College debuts website to advance planned giving
The project has had one major goal since its inception: To educate and build awareness among the McDaniel community about the benefits and importance of planned giving.
“Planned giving is a win-win situation for the donor and the college,” said Chip Junkin, associate vice president of development. “However, even people who are financially savvy find some aspects of planned giving difficult to understand.”
Life-income gifts – such as charitable gift annuities or charitable trusts – provide immediate benefits to donors, and the college gets future support. Testamentary gifts – such as bequests or designation of retirement assets – provide for future support of the college, but cost donors nothing now.
Many planned giving options are explained on the new website, which also features several alumni who have chosen to support their alma mater through planned gifts.
“We expect the website to start the conversation by offering specific information about these programs,” Junkin said, adding that he is available to explore the many planned giving options with anyone who is interested. Ultimately, the new website should help McDaniel alumni and friends to understand how easy it is to give back to a college that gave so much to them.