Design a Legacy

A gift in your will or trust is one of the easiest, most effective and flexible ways you can support Carnegie Mellon University for generations to come.

Benefits of remembering CMU in your will or trust:

• You keep full control of your money throughout your life.
• You can modify your gift at any time to address changing circumstances.
• You can choose to give a fixed amount or a percentage of your estate.
• You can direct your gift to a particular school, program or initiative at CMU that is close to your heart.
• You can take advantage of an estate tax deduction and other possible tax savings.

Beneficiary Designation

Noting CMU as a beneficiary on your financial plans and policy assets is easy to arrange, simple to amend, reflects possible tax savings and, in many cases, is as quick as filling out a simple form.

You can designate CMU as a beneficiary on:

• Retirement accounts
• Life insurance policies
• Certain bank accounts, such as certificates of deposits and saving accounts
• Investment accounts at brokerage companies
• Commercial annuity contracts

Ask your specific bank or financial services firm to provide you the appropriate instructions to make your gift or contact the Office of Gift Planning for help in finding the right information.

Customizing Your Gift

You can design the purpose of your gift to an area of CMU that's meaningful to you:

• Scholarships: A gift that awards financial support to undergraduate students.

• Fellowships: A gift that awards financial support to graduate students.

• Faculty Support: A gift to support teaching and cutting-edge research in the area of your choice.
• Schools and Departments: A gift to benefit your selected CMU colleges, departments, units or other university priorities.
• Unrestricted: A gift for CMU’s general purposes that allows the university to put your gift to the best possible use when it is received.

Your gift can be established as endowed or spendable:

• Endowed: A gift that instructs CMU to invest your donation into the university’s endowment. You also create your own endowed fund by choosing a specific purpose for your gift, knowing that your funds will permanently benefit Tartans for years to come.
• Spendable: A gift the university can use in its entirety once received, based upon the designated purpose. (Unless specified as endowed, all gifts are legally considered spendable.)

Your Customized Statement of Intent

The Office of Gift Planning can help you to ensure that your future gift will accomplish your specific purpose with a simple document between you and CMU that clearly describes the purpose of your gift.

•  Identifies precisely your preferences and priorities
• Provides comfort in knowing that your gift will be used exactly as you wish
• Offers flexibility, can be amended as needed and is 100% revocable