You are a part of Carleton, and Carleton is a part of you.
The memorable words of President Larry Gould aptly describe the cohesive spirit evident in the Class of 1954. Truly we are a part of Carleton. Now, as we anticipate our 50th reunion, that wonderful milestone in our life-long relationship with the College, it is appropriate to reflect on the many ways our time at Carleton shaped our lives and our friendships.
A group of our classmates is hard at work planning our 50th reunion for June 17–20, 2004. As part of this once-in-a-lifetime celebration, the Class of 1954 would like to present the College with a special reunion gift. The information presented here is intended to give you a general overview of frequently used gift methods and answer some of your questions about how you can join us in making a 50th reunion gift.
You Have Choices
We know that the decision to make a reunion gift is highly personal and depends on many factors. And, at this stage of our lives, many of us are looking for ways to support the College that do not require an outright gift of cash. By presenting examples of gift options, we hope to help you find a way to participate in our class’s reunion gift while meeting your own financial and philanthropic goals and priorities.
Reunion Giving 101
In the years since our 45th reunion, we have seen several classes make wonderful reunion gifts to the College, and have been amazed that a 50th reunion class could raise so much money! How in the world were they able to make these generous gifts, and more to the point, how can our class make a meaningful gift to Carleton?
The good news is that there are many ways to make 50th reunion gifts including:- Outright gifts of cash or stock;
- Will or trust provisions;
- Gifts using IRA or pension plan assets;
- Arrangements that provide income back to the donor or designated beneficiary, such as gift annuities and charitable remainder unitrusts.
Over the past decade, the vast majority of class gifts have included significant commitments of future support. There are a variety of creative ways to make a gift that can benefit you and your family, save on income and estate taxes, and allow you to do something wonderful for the College.
What Counts toward our gift?
Will and trust provisions, gifts using retirement plan assets, and insurance policies will be credited at face value. For bequest intentions expressed as a percentage of an estate, the gift will be counted using an estimated value provided by the donor. Carleton understands that the dollar value of a percentage of an estate provision may change over time.
Don’t forget that gifts made to Carleton during the 10 years before our reunion—exclusive of gifts to the Alumni Annual Fund—will also be counted toward our 50th class gift.Don’t Forget the Alumni Annual Fund!
As we begin to plan for our 50th reunion gift, we want to remind you of the continuing importance of the Alumni Annual Fund. In the year of our reunion, the Annual Fund will still need our support to ensure that Carleton’s current operating needs are met. Remember that our reunion gift is a special one-time commitment. Therefore, in the upcoming year, we will each be asked to consider making two types of gifts: one to the Alumni Annual Fund and one to the Class of 1954 50th Reunion Fund.
Our class has led the way in participation in the Annual Fund with 68 percent in 2002, and our 50th reunion will give us another opportunity to show our commitment to Carleton by giving to the Reunion Fund and the Alumni Annual Fund!
