Class of 1954 50th Reunion Gift

One of the easiest and most popular ways to make a fiftieth reunion gift is through a will or trust provision. In recent years, bequests have composed almost half of the total value of fiftieth reunion class gifts made to the College. Whether you have a will or revocable trust, a bequest to Carleton can easily be incorporated into your overall planning.

Flexibility

Gifts made through wills or trusts offer donors a great deal of flexibility. Bequests can come in all shapes and sizes. There are several ways to name Carleton as a beneficiary of your will or trust, including:

• A percentage bequest—giving a portion of the estate
• A specific bequest—designating a certain dollar amount
• A residuary bequest—making a gift from any assets remaining after other debts, taxes, and bequests have been paid

If you are considering making a bequest to Carleton in connection with our upcoming Fiftieth Reunion, now is a good time to contact your attorney about updating your estate plan. To make the process as easy as possible, you may wish to share the following sample language with your advisor:

I give, devise, and bequeath to Carleton College, a non-profit Minnesota corporation, located at One North College Street, Northfield, Minnesota 55057, ___ percent of my estate (or the sum of $________, or ___ percent of the residue of my estate). This gift is made in honor of the Class of 1954’s Fiftieth Reunion.

Will or trust provisions may be directed toward our class gift, or you may designate another purpose, such as scholarships, book funds, or support for a special academic department. If you wish to restrict your bequest, we encourage you to contact the Carleton Development Office to obtain information on suggested minimums for endowed funds and to ensure that the College understands and can fulfill your wishes.

Documenting Your Gift

If you would like your will provision to count toward the Class of 1954’s Fiftieth Reunion gift, you will need to document your gift for Carleton. Simply make a copy of the paragraph or provision in your will that relates to Carleton and send it to the Development Office. For specific bequests, the stated dollar amount will be credited to our class’s total. If the bequest is expressed as a percentage, we ask that you provide an estimate of the value of the gift. The College understands that estate values and circumstances will change over time, so do not worry about being absolutely precise. And, as in all matters pertaining to Carleton’s donors, any information you provide about your estate will be held in strictest confidence.