Over the Top: Cornell Reunion

More

• What is a Campaign?
• What is the role of Gift Planning in a Campaign
• How Are Gift Plans Counted in Campaigns
• Gift Planning in Campaigns (pdf)
• Far Above... The Campaign for Cornell

Make a Lasting Difference

Far Above... The Campaign for Cornell will empower the university to lead and be a model for higher education in the 21st century. With your help, Cornell can:

• Enroll and educate the most deserving students
• Recruit, support, and inspire the next generation of faculty
• Provide state-of-the-art facilities on a beautiful and environmentally friendly campus

Beginning with Ezra Cornell's gift of prime real estate-his farm far above Cayuga's waters-Cornell University has achieved a worldwide reputation, a place in the Ivy League, and distinction as a truly egalitarian institution. Its preeminence developed over the years with the help of thousands of dedicated alumni and friends.

From gifts of land to gifts of books and manuscripts, artwork, equipment, supplies, business interests, and cash, the generosity of farsighted individuals has always been a key to Cornell's success. But today's benefactors can also choose to employ one or more of a variety of giving techniques that offer a number of advantages. In fact, committing upfront cash is not the only way to make a charitable gift.

Private support provides Cornell with the margin of excellence necessary to maintain and strengthen the University's preeminent reputation. Over the years, Fundraising Campaigns have allowed Cornell to make the investments necessary to pursue and secure University priorities. Undergraduate scholarships, the University residential life, state of the art research and teaching facilities and initiatives in national and international program support have all been beneficiaries of recent Campaigns. Campaigns are essential to Cornell's future.

What is a Campaign?

All Campaigns are designed to raise funds for specific needs and have a concise timeframe, an exact dollar goal and are heavily promoted. At Cornell, Campaigns are typically tied to Class Reunions, specific College or Unit priorities, and periodically to the mission of the entire University. Campaign gifts are distinct from Annual Fund support. In Reunion Campaigns, any gifts an individual makes in a three-year window count in the Class totals. In all other Campaigns there is a five-year window for Campaign crediting.

What is the role of Gift Planning in a Campaign?

Essentially, gift planning is the process of assisting committed Cornellians and friends in evaluating advantageous methods for lending their support. Most people find they can do more, reach funding goals that appear out of reach, and assist their class or college at a higher level than they thought possible through gift planning. Writing a check is rarely the best way to make a Campaign gift.

How Are Gift Plans Counted in Campaigns?

Gifts funded through the transfer of assets to Cornell University are counted at their full fair market value. This involves outright transfers of cash, securities, real estate, closely held interests and personal property. Any of these assets can also be transferred to Cornell in exchange for a lifetime income for you, your spouse or other individual(s). Charitable Remainder Trusts, Pooled Life Income Funds, and Gift Annuities maintained by Cornell University will be credited at full fair market value of the assets transferred, as will gifts of Real Estate with Retained Life Use.

Charitable arrangements held outside Cornell at other charities or financial institutions where Cornell's charitable interest is irrevocable will be credited at full fair market value provided the University receives a copy of the underlying agreement and full knowledge of the terms and amounts.

Bequests and Revocable Trusts are discounted to present value based on actuarial calculations for campaign credit and require providing the University with a copy of the portion of the will or trust agreement setting forth the gift. Currently, advised bequests and revocable trusts do not contribute to the dollar goals for Class Reunions but, like all planned gifts, qualify for membership in the Cayuga Society and count towards the Class Cayuga Society goal.

Charitable Lead Trusts are credited to the Campaign in the year established as follows: all Lead Trust charitable distributions scheduled to be received during the campaign will be credited at full value; scheduled post-campaign Lead Trust income will be discounted, totaled and added to the campaign income total.

Life Insurance gifts are credited as follows:

The current cash value of a policy is recorded in the year that the policy is given to the University. Annual premium payments are credited in the year received for University owned policies. Policies where Cornell is beneficiary only and director's insurance awards will be discounted based on age, similar to bequests.