Legacy Giving

Your values, experiences, and hopes for the future have shaped who you are. They can also shape what comes next.

Your legacy can support generations of Catamounts.

A legacy gift to the University of Vermont is a powerful way to carry those values forward, supporting generations of Catamounts in the years ahead. By including UVM in your plans, you create a lasting expression of what matters most to you while helping the area you are most passionate about to thrive.

A bequest is a gift you include in your will or living trust. It can be a specific amount, a percentage of your estate, or what remains after other commitments are fulfilled. Bequests are simple to arrange, can be updated over time, and may reduce estate taxes while allowing you to maintain control of your assets during your lifetime.

You work with your attorney to include language naming UVM as a beneficiary. Sample language is available.
You can name UVM as a beneficiary of assets such as retirement accounts, life insurance policies, or donor‑advised funds. This option is easy to put in place, does not require updating your will, and may provide tax advantages for your heirs.

You request a beneficiary designation form from your financial institution and list UVM as a beneficiary, in whole or in part.
A charitable gift annuity is an agreement in which you make a gift to UVM and receive fixed payments for life. Gift annuities provide predictable income and may offer partial tax advantages, while supporting UVM’s future.

You establish the annuity with UVM, which then makes regular payments to you based on your age at the time of the gift.
A charitable remainder trust provides income to you or your beneficiaries for a set period, with the remaining assets benefiting UVM. This option can provide income, possible tax benefits, and the ability to make a significant future gift.

Assets are placed in a trust managed by a trustee, with payments made according to the trust terms.
A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) allows individuals age 70½ or older to give directly from an IRA to UVM. QCDs can satisfy required minimum distributions while reducing taxable income.

You instruct your IRA administrator to transfer funds directly to UVM.
You can donate stocks, bonds, or mutual funds that have increased in value. This approach may allow you to avoid capital gains taxes while putting more of your gift to work at UVM.

Securities are transferred electronically to UVM with assistance from your broker and the UVM Foundation team.
You may name UVM as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy or donate an existing policy. Life insurance can be a meaningful way to make a future gift using an asset no longer needed for its original purpose.

You complete a beneficiary change or ownership transfer through your insurance provider.
Real estate gifts can include a home, vacation property, or other real property. Donating real estate may offer tax advantages while converting a non‑liquid asset into support for UVM.

Each gift is reviewed individually, and UVM works with you and your advisors to determine the best approach.

Wilbur Society

Named for James B. Wilbur, whose extraordinary scholarship bequest in 1929 continues to benefit students today, the Wilbur Society honors donors who establish legacy gifts. By joining, members become part of a community connected by shared values, enduring impact, and a belief in the university’s future.

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