5 ways to get money for college this holiday season

http://www.savingforcollege.com/articles/5-ways-to-get-money-for-college-this-holiday-season-702

Let’s face it, your kids are adorable and your friends and family want to spend money on them. The holidays can be so overwhelming that many families have a ritual of donating the majority of their children’s toys in early December to make room for what’s to come. If your toy chest is overflowing and you can’t imagine what you would do with another truck or doll, how about asking your loved ones to contribute to your child’s college fund this year?

Many 529 plans make it easy for the account owner to ask for contributions, and provide simple ways for a guest to donate. The following slideshow features some creative programs for 529 gifting and the plans that offer them.

Start Slideshow

This slideshow is sponsored by College Savings Bank. Founded in 1987, College Savings Bank’s primary business is helping customers save towards future higher education expenses. Residents of all 50 States are able to save in either of the FDIC insured tax-advantaged 529 programs managed by College Savings Bank - the Arizona Family College Savings Program (AFCSP) and the CollegeChoice CD 529 Savings Plan. We specialize in three certificate of deposit (CD) products and savings account. Member FDIC. Learn more here.

1. Make Your Gift Requests Go Viral

• Plans offered through College Savings Bank have a new feature called "Social Gifting".
• This feature allows you to ask friends and family for 529 contributions through email or a facebook banner post.
• Loved ones can make a secure electronic contribution and print out a gift certificate.
• Plans that offer Social Gifting include:
  • Arizona Family College Savings Program  Enroll Now
  
  
  • CollegeChoice CD 529 Savings Plan (Indiana) Enroll Now
  
  
  • Montana Family Education Savings Program

This slideshow is sponsored by College Savings Bank. Founded in 1987, College Savings Bank’s primary business is helping customers save towards future higher education expenses. Residents of all 50 States are able to save in either of the FDIC insured tax-advantaged 529 programs managed by College Savings Bank - the Arizona Family College Savings Program (AFCSP) and the CollegeChoice CD 529 Savings Plan. We specialize in three certificate of deposit (CD) products and savings account. Member FDIC. Learn more here.

2. Create a Personalized 529 Gifting Page

• Fidelity’s 529 plans offer a College Gifting Program.
• Account owners can create their own unique gift page featuring pictures, a greeting and information about the beneficiary.
• The link to the gift page can be shared via email, social media or party invitation.
• Plans that offer the College Gifting Program include:
  • UNIQUE College Investing Program (NH)  Enroll Now
  
  
  • Fidelity Arizona College Savings Plan Enroll Now
  
  
  • Delaware College Investment Plan Enroll Now
  
  
  • U.Fund College Investing Plan (MA) Enroll Now

3. Create a Hassle-Free Way for Your Friends and Family to Contribute

• The Ugift online gifting service is available through participating plans administered by Upromise Investments.
• This free service allows you to invite guests to contribute to your 529 account by email or printed invitations with coupons you can hand out.
• Friends and family simply send in a paper check that will be deposited into the 529 account.
• Plans that currently offer Ugift include:
  • GIFT College Investing Plan (Arkansas)
  
  
  • CollegeInvest Direct Portfolio College Savings Plan (Colorado) Enroll Now
  
  
  • Idaho College Savings Program (IDeal)
  
  
  • CollegeChoice 529 Direct Savings Plan (Indiana) Enroll Now
  
  
  • College Savings Iowa 529 Plan
  
  
  • MOST – Missouri’s 529 College Savings Plan Enroll Now
  
  
  • College SAVE (North Dakota)
  
  
  • SSgA Upromise 529 Plan (Nevada)
  
  
  • USAA 529 College Savings Plan (Nevada) Enroll Now
  
  
  • The Vanguard 529 Savings Plan (Nevada)
  
  
  • New York’s 529 College Savings Program – Direct Plan Enroll Now
  
  

4. Let Guests Contribute With Just a Few Simple Clicks

• Plans managed by TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. now have an eGifting feature available.
• Guests can send 529 contributions electronically, or mail a check if they prefer.
• There is also an option to create a customized printable gift certificate for various special occasions.
• Plans that currently offer this eGifting feature include:
  • The ScholarShare College Savings Plan (California) Enroll Now
  
  
  • Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET)
  
  
  • Path2College 529 Plan (Georgia)
  
  
  • Kentucky Education Savings Plan Trust Enroll Now
  
  
  • Michigan Education Savings Program Enroll Now
  
  
  • Minnesota College Savings Plan Enroll Now
  
  
  • Mississippi Affordable College Savings (MACS) Enroll Now
  
  
  • Oklahoma College Savings Plan
  
  
  • Oregon College Savings Plan
  
  
  • Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan
  
  
  • Edvest (Wisconsin)

5. Give Your Friends and Family Plenty of Options

• Alabama’s CollegeCounts 529 Plan gives account owners three easy ways to ask for gifts.
• Guests can choose to contribute by using CollegeCounts GiftEd, an online gift-giving site, creating a printed 4x6 inch greeting card or downloading gift coupons, deposit forms and certificates for specific occasions.
• Find out more about the CollegeCounts 529 Plan.  Enroll Now