Sigma Kappa Foundation

Alumnae Chapter Presentation

Foundation Basics

• Located at Sigma Kappa National Headquarters in Indianapolis, IN

• Supports Sigma Kappa Sorority, its members, and its philanthropic projects

Foundation Management• 2010-12 Board of Trustees

– Becky Vinzant, President– Susan Polizzato, Secretary– Nancy Nelson, Treasurer– Mary Belding, Trustee– Cheri DeJong, Trustee– Amy Denson, Trustee– Susan Harrington, Trustee– Kristen Kirst, Trustee– Ann O’Connell, Trustee– Laura Owsley, Trustee– Judy Rostad, Trustee– Marylou Turner, Trustee

• Staff– Executive Director

Lisa Fedler Swiontek

– Director of DevelopmentLaura Dragoo Mickler

– Annual Fund & Communications ManagerKatie Kowalski

– Donor Services CoordinatorMalana Harpst

How does the Foundation Raise Funds?

• Individual Giving– Collegians– Alumnae– Parents– Friends of the

Foundation

• Chapter Giving– Collegiate– Alumnae

• Corporate Giving– Corporations– Employer Matching– Foundations

Giving Basics• Donors can receive a tax deduction for their

donation. • Donors may donate by:

– Giving Online– Giving via phone– Giving via mail– Giving in person (to a trustee, staff member, or

Ambassador)

Types of Gifts• Unrestricted Gifts

– Allow the Foundation to use the money where it is most needed

– Ultra Violet Campaign supports the Foundation with Unrestricted Gifts

Programs supported by Unrestricted Gifts:•Alumnae Continuing Education & Founders’ scholarshipsAlumnae Continuing Education & Founders’ scholarships•COTS and convention speakers/programsCOTS and convention speakers/programs•Upkeep and maintenance of NHQ buildingUpkeep and maintenance of NHQ building•Sigma Kappa Sorority grantsSigma Kappa Sorority grants

• Alcohol and Drug Abuse PreventionAlcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention• Citizenship and Career DevelopmentCitizenship and Career Development• PromisePromise• Leadership Consultant ProgramLeadership Consultant Program• Leadership & Educational ProgramsLeadership & Educational Programs• RESPRESPΣΣKT Anti-Hazing ProgramKT Anti-Hazing Program

Types of Gifts• Restricted Gifts• Used for a specific purpose, as designated by the donor.

– Alzheimer’s/Gerontology– Educational Area Grants– Disaster Relief & Emergency Financial Aid– Maine Sea Coast Mission– Specified scholarships– Other Endowed Funds

Restricted Funds: Alzheimer’s/ Gerontology

• National partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association

• Research grant awarded each year

• Sigma Kappa members participate in and raise funds for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s

Restricted Funds: Leadership & Educational Grants

• The Foundation grants money to the Sorority each year for programming including:– COTS/Convention – RESPΣKT– Promise Program– Leadership Consultant Program

Restricted Funds: Sister to Sister Disaster Recovery Grants

• Available to any alumnae or collegian in good standing who finds herself in distress due to a presidentially-declared disaster

• Sisters can apply for up to 6 months after the disaster.

Restricted Funds: Maine Sea Coast Mission

• Sigma Kappa’s first philanthropy. • Celebrated 100 years of partnership with Sigma Kappa in 2011• Sigma Kappa provides money for scholarships, emergency

relief, and the Christmas program. • Funds are accepted by the Foundation. Items must be mailed

directly to the Mission.

Restricted Funds: Scholarships• Over 50 scholarships are available to Sigma Kappa

collegians and alumnae. • Some scholarships are chapter or major-specific,

while others are open to everyone.• Scholarship applications are due March 15th

• Apply online at www.sigmakappafoundation.org

Alumnae Giving

• 3 Ways to Give– Annual Giving– Endowed Giving– Planned Giving

Annual Giving• Annual unrestricted gifts allow the Foundation to fund the

greatest immediate needs.

– Three Pearl Club $1,000 + annually– Two Pearl Club $750-999 annually– One Pearl Club $500-749 annually– Violet Club $250-499 annually– Circle of Friends $100-249 annually– Mary Low Carver $10,000 (payable at

Society $1000/year for 10 years)– Joan Reagin McNeill $25,000 (payable at

Society $2,500/year for 10 years)

Alumnae Giving

• Did you know:Only 1% of Sigma Kappas give to the Foundation?!?

35% Rule for Chapters• IRS rules state that chapters can not raise funds over

35% of their yearly income. • Sigma Kappa NHQ notifies chapters each year of

their respective 35%. • If money is not passed through the chapter treasury,

it does not count toward the 35%– Ex: Have participants write their checks directly to the SK

Foundation—even if chapters send fifty $5 checks, the Foundation can process them!

More Questions on 35%?

• Don’t worry! Contact the Foundation if you have questions about the 35% rule.

Fundraising Event/Activity Approval Form

• Must be filled out and submitted to ADD 3 weeks prior to event– Allows time for corrections if needed

• Helps ensure the chapter will not exceed 35% Rule• Chapter funds should be budgeted to cover the costs

of the event (supplies, etc.)

Writing the Check• Make Payable to Sigma Kappa Foundation• Do Not Abbreviate Sigma Kappa as Greek Letters• Send in with a Contribution Form• Note Restrictions, not Fundraiser in Memo Field• We Cannot Cash Checks to the Alzheimer’s Association• We Cannot Cash Checks to the Sigma Kappa Sorority• Ensure Legal Amount and Written Courtesy Amount

Match

Writing the Check

Sigma Kappa Foundation $550.00Five hundred and fifty and 00/100

7-20-11

Suzy Q. Sigma

Annual Fund

THANK YOU!• The Foundation supports Sigma Kappa Sorority• Both alumnae and collegians are important to the

Foundation’s success. • Don’t ever hesitate to ask if you have any questions!

Sigma Kappa Foundation8733 Founders Road

Indianapolis, IN 46268317-381-5531

foundation@sigmakappa.org