Did you know you don’t need cash in hand to make a generous gift to the University of Alaska Fairbanks? It is possible with Planned Giving – a way to make an irrevocable gift in which you retain an interest through your lifetime or the lifetime of your spouse; or any gift made through a donor's will or trust.

 Talk to us about leaving a legacy at UAF – giving a gift later if you are not able to give one now, or making a meaningful gift after a lifetime of giving. We’ll help you find the right strategy for you. These range from:

•    A bequest through your will or trust;
•    Earn a tax reduction through a ‘life estate’ gift;
•    And popular new options, a Charitable Gift Annuity or a Charitable Remainder Trust.

A bequest to UAF in your will or trust, or another estate planning instrument, is a simple and easy way to make a difference without affecting your current cash flow. You may choose to leave a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your estate, or bequeath property or specific assets. Adding a bequest to your will is easy – ask your estate planning attorney to contact us for formal bequest wording.

Often, legacy gifts keep giving past your lifetime. For example, an endowed gift provides lasting support by using only the interest or a small fraction of the fund you established while the majority of the fund remains invested in perpetuity. Because you can choose a program or department to receive the gift, you can pass on your enduring values for the benefit of future generations.

An educational seminar held periodically, titled “How to Provide for your Financial Future– and your Heirs'–in Economically Challenging Times,”  features a panel of financial and retirement planners, CPA’s, and attorneys to answer questions about your financial future.

Contact Emily Drygas, UAF Development Director at 907-474-6631 or emily.drygas@alaska.edu for more information.

Donors who make planned gifts to the university are recognized as members of the University of Alaska Legacy Society and are highlighted in the Foundation's Annual Report on Giving. Follow this link for a list of current members and information about the Legacy Society.

If real property such as a personal residence or land is the subject of planned gift, the donor may make the gift to the university yet retain the right to continue living in the residence during their lifetime. This method, called the gift of a personal residence with a retained life estate, can result in significant tax savings to a donor's estate.

One final strategy is leverage, which is increasingly a popular option. A life income gift allows you to make a gift in trust; in return, you receive an annual amount for life. This type of plan provides you with needed retirement income, and the remainder leaves a legacy for tomorrow.

Call us today to talk about designing a legacy that is just right for you. There is no obligation, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.   Please contact Emily Drygas, Development Director, at (907) 474-6631 or via e-mail at Emily.drygas@alaska.edu for more information.