIVING CAMPAIGN
Our Annual Giving Campaign provides unrestricted funds that support the day-to-day functioning of the school, superb faculty, small class sizes, and engaging and meaningful curriculum.
ENDOWMENTS
Endowments are self-sustaining and have the power to renew—over generations—the energy of scholarship and the spirit of discovery and learning.
PLANNED GIVING
We can help you plan a meaningful gift that takes full advantage of the available tax benefits—income, capital gains, or estate—and can also help provide for you and your loved ones.
Appreciated Property
Examples of appreciated property include stocks and other securities, real estate, and personal property—such as art, antiques, rare books, and coins. Several tax benefits are available:
1. For commonly traded stocks and securities held for more than one year, the charitable deduction is the current, fair market value.
2. For real estate or closely held stock owned for more than one year, the charitable deduction is the current fair market value as determined by an appraisal. The deductible amount is up to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income; a deduction in excess of that percentage can be carried over for five years.
SECURITIES
Gift of Stock
Gifts of appreciated securities provide financial support to Yaxche as well as tax benefits for the donor. If securities have been held for more than one year, the charitable deduction is the current fair market value. If the donated securities have gone up in value over the donor’s holding period, a gift to Yaxche may be made without incurring a liability for capital gains taxes.
Gifts of Real Estate and/or Personal Property
Real estate and/or personal property—such as art, jewelry, or rare coins—can be an excellent asset to fund a charitable gift. Important benefits of using appreciated real estate include the ability to secure an income-tax charitable deduction and escape the capital-gains tax that would be due if the property were sold.
When deeding a residence or farm to Yaxche, you can make a gift of the remainder interest on the property while continuing to live there.
Gift of Life Insurance
By naming Yaxche as both owner and irrevocable beneficiary of a life insurance policy, you make a gift at a relatively low cost.
Gift of Retirement Plan
You can designate Yaxche to receive any remaining assets on your pension or profit-sharing plan while maintaining complete access to your retirement plan assets during your lifetime.
Charitable Bequest
A bequest is a gift specified in a will or trust that allows the donor to retain all assets during his or her life. Several types of bequests are possible:
1. With a general bequest, you simply leave a specified dollar amount to Yaxche.
2. In a specific bequest, you designate certain asset items (whose value may change over time).
3. A residuary bequest allows you to assign a certain percentage of your estate's value to Yaxche and helps ensure that each beneficiary receives a constant proportion even though changes may occur in the size of the estate.
There is no limit on the amount that can be deducted from your taxable estate, and since estate tax rates are graduated—the larger the estate, the greater percentage of tax owed—a bequest may reduce the percentage of tax owed on the remainder of your estate.
