SUPPORT
The Annual Fund
Making an Impact Today
The Annual Fund is where our community comes together to make an immediate difference in the lives of Signal Mountain students.
Every gift helps provide outstanding educators, innovative programs, meaningful opportunities, and strategic investments that enhance the whole-child educational experience across all three schools. And because MEF's endowment permanently funds our operations, 100% of every Annual Fund donation goes directly to our students, educators, and schools.
MEF Endowment Fund
Building a legacy for tomorrow
The MEF Endowment Fund was established to ensure the long-term strength and sustainability of our mission. Through the generosity of visionary donors, the endowment now fully funds MEF's operations—ensuring every Annual Fund gift can be directed entirely toward students, educators, and schools. Contributions to the endowment ensure that Signal Mountain students will benefit from exceptional educational opportunities for generations to come.
If you'd like to learn more about making an endowment gift, please contact Ashley Hurst at ashley@mefgives.org.
Investing Today
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Donor-advised funds make it easy to support the nonprofits you care about through tax-advantaged charitable giving. If you have a DAF, please consider recommending a grant to MEF to help create exceptional opportunities for Signal Mountain students. To learn more, contact your financial advisor or the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga.
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Donating appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual funds is a simple, tax-efficient way to support MEF. You may receive a charitable tax deduction while avoiding capital gains taxes on appreciated assets. If you're planning a stock gift, please let us know so we can help ensure a smooth transfer and timely acknowledgment.
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If you're age 70½ or older, you may be able to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) directly from your IRA to Mountain Education Foundation. A QCD can help satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) while offering potential tax benefits—even if you take the standard deduction. We encourage you to consult your financial or tax advisor to determine what's right for you.
Leaving a legacy
A planned gift to MEF is an investment in more than our students and schools -- it's an investment in the vitality of our community. By including MEF in your estate plans, you'll help ensure Signal Mountain continues to thrive through exceptional educational opportunities for generations to come.
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By including Mountain Education Foundation in your will or estate plan, you can designate a specific amount, percentage, or asset. If you'd like your gift to support a specific purpose, we'd love to discuss how your gift can make the impact you envision.
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Naming MEF as the beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k), or other qualified retirement account is often one of the simplest and most tax-efficient ways to make a lasting impact.
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Naming MEF as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy can be an affordable, flexible way to include charitable giving as part of your long-term financial plans.
We encourage you to consult your financial advisor or attorney about how charitable giving can be incorporated into your overall financial and estate plans.
If you'd like to learn more about stock transfers, IRA gifts, donor-advised funds, or other planned giving opportunities, please contact Ashley Hurst at ashley@mefgives.org.
