Ways to Give

Ways to Give

Support Tuttle.

Be With Tuttle

On behalf of the Advancement team, thank you for your interest in empowering The Briarwood School. The Briarwood School could not exist without the support of the Briarwood family – parents, alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, faculty/staff, trustees, and other community members. Whether you give your time, talent, or resources, you are helping us live out our motto, “Every child can learn, and has the right to be taught in the way he or she learns best.” We thrive with your support. 

For nearly 60 years, generations have invested in the future of our school, allowing Briarwood to carry out its mission of empowering students with diagnosed learning differences or developmental disorders to reach their maximum potential through diagnostic-prescriptive instruction in a structured academic environment. Thank you for changing the lives of students today who grow into successful, capable adults tomorrow.

Gratefully,
Penelope Khuri, Director of Advancement

All donations can be made through our donation portal.

Specific Ways to Give

Annual Giving Fund

The Annual Giving Fund is our cornerstone giving opportunity. It is an investment in the future of The Briarwood School and The Tuttle School at Briarwood. The generosity of parents, former parents, alumni, families, and friends through annual giving provides support for The Briarwood and Tuttle Schools, and makes it possible to continue to meet our mission of empowering students to reach their maximum potential in a structured academic environment.

Annual Giving Fund donors help enrich the lives of students through increased scholarships, funding of state-of-the-art technology, classroom equipment and supplies, as well as maintenance and campus improvements and other expenses.

Annual Benefit

Join us at our 2024 Denim & Diamonds Gala Celebration!

Legacy Gifts

For over 50 years, we have been devoted to promoting educational excellence, personal responsibility and balanced growth. By remembering Tuttle in your overall estate or financial plans, you give future generations of students the opportunity to discover and develop their talents. You can plan a gift to benefit us today or after your lifetime, and often there are tax benefits for you. 

Memorial Gifts and Tribute Gifts

If you have a loved one who has been impacted by The Tuttle School, establishing a memorial or tribute gift is a meaningful way to honor your loved one or celebrate a special occasion such as a birthday while supporting the work of our mission. Your memorial or tribute gift will be a lasting tribute to your loved one and make a difference in the lives of those we serve. 

Beneficiary Designations

Not everyone wants to commit to making a gift in their wills or estates. Some prefer the increased flexibility that a beneficiary designation provides by using:

  • IRAs and retirement plans
  • Life insurance policies
  • Commercial annuities

It only takes three simple steps to make this type of gift. Here’s how to name The Tuttle School as a beneficiary:

  • Contact your retirement plan administrator, insurance company, bank or financial institution for a change-of-beneficiary form.
  • Decide what percentage (1 to 100) you would like us to receive and name us, along with the percentage you chose, on the beneficiary form.
  • Return the completed form to your plan administrator, insurance company, bank or financial institution.
Make a Gift Tax-Free with an IRA

If you are 70½ years old or older, you can take advantage of a simple way to benefit The Tuttle School and receive tax benefits in return. You can give up to $100,000 from your IRA directly to a qualified charity such as ours without having to pay income taxes on the money. This popular gift option is commonly called the IRA charitable rollover, but you may also see it referred to as a qualified charitable distribution, or QCD for short.

This law no longer has an expiration date so you are free to make annual gifts to our organization this year and well into the future.

Wills and Living Trusts
 

In as little as one sentence, you can complete your gift. This type of donation to Tuttle in your will or living trust helps ensure that we continue our mission for years to come.

The official bequest language for The Tuttle School is:

“I, [name], of [city, state, ZIP], give, devise and bequeath to The Tuttle School (EIN 81-4638450) of Houston, TX [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose.”

Gifts of Real Estate

Want to make a big gift to The Tuttle School without touching your bank account? Consider giving us real estate. Such a generous gift helps us continue our work for years to come. And a gift of real estate also helps you. When you give us appreciated property you have held longer than one year, you qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction. This eliminates capital gains tax. And you no longer have to deal with that property’s maintenance costs, property taxes or insurance.

Another benefit: You don’t have to hassle with selling the real estate. You can deed the property directly to Tuttle or ask your attorney to add a few sentences in your will or trust agreement.

Planned Giving

There are new ways to make a gift that also take into consideration your personal circumstances and the needs of your loved ones.

Charitable Gift Annuities

There’s a way for you to support The Tuttle School and feel confident that you have a dependable income in your retirement years. You can do this with a charitable gift annuity.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and Tuttle where you agree to make a gift to Tuttle and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.  This type of donation can provide you with regular payments and allow us to further our work. You can also qualify for a variety of tax benefits, including a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize.

Charitable Remainder Trusts

This plan can increase your income, reduce your taxes, unlock appreciated investments, rid you of investment worries and ultimately provide very important support.

Endowed Gifts

Discover a powerful way to make a gift to us in your name or in the name of a loved one while realizing tax benefits for your kindness.

An endowment gift to The Tuttle School today provides a brighter picture for our future. When you make a donation to our endowment, you give a gift with both immediate and long-term benefits. Endowment donations are invested. A portion of the annual income from the investment is used to address immediate needs at Tuttle. The remaining funds are reinvested to ensure indefinite support.

Donor Advised Funds

Access the giving power of a private foundation without the expense or complexity.

Charitable Lead Trusts

Make a donation now while reducing the tax burden for your heirs in the future.

Restricted & Endowment Gifts

Endowment funds provide Tuttle with a steady flow of income to support a variety of programs. Gifts can be made for specific purposes or to the general endowment, which supports all areas of the School. Endowments can be designated for departments, financial aid, faculty continuing education, technology, operation and maintenance of facilities and specific academic programs.

The Briarwood and Tuttle Board of Directors oversees Tuttle’s endowment funds with the assistance of professional advisors. The School’s current policy budgets a distribution of up to 5% of the rolling average of the market value of the endowment portfolio for the previous 36 months. 

Scholarship Fund

By endowing a scholarship, you can create a lasting legacy for students, see immediate benefits of your gifts, and take an income tax deduction.  You may name the scholarship, meet the students, faculty and create specific guidelines.  (Example: need-based; merit-based)

Flexible Ways to Give

Make A Pledge

You can make a one-time donation or recurring pledge with the safety and security of an online donation. 

Appreciated Securities

Speak with the Advancement Department about making the most of your gift.

Matching Gifts

Many corporations have donation-matching programs for their employees. To see if your employer participates, please contact us.

Retail Share Card Program

One easy way to “set it and forget it,” retail sharing is an easy way to make contributions.

Mustang Volunteer Program (MVP)

If you are a parent or care-giver, grandparent, or friend of a student at Tuttle, you are an MVP! We meet monthly to support the faculty and staff through appreciation events, plan community events and fundraisers, but most of all, be part of the Briarwood and Tuttle community. No job is too big or too small – many hands make light work, and volunteering through the Mustang Volunteer Program. Plus, it is wonderful to connect with the community and make a HUGE difference!