Whether you’re considering making a new outright gift or a new planned gift to Williams, consider contacting the professionals in the College’s Office of Gift Planning. Many ’71 classmates have found it helpful to talk with Margaret McComish or Amy Filson. No matter in what range you’re thinking about giving for our 50th Reunion, you’ll receive clear and confidential advice:
Margaret McComish, Director of Gift Planning
[email protected] 413-597-4560 or 413-597-3538
Amy Filson, Assistant Director of Gift Planning
[email protected] 413-597-4029 or 877-374-7526
The Gift Planning Office has a web page with information about some of the options discussed below.
Examples of outright gifts to Williams
- Cash
- Appreciated stock or mutual fund
- Appreciated bond
- Life insurance policy
- Real estate
- Tangible personal property
- For donors 70½ and older, another popular outright gift is the IRA Charitable Rollover.
What is a “planned gift?”
Planned gifts can help you and your classmates make larger gifts — and leave a greater legacy — than you might have thought possible. Deferred gifts typically account for 30% to 60% of a 50th Reunion Class Gift.
A planned gift is an individually tailored charitable gift that addresses three of a donor’s interrelated needs:
- philanthropic
- financial
- estate planning
Therefore, a planned gift requires more time and coordination than an outright gift. Frequently — but not always — a planned gift is made from a donor’s assets rather than from income. Frequently — but not always — a planned gift becomes available for the College’s use upon the donor’s death.
Planned gifts can be used to make gifts to the Class of 1971 50th Reunion Fund.
Examples of planned gifts to Williams
- Charitable Gift Annuities
- Charitable Remainder Unitrusts
- Charitable Lead Trusts
- Pooled Income Funds
- Some estate plan gifts, such as Williams Today & Tomorrow
The Ephraim Williams Society
The Ephraim Williams Society recognizes alumni, spouses, parents and friends who have established planned gift arrangements with Williams or have included the college in their estate plans. Membership is purely honorary, carries no obligations, and is open to all friends who have demonstrated their commitment to the College’s future by satisfying any one of the following criteria:
- establishing life income gifts
- including Williams in their will
- naming Williams as a beneficiary in certain financial instruments
More than 25 members of the Class of 1971 are members of the Society. Please consider joining them.
Talk with your financial advisor about what combination of an outright gift and a planned gift will make the most sense for you. Feel free to contact Margaret or Amy in the Office of Gift Planning for additional information on ways to give to Williams, and for specific guidelines on how to give to the Class of 1971 50th Reunion Fund.