Home | Gift Planning | Bequests
A bequest to KU Endowment powerfully expresses your faith in the future of the University of Kansas. Estate gifts provide significant future support to the University, while you retain flexibility to update your plans as circumstances change.
Through your estate, you may transfer all types of assets to KU Endowment: cash, securities, real estate and tangible personal property. You may also wish to consider naming KU Endowment as the beneficiary of your qualified retirement plan or a life insurance policy.
Read more about bequests, from KU Giving magazine, Spring 2009 (114K pdf).
To establish a bequest, simply include the following language in your will or trust:
“I, [name], of [city, state, ZIP], give, devise and bequeath to The Kansas University Endowment Association [specific amount, or percentage of the estate, or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose.”
You may define the uses of your bequest generally or quite specifically. For example, you can add: “The Endowment Association shall use this gift ...” and complete the sentence in various terms, such as:
- “...where the need is greatest.”
- “...for the College of Arts and Sciences.”
- “...for cancer research at the KU Cancer Center.”
- “...to provide scholarships to students majoring in French at the junior or senior level.”
The Elizabeth M. Watkins Society recognizes individuals who have developed estate plans with KU Endowment that will ultimately benefit KU, KU Medical Center, the School of Medicine-Wichita or the Edwards Campus. The Bell Legacy Society recognizes donors who have made estate gifts or other deferred gifts to The University of Kansas Hospital. If you have designated KU Endowment as a beneficiary, please let us know.
If you prefer to remain anonymous, we will keep your bequest completely confidential. However, recognition of your gift can encourage others to make a similar gesture.
The Office of Gift Planning staff is ready to consult with you and/or your adviser about bequests to KU Endowment, or about other forms of charitable giving that may benefit you, your family and the University of Kansas.
Summary of benefits:
- satisfaction of knowing your bequest supports KU
- federal estate tax deduction of the charitable bequest
- generally, immunity to state inheritance tax for the charitable bequest
- membership in the Watkins Society or the Bell Legacy Society
- revocability — you retain use of assets during your lifetime with flexibility to adapt to changes
The information on this site is not intended as legal, tax or investment advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney, tax professional or investment professional.