by Jeff Whitten | Feb 10, 2022 | Excluded from search, Uncategorized
Non-cash gifts come in many forms, from stocks, cars and real estate, to furniture, building materials, clothing, food, paintings, and collectibles. Services you might perform for free for the University are not considered tax-deductible gifts, although any costs you accrue as part of the work done (such as paint for painting you do) are deductible.
- For instructions for gifts of stocks and other securities, please click here.
- For gifts of real estate, please contact Brad Mylett at bmylett@miu.edu or Eric Stakland at eric.stakland@miu.edu.
For other property donations, you may help us by filling out the form available below. It will be sent directly to us when you click the submit button. Or you can contact us at 641-472-1180, or giving@miu.edu. We will in turn contact you to coordinate our receiving and recording of your gift.
Although most non-cash gifts are welcome, it should be kept in mind that for various reasons MIU may not accept every gift offered. Therefore, it is necessary for MIU to evaluate gifts before final acceptance.
As is true of all donations, gifts of property must be recorded at the Development Office in order to be acknowledged as official donations to the University.
NOTE: If you have arranged with someone at the University where the donation will be utilized, that person will coordinate with us for the proper accounting of the gift.
Once we receive the gift we will send you a letter that can be used for tax purposes.
The Internal Revenue Service states that the more detailed the description of the gift, the more valid the thank you letter will be for tax purposes. The full description will be included in the letter we issue.
Extra items needed
In addition to filling out the form, if you can provide the following it will help with this process:
- Digital photos of the item(s)
- Photos of any receipts for the original purchase of the item
- If the valuation of the gift is over $5000, the IRS requires an independent appraisal by an appraiser qualified to put a value on that type of property, so a digital copy of any such appraisal would be best
Also, a form 8283 is required to be filled out if any donated property is given a value of over $500. The form 8283 has a section to be filled out by an appraiser, which is required if any item or collection has a value of over $5000. (Instructions can be found at https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8283)
The actual form can be downloaded here. You should be able to type into the form, have your appraiser add items (in Part IV), and then you can save it and send it along with any other extra items specified above to giving@miu.edu. Please specify “Non-Cash Gift” in the subject line of your email.
MIU does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only. You should consult your own tax, legal, or accounting advisors for the proper evaluation of your gift and the preparation of any tax forms.
by Jeff Whitten | Oct 10, 2022 | Achievements, MIU News
October 10, 2022 • ISSUE 642
Michael Girma Abayneh
Problem Solving with Diversified Knowledge
Michael Girma Abayneh is a student in the Master’s in Software Development program who holds a master’s degree in accounting and finance from Arsi University, Ethiopia. Michael grew up in a small town in Ethiopia with the belief that education should be used to solve problems and that diversified knowledge can solve any problem.
He began his career as a secondary school teacher, then worked as an accountant in the mining and agro-industry sectors, and as a university lecturer in accounting and finance.
In 2019 Michael moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where five of his sisters work as nurses. He worked for Wells Fargo Bank as an operations clerk for two years prior to coming to MIU.
Michael already had computer applications skills, and when he heard about MIU’s MSD program he took the opportunity to further diversify his education. “Computer science makes all my previous education and knowledge meaningful because I can practice accounting more effectively,” he said.
Michael with his wife, two sets of twin daughters, and son
The program has exceeded Michael’s expectations and he is confident he can find a good position in the US. He enjoys the healthy lifestyle MIU promotes, including the vegetarian meals and the opportunity to exercise and get sufficient rest.
Michael grew up in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and has volunteered in the Church alongside his father. He has discovered that practicing the Transcendental Meditation® technique does not contradict his religion.
“TM has a lot of positive impact on my life,” he said. “My mind is tired after classes and TM gives me some rest, which helps me gain more energy to study and focus on my homework in the evening.”
Michael is graduating in 2023 and looks forward to reuniting with his wife and five children and creating a better life for his family.
by Jeff Whitten | Oct 4, 2022 | Achievements, MIU News
October 4, 2022 • ISSUE 641
Candace Miller
Artist and Integrative Medicine Practitioner
As a child, Candace Miller was fascinated with human anatomy and the natural world and aspired to be a doctor. But in high school she pivoted to the arts and earned a BA in humanities with a focus in medical anthropology from New College of California in 2001.
Her calling to be a healer reemerged in 2009 when she moved to New Mexico. She enrolled at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine PA program and graduated with a Master of Science in 2015, launching her career as a physician associate.
She spent the following six years working as a clinician in retail health/urgent care with CVS MinuteClinic, occupying various leadership roles, including senior clinician in New Mexico and regional quality lead during clinic expansions in Utah and Washington. She currently focuses on training and mentoring.
Hiking in New Mexico
Candace wanted to do more for her patients and dreamed of establishing an integrative primary care practice where she could spend more time with patients and offer a holistic approach that addresses the root cause of disease.
She had long been drawn to Ayurveda and she chose MIU’s online
MS in Maharishi AyurVeda® and Integrative Medicine program because it was the only program in the US offering a part-time master’s degree, allowing her to continue working in patient care.
“I am glad I chose this program, and I think the TM technique is a really significant piece,” said Candace. “It was transformative for my health and helps me juggle all the different things I do. I have more patience with other people, myself, and my process.”
In 2021 Candace opened her own integrative primary practice, incorporating the Ayurvedic knowledge she has gained at MIU. “Thanks to this MSMAVIM program, I am doing my true life’s work,” she said.
In her free time, Candace enjoys making pottery, painting, and hiking in the mountains around her Santa Fe home with her partner and two dogs.
by Jeff Whitten | Sep 27, 2022 | Achievements, MIU News
September 27, 2022 • ISSUE 640
Taj Matumbi
Exploring Identity Through Art
MIU alumnus Taj Matumbi grew up in Northern California, influenced by his dedication to skateboarding and his parents’ affinity for Eastern spiritual traditions. He spent his sophomore year of high school at an international school in India, followed by two years at Maharishi School in Fairfield, staying with friends of his family.
After graduating from Maharishi School, Taj enrolled at MIU and took a variety of classes before majoring in art. He studied ceramics and painting and graduated with a BFA in 2018.
From the several graduate schools that accepted his application, Taj chose the University of Wisconsin, Madison, for his MFA. In 2020, the COVID pandemic forced him out of his campus studio to work at home, which led to a burst of creative expression and increased confidence as an artist.
Taj’s mural on the side of the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, Wisconsin
His practice of the Transcendental Meditation® technique has been especially helpful during those times of uncertainty. “TM and getting to my studio got me through some anxiety and stress of the last few years,” he said. “I have always enjoyed meditation and feel grounded when I do it.”
In the summer of 2020, he accepted a commission for a mural for the city of Madison during the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests.
Taj’s MFA exhibit called Parallel Planes
For his
MFA exhibit he decided to explore his identity as a biracial person through Black history and his personal experiences, highlighting the paradoxical nature of his existence in a series of self-portraits presenting possible versions of himself.
Since his graduation in 2021, Taj has been included in multiple group shows in Birmingham, Alabama; Los Angeles; Minneapolis; and Seattle; as well as an art fair in Berlin, Germany. He appreciates getting the exposure and having a community of artists in Madison and Iowa as well.
