Annual Heritage Society luncheon attracts record attendance

George and Sallie Duvall -- CU alumni, CU parents, CU donors and Heritage Society members -- at last week's luncheon.

More than 125 University of Colorado donors, staff, and other key individuals (including three CU regents) attended a Heritage Society luncheon Friday, May 16, at the Denver Country Club. The annual luncheon honors individuals who have made a planned gift commitment to the university.

President Bruce Benson spoke to attendees for 30 minutes about some of CU’s recent achievements and challenges. He and Vice President of Advancement Kelly Cronin also presented honorary plaques to new Heritage Society members in attendance.

Attendance at this year’s luncheon was up more than 30 percent over prior years, signaling increased enthusiasm and momentum toward making planned gifts to CU. “Planned giving” encompasses varied charitable mechanisms — including bequests, charitable trusts, charitable gift annuities, and real estate — that help donors balance their desire to support CU with financial-planning aspects, such as savings on capital gains or estate taxes.

Planned giving is becoming increasingly important to the philanthropy mix for CU and other major universities. More than 800 individuals -- nearly 100 of whom are CU faculty and staff -- have notified the university of their intention to make a bequest to the university upon their passing, representing an anticipated pipeline of $230 million as these gifts come to fruition in the coming decades. Since July 1, 2013, more than $20 million in new planned gifts have been recorded with the university.