Planned Gifts

What is Planned Giving?

Planned giving is a unique way to structure a gift to HGSE. Specifically, planned giving can enable friends and alumni to support the mission of HGSE through one's will by making a bequest or through the use of life income gifts. Individuals who make a planned gift to HGSE are members of HGSE's Paul Hanus Society.

Planned gifts provide income and tax benefits to donors and enable you to make a larger gift to HGSE than you might have otherwise thought possible.

Types of Planned Gifts:

Bequests

Many friends and alumni of HGSE find that the easiest way to make a gift to the School is through a bequest. There are several types of bequests, including cash, property, retirement plans, and other arrangements. A bequest to HGSE is a powerful expression of commitment to the School.

If you would like to join alumni and friends in the Paul Hanus Society by making a bequest, simply include the following language in your will:

I give {(___dollars) or (___percent of the residue of my estate)} to the President and Fellows of Harvard College, a Massachusetts educational charitable corporation, for the benefit of Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Using this language will ensure that your gift will come to the School of Education rather than to the University as a whole. Bequests may be further restricted, for example, to establish a scholarship or fellowship. The staff at the HGSE Development Office are availble to consult with you and/or your advisor about bequests to HGSE, and to help you with any question you may have about other forms of charitable giving that may benefit you, your family, and Harvard.

Life Income Gifts

Life income gifts are planned gifts that provide wonderful support for HGSE while at the same time offer you a tool that can help you achieve personal and financial goals. Different types of gifts can provide income streams for you or someone close to you, and depending upon the gift that you set up, returns can be greater than what you might be receiving from other investments.

Tax and Financial Advantages

There are several different types of life income arrangements available in support of HGSE. These include pooled income funds, gift annuities, and charitable remainder trusts. Life income gifts offer a number of different benefits, including:

Annual income for life for you and/or others
Immediate income tax deduction
Avoidance of capital gains taxes
Investment management and administration of your gift by Harvard Management Company (HMC). There is no separate fee for services provided by HMC for the administration of trusts, pooled income funds, or annuities.
Asset diversification
Gift/estate tax savings

More information is available on the University Planned Giving website.

Paul Hanus Society

Are you a member of the Paul Hanus Society?

Have you included HGSE as a beneficiary in your estate plan? If your answer is yes and you have not yet been welcomed into the HGSE Paul Hanus Society, please get in touch with us to allow us to include you in this special group of over 200 supporters.

Established in 1994, the Paul Hanus Society at HGSE was created to honor alumni and friends of the School who have provided support for the School through life income plans, bequests, or other creative gift arrangements.

The Society is named in honor of Paul Henry Hanus (1855-1941), a pioneer in the field of education. Professor Hanus came to Harvard in 1891 and began laying the groundwork for the establishment of the Graduate School of Education. In this spirit, the Paul Hanus Society recognizes and encourages those pioneers who help to ensure the HGSE's continued excellence through financial strength and stability.

By remembering the Harvard School of Education in your will, you qualify for membership in this esteemed society. Your gift not only establishes your own legacy at the School, but it joins you with others who have translated their concern for the School into a tangible inheritance for future generations. As a member you will be invited to special events such as the Askwith Education Forums, which sponsor prominent people from diverse fields to speak about issues relevant to education and children.

For information on becoming a member of the Paul Hanus Society through planned giving to the Ed School--income-earning life-income gifts, bequests, and other methods for investing in the School's work-- contact Patricia Brown at 617-496-1107/phone, 617-496-8949/fax, or Jane Verrill at 617-495-4647.