Include North Dakota State University in your estate plan, and the NDSU Foundation will match a portion of your future gift to the department, program, or area of your choice today!
How it Works
| Pledged Planned Gift | Match Amount | Example |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000 – $99,999 | 10% | Planned Gift of $50,000 would receive a $5,000 match |
| $100,000 – $999,999 | $10,000 | Planned Gift of $250,000 would receive a $10,000 match |
| $1,000,000 or more | $25,000 | Planned Gift of $1,200,000 would receive a $25,000 match |
Matching funds for the In Our Hands Legacy Challenge were made possible thanks to the generosity of Robert ’67 and Sheila Challey. The $1,000,000 of unrestricted funds, as part of the Challeys’ historic $75 million gift to North Dakota State University, will be used to impact areas across campus.
The In Our Hands Legacy Challenge is an innovative initiative that provides an immediate cash match for benefactors to direct to an existing fund of their choice when they document new or increased planned gift commitments to the NDSU Foundation. Eligible planned gifts include bequest language in a will or trust, beneficiary on retirement plans, charitable gift annuities, or charitable remainder unitrust.
Our team can work with you to ensure your gift qualifies for this limited opportunity to leverage your legacy while helping build a stronger future for North Dakota State University, its students, the region, and beyond. We hold a vision of access, opportunity, and innovation for the next generation; making it a reality is in your hands. The In Our Hands Legacy Challenge will expire June 30, 2021, or when all matching funds are distributed.
FAQ
Q: What is a bequest?
A: A bequest is a gift made to a charity in your will or trust. By making a bequest, you are able to leave a lasting legacy at North Dakota State University.
Q: What types of planned gifts qualify for the In Our Hands Legacy Challenge?
A: Planned gifts eligible for matching funds include: bequests via will or living trust, beneficiary designations from a retirement account or bank account, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder unitrusts, charitable lead trusts, and beneficiary designations of certain life insurance policies given to NDSU (the match would be based on the existing cash amount in the policy). If you want to know if your gift qualifies for a match, please contact your current Director of Development or email Curtis Cox at curtis.cox@ndsufoundation.com or call 701.231.6800.
Q: If I have already documented a planned gift with NDSU Foundation, will it qualify for the In Our Hands Legacy Challenge?
A: Thank you very much for documenting your planned gift with NDSUF. Generally speaking, the In Our Hands Legacy Challenge is meant to encourage the creation of new planned gifts or to inform the university about previously established but unreported planned gifts; however, if you have increased the amount of a previously documented bequest, or if you previously documented the gift of a percentage of your trust or residual estate and the estimated value of that percentage has increased, then we may be able to credit the increased value to the Challenge. To confirm that your gift qualifies for a match, please contact your current Director of Development or email Curtis Cox at curtis.cox@ndsufoundation.com.
Q: How do I document my planned gift for the In Our Hands Legacy Challenge?
A: You can document your planned gift by downloading an In Our Hands Legacy Challenge Statement of Intent form. Print the document, fill it out, and return it via email to your current Director of Development or to Curtis Cox at curtis.cox@ndsufoundation.com. You can also mail the form to the Office of Planned Giving at the NDSU Foundation, P.O. Box 5144, Fargo, ND 58105.
Q: Is there any special language or information I need to include in my bequest?
A: You may need the following information for your bequest, North Dakota State University Foundation, a non-profit organization located at 1241 University Drive North, Fargo, ND, 58102, Federal Tax ID #23-7120898, for North Dakota State University Foundation.
Q: Can I direct the In Our Hands Legacy Challenge matching funds to a different school or program than where my bequest is directed?
A: Absolutely! That is one of the best features of the In Our Hands Legacy Challenge — the matching funds can be directed to any college, program, or existing fund at NDSUF, and they do not need to follow the same designation of your bequest.
Q: What if the value of my bequest exceeds $100,000 — will I qualify for more than $10,000 matching funds?
A: We have set a cap of $10,000 on matching funds for bequests under $1 million. For bequests more than $1 million, the matching gift amount is $25,000.
Q: How else might I go about supporting NDSU with my philanthropy?
A: We hope that you will also consider supporting NDSU by making an annual gift to any area of the university that is meaningful to you.