Development at SFS

Scattergood, in conjunction with Summit Schools, is part of the Independent School Association of Eastern Iowa School Tuition Organization, Inc. (EISTO). The purpose of this group is to provide scholarships to eligible families whose income during the calendar year does not exceed an amount equal to three times the most recently published federal poverty guidelines. By participating in our STO, you are eligible for a 75% tax credit on your Iowa state income tax. Individuals, S-Corporations, LLCs, Partnerships, C-Corporations, and certain estates are all eligible to donate to this program and receive this generous tax credit.

Credits are awarded on a first come, first served basis. If you would like to participate, please contact Scattergood’s Development Office at development@scattergood.org or 319-519-1854.

Checks are the most popular way people choose to give to Scattergood. Checks should be made payable to Scattergood Friends School and mailed to

Development Office
1951 Delta Avenue
West Branch, IA 52358.

Gifts mailed through USPS must be postmarked by December 31st to count towards that year’s taxes.

Gifts arriving via UPS or FedEx must be received at Scattergood no later than December 31st to count towards that year’s taxes.

The Scattergood Friends School Foundation was established to support the school’s mission. The Foundation consists of endowed funds that annually disburse to the school. By giving to the Foundation, you are supporting the long-term financial sustainability of Scattergood.

Most non-cash giving options listed on this page can also be directed towards the Foundation, listing the Scattergood Friends School Foundation’s federal ID# 42-1338486 instead of the school’s. Checks for the Foundation should be made out to the Scattergood Friends School Foundation and addressed as

Development Office
1951 Delta Avenue
West Branch, IA 52358.

Scattergood has endowments set up through two Community Foundations in Iowa. The Iowa State Legislature has created a program called Endow Iowa where eligible donations from Iowa taxpayers can receive 25% of their gift as tax credits.

The endowment created at the Community Foundation of Johnson County contributes to Scattergood’s annual fund; whereas, the one started at the Quad Cities Community Foundation is used to support the Gwen Shupe Fine Arts Award which is presented to a rising senior each spring.

A donor advised fund is a giving vehicle which can provide donors with immediate tax benefits. Once the funds are deposited in a fund at a public charity, they can be invested for tax-free growth. As the donor, you retain the power to distribute those funds to non-profit organizations of your choice like Scattergood. More information about donor advised funds can be found here.

Publicly traded securities owned for more than one ear can be gifted to Scattergood. These donations can offer tax benefits to you as the donor when you itemize your deductions by possibly eliminating capital gains taxes.

If you think you might be interested in this, speak with your financial advisor and reach out to Scattergood’s Development Office at development@scattergood.org or 319-519-1854. More information related to gifts of securities can be found here.

A charitable gift annuity is a form of giving that gives back to you. It consists of a contract in which a donor makes a sizable gift to a non-profit, receives immediate tax benefits, and earns a lifetime income from the gift. It is one of the more complex giving options available to you as a donor.

If you think you might like to pursue this as a giving option, please contact your financial advisor and Scattergood’s Development Office at development@scattergood.org or 319-519-1854. More information about donor advised funds can be found here.

If you have a Traditional IRA and are over the age of 72, you must make required minimum distributions (RMD). You will be taxed for the amount you withdrawal. By directing the RMD to Scattergood, you can avoid the tax liability.

Speak with your financial advisor if you are considering making a gift via your Traditional IRA. You can learn more about this giving option here.

When donating commodities, farmers don’t report the sale as income – money from the sale of their products doesn’t go to them – but still are able to deduct their full costs of production. In lowering their income, farmers also lower their self-employment tax as well as their federal and – if applicable – state income taxes. When bringing grain to the elevator, you can tell them you’d like to sell it on behalf of Scattergood Friends School and have them write the check out to us.

More information on donating farm commodities can be found here.

You can list Scattergood as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy. More information about using your life insurance policies for charitable giving can be found here.

If you own appreciated real property (including vacation property, vacant land, farmland, commercial property, or a home), you can avoid paying capital gains taxes by gifting it to Scattergood. The value of the property counts as a charitable income tax deduction for you.

If you would like to make a gift of real estate or property valued at more than $5,000 and hope to deduct it on your taxes, you will be required to have it appraised and complete IRS Form 8283. If you are interested in a gift of real estate or property, please speak with your financial advisor and reach out to Scattergood’s Development Office at development@scattergood.org or 319-519-1854.

In a charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT), you irrevocably transfer assets to a trustee that invests the trust’s assets and pays you and/or other beneficiaries variable annual payments for life and/or a term of years. This giving vehicle works well for gifts of appreciated stock or property due to the trust’s tax-exempt status. CRUTs are more complex than most of the options listed on this page.

Speak with your financial advisor if you are considering using a charitable remainder unitrust as a giving option. Also reach out to Scattergood’s Development Office at development@scattergood.org or 319-519-1854 so we can assist. You can learn more about CRUTs here.

Choosing this option as a way to donate your property to Scattergood allows you to remain in your home for the remainder of your life. You enter into a contract with the school, providing you with an immediate charitable income tax deduction for the remainder value of the property. Retained life estate is on the complex end of the giving spectrum.

If you are considering a gift of retained life estate, please contact your financial advisor and Scattergood’s Development Office at development@scattergood.org or 319-519-1854. More information about retained life estates can be found here.