Planned Giving
Planned giving includes gifts you leave in your will or estate, typically invested in long term endowments that pay off for generations. There are many ways to give a planned gift from a simple bequest in your will, to more specific financial arrangements.
Create Your Legacy
Regardless of your age or stage in life, you can become a Gillett Society member by including Grand Valley in your will or trust, as a beneficiary of your retirement account, or through another planned gift.
With your help, current and future Lakers are able to take control of what’s next by earning a Grand Valley education
Starting Your First Professional Job
Include a beneficiary designation of 5% to GVSU on your employer sponsored retirement plan. It will get you in the habit of remembering to make a gift for Grand Valley in your long-term plan.
Your First Will or Trust
Plan for the security of your family and loved ones first, then include a gift from the remaining assets to go to GVSU.
When Your Nest is Empty
As your children, nieces or nephews start their own careers and families, you are likely to revisit your estate plans. That is a great time to include a planned gift for GVSU if you have not already.
In Your Retirement Years
As your loved ones become more established and secure, you may begin considering your legacy and the assets that could help you achieve your long-term dreams for the future of our community, university, and students. Thoughtful planning done with your advisors and the team at Grand Valley can ensure your legacy plan will efficiently transfer assets, and effectively boost student success.
Join the Gillett Society
The Gillett Society, established in 2001, is named in honor of Richard M. Gillett, one of the founders of Grand Valley State University. It is dedicated to recognizing those who have included Grand Valley in their will or trust, as a beneficiary of their retirement account, or through another type of planned gift.
Gillett Society members ensure the success of students and the impact Grand Valley will have in the future.
Ways to Give
The most common ways to give are wills and bequests, and IRA rollover. For other ways to give, contact us, your attorney, or your financial advisor.
Wills and Bequests are one of the easiest gifts to make. Including Grand Valley in your will or trust will help strengthen the future of Grand Valley like no other support can. This planned gift can lessen the burden of taxes on your family, while leaving a lasting legacy to be remembered. You can make a bequest by gifting a specific dollar amount, a percentage of the remainder of your estate, or you can make Grand Valley a beneficiary of certain assets.
IRA Rollover can reduce your taxable income while supporting Grand Valley students. If you are 73 or older you may also be interested having your IRA funds directly transferred to Grand Valley to provide life-changing opportunities for generations of future Lakers. You can satisfy your required minimum distribution and avoid taxes on transfers by contacting your IRA plan administrator and making a transfer to Grand Valley.
Your Will and/or Life Insurance
Bequest Language
Naming Grand Valley State University as a beneficiary of a specific amount from your estate is easy:
“I give, devise, and bequeath to Grand Valley State University (Tax ID# 38-1684280), located in Allendale, Michigan, the sum of $______ (or state a percentage of your estate) to be used for the support of Grand Valley State University’s unrestricted charitable purpose (or insert name of fund and purpose).”
Life Insurance
Adding Grand Valley State University as a sole or partial beneficiary is easy:
- Login to your account online or contact your life insurance plan administrator to determine how to change your beneficiary designations for your account.
- Determine what amount you would like to direct to GVSU: Indicate 100% if GVSU will be the sole beneficiary or list a smaller percentage if GVSU will be a partial beneficiary.
- Use the following information to add GVSU as a beneficiary, just as you would an individual beneficiary:
Grand Valley State University
Tax ID# 38-1684280
1 Campus Drive, Allendale, Michigan 49401
(616) 331-6000
Some life insurance administrators will need less information than is provided here. The GVSU Tax ID can be entered under Social Security #.
- Notify University Development’s Office of Endowed and Planned Giving.
So that we may best steward your future gift, please notify the Office of your gift’s intended purpose, and your wishes for recognition or anonymity. Because every gift plan is tailored to your needs, and state laws vary, we recommend that you consult with your legal, tax and/or financial advisors before finalizing your plans.
Contact Us
Emily Spranger
Associate Director of Endowed and Gift Planning
(616) 331-6563
[email protected]
Grand Valley State University
Tax ID# 38-1684280
1 Campus Drive
Allendale, Michigan 49401
(616) 331-6000
The information on this webpage is not intended for legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor.