Meet Our Donors

The following donor stories were taken from the spring issue of our newsletter - we've included all copy and images - to see how the images were cropped you can view the stories here:

http://www.bethel.edu/publications/bethel-investor/2008/spring/giving-reports

Vi Bergquist-Redding

"I never knew I could make a gift to Bethel and receive income for life." -

More than 10 years ago, Dr. Violet Bergquist-Redding discovered she could make a gift to Bethel and in exchange, receive a charitable deduction and income payments for life. Since then, Bergquist has added a gift annuity agreement with Bethel nearly every year. Proceeds from her gift annuities will eventually be added to her endowed scholarship at her death, providing a stream of scholarships for future Bethel students.

Ray & Genevieve Brace

"We discovered we didn't have to use cash to make a gift to Bethel: we can buy low and give high by making our gift with appreciated securities instead."

When Ray and Genevieve Brace want to support Bethel and other favorite ministries, they transfer stock instead of writing a check. Giving appreciated stock to Bethel accomplishes several things: it eliminates paying capital gains tax, it makes for a larger gift because of the appreciated value of the stock, it provides a sizeable charitable deduction, and it has little or no effect on cash flow for living expenses.

Raymond Olson

"I didn't know I could give an asset I no longer need or care for."

Raymond Olson bought silver bars several years ago for investment purposes and for a hedge against inflation. Not needing the silver bars any longer, he wanted to dispose of the property but since silver had appreciated over the years, he was faced with having to pay a considerable amount of capital gains taxes. The solution? He decided to give the silver bars to Bethel. Bethel could sell them for their full value and avoid paying any taxes because of its status as a public charity. Olson received a charitable deduction for the full value of the silver bars, including the appreciated portion.

Carl & Mary Schmuland

"We never knew we could create an endowment that costs us nothing during my lifetime."

Carl and Mary Schmuland have for years supported several Bethel students from northern Minnesota through generous annual scholarship gifts. They wanted to see their scholarships continue after their lifetimes, but did not want to curtail their current giving that provides so much joy. The solution? The couple created endowed scholarships through a provision in their estate plan that will continue to make scholarship awards long after they are gone. It cost the Schmulands nothing now, but gives them peace of mind and satisfaction in knowing their legacy will continue.

John and Susan Roise

"We didn't know we could make a gift to Bethel and benefit other charities, as well."
(donor advised funds through the Bethel Foundation)

John and Susan Roise love to give. And not just to Bethel, but to a variety of other Christian ministries. So when they wanted to make a gift of some property they owned, Bethel's Foundation and the Office of Development assisted by creating a donor advised fund that accepted the property, sold it, and then distributed gifts to various charities according to advice provided by the Roises.

"Investing in Bethel is investing in lives," says John, who also serves on the Bethel Board of Trustees. "It's raising up future leaders for Christ. We are honored to be a small part of this place."

Doug Stimers

"You don't have to be wealthy to make a significant gift to Bethel."

A retired pastor, Doug Stimers couldn't believe it was possible to provide substantial gifts from his modest estate to his family, while also making significant gifts of support to his favorite ministries—Bethel and the Baptist General Conference. He and his family agreed to a plan that distributes his whole estate value twice: once to his family, then to the Lord's work!

Bev & Wayne Thompson

"If we have a choice between giving our IRA to Uncle Sam or to Bethel University, we choose Bethel every time."

Like many professionals, the largest asset that Bev and Wayne Thompson have in retirement is their IRA plan. Faced with the prospect of possibly losing much of that asset to estate taxes upon their deaths, the Thompsons made a provision in their will that pays their children an income for several years, then makes a significant gift to Bethel. This plan preserves the Thompson's estate for their family and at the same time, promotes Bethel's mission for the progress of God's kingdom.

John Erickson

"Bethel and I both benefit from planned giving, and then if I can help a student along the way, that's a plus too."

Erickson attended a planned giving seminar conducted by Dan Wiersum, Bethel's associate vice president for planned giving in February 2001. At the seminar, Wiersum described charitable estate planning issues, something Erickson was interested in as he and his wife, Marilyn, had purchased and began managing an apartment building in 1969 and another in 1979 as investments.

When Erickson's wife passed away in 2005, he put one of his apartment buildings in a trust with Bethel. In doing this, he receives a quarterly check from Bethel, minimizes capital gains taxes and received a charitable deduction besides. Then after he passes away, the payments will go to his nieces and nephews for 12 years, and when that period ends, Bethel receives the remaining fund balance estimated to eventually total $800,000. When Bethel does receive the funds, an endowed scholarship will be created in Erickson's name. "It's the Lord's money, and I think it's a good place for it," he says. "Bethel and I both benefit from planned giving, and then if I can help a student along the way, that's a plus too."

Marjorie Getsch

"Starting the unitrusts was one of the smartest things we did. We've gotten back far more than we've put in."

In 1978, Marjorie Getsch and her husband Bill began two unitrusts. "Starting the unitrusts was one of the smartest things we did. We've gotten back far more than we've put in," says Getsch. Funded with appreciated stock, they are still in force today. By transferring stock directly to the trusts, the Getsches avoided paying taxes on the capital gains that would have otherwise been due after a stock sale. They also received a charitable deduction. Since their inception, the trusts, which are managed by the Bethel Foundation, have made quarterly payments to the Getsches on a percentage of their value. After the final payments are made, Bethel will receive a generous gift from the trusts.

Then in 1985, the Getsches gave Bethel their Florida home, again avoiding substantial capital gains taxes. This was the lead gift for Getsch Hall, a student residence on Freshman Hill. And most recently, Getsch has set up charitable gift annuities, "which might be the easiest way to give," she says. "They are just win/win situations. You can't get an 11.3 percent return anywhere else!"