Columbia GSAPP students and faculty have greatly benefited from the generosity and support of individuals who were inspired to leave a legacy through their estate or another gift planning vehicle. These investments have enabled transformative programs and research initiatives like the William Kinne Fellows Memorial Fellowships and Scholarships and Temple Hoyne Buell Center For the Study of American Architecture to flourish at the School.

Thank you to those who have shared their plans with us and for allowing us to celebrate your support, recognize your kindness, and encourage others to follow in your gracious footsteps. We are pleased to welcome you as a part of the 1754 Society, Columbia’s honorary association for alumni and friends who have included Columbia in their estate plans.

We encourage those who have included GSAPP in their plans to let us know so we can celebrate your future commitment. We also invite those who are considering ways to invest in GSAPP’s future to contact us to discuss ways you might be able to achieve your philanthropic goals.

The following material outlines charitable gift planning options that we hope will encourage meaningful conversations about ways everyone can invest in GSAPP’s future and leave a legacy that fits their specific philanthropic goals. Planned gifts, which improve the financial health of the School, can also provide an income for you or your loved ones for life.

Naming Columbia GSAPP in your will is one of the best opportunities for impact: donors who make a gift to the School each year can perpetuate that gift with a bequest equal to 20 times the size of your typical annual gift! In fact, Columbia was established with such commitments in 1754. Bequest intentions are straightforward to organize and provide vital support for the School’s highest priorities.

The option of adding Columbia GSAPP as a beneficiary to a life insurance policy, retirement fund, annuity, bank account, or other asset. When left to individuals, assets by naming Columbia as a beneficiary, your estate is eligible to receive a charitable tax deduction, resulting in potential savings to your estate and a gift of greater impact to Columbia. Provide unrestricted support which the School can use for its highest priorities and needs, or support a particular area or program that is important to you.

A charitable gift annuity provides you or another beneficiary fixed payments for life in exchange for your gift. Make a gift to Columbia GSAPP of at least $25,000 in cash or securities and create your charitable gift annuity. You receive a federal tax deduction for a portion of your donation. In return for your gift, Columbia will pay you and/or another beneficiary fixed payments for life, based on your age or the age of your beneficiary. Choose whether to receive immediate payments or defer them for the future.

We invite you to consider joining the 1754 Society, Columbia’s honorary association for alumni and friends who have included Columbia in their estate plans. Membership involves no dues, obligations, or solicitations, but rather permits the University to express its thanks, recognize your kindness, and encourage others to follow in your gracious footsteps.