Tell Us About Your Bequest; It's Important

We recently learned that a longtime supporter of the University of Florida had passed away and provided generously for UF in his will. Sadly, there was never an opportunity to thank him, because the gift had come as a complete surprise.

Estate gifts that arrive unannounced sometimes can be misdirected or otherwise fail to carry out donors' intentions. In one legendary example, a donor's hand-written will left a significant bequest to what he thought was one university but identified it incorrectly, confusing "the University of Southern California" with "UCLA." In another case, a donor left funds to a hospital in a retirement community, restricted to a nonexistent prenatal care program.

Why do people include the University of Florida in their estate plans?

Personal satisfaction is the overwhelming reason, and you can magnify that satisfaction by communicating your intent to UF's Office of Gift Planning. By notifying us, you'll ensure that:

• Your gift will benefit a particular area of interest.
• We recognize you appropriately.
• Your gift meets criteria for endowed chairs, scholarships or other specific programs important to you.
• You become a member of the Legacy Society, which celebrates supporters.
• Your gift can encourage classmates, colleagues and others to make their own gifts.
• You're thanked, either publicly or privately, for your thoughtful generosity.

Sharing news of your bequest will also help us better plan for the University of Florida's future and evaluate the success of our planned giving program. A short note, e-mail or telephone call to our office will be much appreciated, and you'll brighten everyone's day.

If you want to create a gift to support the University of Florida, our experienced gift planners are happy to work with you, your attorney and other advisors to design the best gift plan for you and for those you love.