What is planned giving?

Planned giving offers donors a meaningful way to shape the future of the University – by including La Salle in their financial or estate plans. Doing this helps create a lasting legacy that continues to impact Explorers for decades to come.

How does it help the University?

Planned gifts are investments in the future of the University. They make an important difference for our students, including those Explorers who will join our community in the years ahead. They ensure that La Salle will have the resources needed to grow, succeed, and make the La Salle experience possible for others.

At La Salle, donors who confirm their intention of including the University as a beneficiary of their estate are recognized as members of the Blue and Gold Legacy Society.

How can you make a planned gift?

While the most common type of planned gift is a bequest made through a person’s will or trust, there are several ways that it can be done.

• Bequest: Leave a gift to La Salle through your will or trust.
• Beneficiary designation: Name La Salle as the beneficiary of your
  IRA, 401(k), 403(b) or other retirement plan, life insurance policy,
  or commercial annuity.
• Stocks or other appreciated assets: Donate securities to La Salle
  and receive the same income tax savings as a cash gift, while also
  avoiding capital gains taxes on the transfer.
• IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions: For donors aged 70½ or
  older, giving up to $111,000 per taxpayer (for tax year 2026)
  directly from your IRA to La Salle is a simple and tax-advantaged
  way to make an immediate difference.

*Note: Please consult with your tax, legal, financial, or other advisors to better understand how benefits available might apply to your personal circumstances.

What are some examples of planned gifts that La Salle has received?

La Salle has been fortunate to receive a number of planned gifts recently. Examples of the types of planned gifts that have benefitted La Salle in recent times include bequests, Qualified Charitable Distributions, life insurance proceeds, beneficiary payments from retirement accounts (such as IRAs, 401(k)s, and 403(b)s), and Charitable Remainder Trusts.

One transformative example of planned giving is a recent $5 million commitment from donors who wish to remain anonymous, who have named the University as one of three organizations that will benefit from their estate after both have passed. Their donation will be used to support the School of Nursing and Health Sciences.

What is La Salle’s Planned Giving Committee?

The Planned Giving Committee is a group of loyal and committed alumni who have both committed their intentions to include La Salle in their personal planned giving and who volunteer to help connect with other alumni who may want to consider including the University in their estate planning.

The peer-to-peer outreach is extremely valuable. The volunteers are ambassadors of the University and can help share the good news of La Salle’s progress as well as provide an opportunity to help alumni learn about planned giving opportunities that can benefit them, their families, and our students at 20th & Olney.

In less than a year, these key relationships between the University and alumni have helped document nearly $2 million in planned gifts and valuable philanthropic support from alumni and friends now and in the future.

The committee is co-chaired by Tom Lynch, ’62, and Brother Richard Kestler, FSC, ’65. The other members are Greg Bruce, ’81, Mike Diccicco, ’71, Brother Charles Gresh, FSC, ’55, Bill Matthews, ’90, Mike Minghenelli, ’92, Peter Smith, ’67, and Paul Vignone, ’68.

“We have all benefited so significantly from our time at La Salle, it is now the time for us to demonstrate a legacy of appreciation for all that we have received from the University, the Christian Brothers, the faculty, and our advisors,” Lynch said.

“I invite you to consider a legacy gift to the University,” Br. Richard added. “This act of generosity will assure that future Explorers will be able to benefit from all that La Salle offers to put them on the right career path and help them be all they are meant to be.”