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Donations and Bequests

Sincere Gifts from a Selfless Heart

A Legacy That Builds Self-Reliance

Every gift to Self Reliance Empowerment Foundation (SREF) — however it is given — carries forward our mission: building self-reliance in Ghana and Tanzania through education and career mentorship.

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Ways to Give

Direct Giving to SREF

Choose whichever method works best for you. Every gift reaches the field, with SREF's 100% Direct Impact Guarantee.

  1. Give Online — PayPal, Venmo, or Stripe

    Make a one-time or recurring gift instantly from your phone or computer on our donate page.

  2. Direct Bank Transfer

    USA, Idaho account:

    Bank
    Idaho Central Credit Union
    Account Name
    Self Reliance Empowerment Foundation Inc
    Account #
    747551898 ICCU
    Routing/Transit #
    324173626 ICCU
    SWIFT Code
    ICCUUS55 (USD)

  3. Mail a Check

    Send to our USA Idaho satellite office at the address below.

Your contribution is received directly by Self Reliance Empowerment Foundation Incorporated (SREF), a U.S.-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. 100% of your tax-deductible gift will go directly to the program(s) you designate with your contribution — Mentoring or Entrepreneurship & Skills Development. The thank-you letter we send you has the information needed to claim your charitable deduction.

Mail contributions to Self Reliance Empowerment Foundation Incorporated
1860 Jean St, Pocatello, ID 83201
+1 (208) 241-0977
Office hours: Mon-Fri, 9:00-17:00

Questions? We're here to help.

  • Tax ID (EIN)33-3224010
  • StatusIRS 501(c)(3) Public Charity
  • EffectiveFebruary 5, 2025

Planned Giving

Wills and Bequests

Self Reliance Empowerment Foundation Incorporated (SREF) receives bequests from those who believe in its mission and wish to have SREF benefit from their estates. Your will might state that SREF is to receive:

  • a percentage of your estate or specific securities, real estate, or other property;
  • a bequest of all or a portion of your estate after the payment of specific amounts to other beneficiaries;
  • or a bequest to take effect only if the primary beneficiaries do not survive you.

Sample bequest language:

"I give, devise, and bequeath to Self Reliance Empowerment Foundation Incorporated, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation located in Pocatello, Idaho, the sum of $_____ (or ___ percent of my estate; or the property described herein) for its general purposes as such shall be determined by its Board of Trustees."

Residuary bequest language:

"All the rest, residue, and remainder of my property, both real and personal, and wheresoever situated, I give, devise, and bequeath to Self Reliance Empowerment Foundation Incorporated, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation located in Pocatello, Idaho, for its general purposes as such shall be determined by its Board of Trustees."

Gifts to SREF made by bequest, devise, or transfer at death are tax-deductible under IRC Sections 2055, 2106, and 2522. We encourage you to consult your attorney or tax advisor when preparing this language for your estate plan.

Planned Giving

Charitable Gift Annuities

A Self Reliance Empowerment Foundation gift annuity allows you to make a meaningful gift to SREF while perhaps increasing your income for life. There are immediate and long-term tax advantages, including a federal income tax deduction in the year you make the gift.

Year-end gifts of appreciated stock to SREF are another way to increase your giving while minimizing capital gains taxes. In a typical scenario, an investor (usually the annuitant) makes a single cash premium to own an annuity. After the policy is issued, the owner may elect to annuitize the contract (start receiving payments) for a chosen period of time (e.g., 5, 10, 20 years, or a lifetime). This process is called annuitization and can also provide a predictable, guaranteed stream of future income during retirement until the death of the annuitant (or joint annuitants). If you are interested, more information on annuities can be found here.

Planned Giving

Gifts of Stocks or Bonds

SREF welcomes gifts of appreciated securities to support its Mentoring and Entrepreneurship & Skills Development programs in Ghana and Tanzania. If you are planning to create a Charitable Gift Annuity or Charitable Remainder Trust, or give to a Pooled Income Fund, consider funding your gift with appreciated assets rather than cash.

Giving assets directly, instead of selling the asset and donating the proceeds, offers wonderful savings to the donor. Donating appreciated assets avoids capital gains taxes at the time you establish the trust, while the charitable deduction for the donated interest is calculated from the full market value of the stock.

You may arrange with your broker to transfer gifts of stock to Self Reliance Empowerment Foundation through your Charitable Trust, Annuity, or Pooled Income Fund. If you are interested, more information can be found here on Charitable Trusts, Charitable Gift Annuities, and Pooled Income Funds.

Planned Giving

Retirement Plan Gifts

Using a retirement plan to fund a gift to SREF can often be a wise financial decision.

Retirement plan funds — individual retirement accounts (IRAs), 401(k) plans, Keogh plans, and others — are subject to federal, and sometimes state, estate tax. They are also subject to income tax, whether the recipient of the fund is you or an heir. Careful planning can minimize, or even eliminate, the taxes due on retirement plan assets during life and at death.

If you are interested, more information on retirement plan gifts can be found here.

Planned Giving

Life Insurance Gifts

The contribution of a life insurance policy, whether existing or new, provides useful tax incentives as well as the opportunity to create a substantial gift to SREF, perhaps at a level that otherwise would be impossible.

Two ways to make SREF a beneficiary of your life insurance policy:

Name "Self Reliance Empowerment Foundation Incorporated" as primary beneficiary to receive part or all of a policy, or name "Self Reliance Empowerment Foundation Incorporated" as secondary beneficiary to receive part or all of a policy should the primary beneficiary predecease you. If you are interested, more information on life insurance gifts can be found here.

Planned Giving

Gifts of Real Estate

Several ways to give real estate are available. One popular option is a "Retained Life Interest." In this case, the donor deeds his or her home to "Self Reliance Empowerment Foundation Incorporated" but retains responsibility for the property, and the right to live there for the rest of his or her life. Your tax advisor will calculate the value of the remainder interest in the property, which can be used for an immediate income tax deduction. In addition, no capital gains tax is paid on the appreciated value.

A Charitable Lead Trust of real estate that yields income gives the donor the chance to leave property to heirs with a reduced transfer tax cost by allowing SREF to use the income for a period of years. The property is transferred into an irrevocable trust, with SREF receiving the income from the trust.

For more information on gifts of real estate, click here.

This page is provided for general information only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Please consult your own attorney, accountant, or financial advisor when considering any of the giving methods described above.

Ready when you are

Every gift builds self-reliance

Give today, or talk with us about a planned gift that lasts beyond a lifetime.

Give now Talk to us about a planned gift
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