Ron Klarin’s cancer journey began in Florida with a CT scan that revealed a small lung nodule – one that his doctors initially dismissed as low-risk. “They told me it was probably nothing. There was no urgency,” he said. At the time, Ron and his wife, Bonnie, were in the process of moving to North Carolina […]

As an undergraduate, Charlie Wright ’78 attended most home basketball games as a percussionist in the Duke University Pep Band. Decades later, he relived the thrill as an alumnus.  “My favorite recent Duke memory was the opportunity to conduct the Pep Band at a home men’s basketball game,” he said. “I had not attended a game at […]

Understanding Required Minimum Distributions and Charitable Giving  As you plan your charitable contributions, it is important to understand how required minimum distributions, or RMDs, from retirement accounts can play a role in your giving strategy. RMDs are the minimum amounts individuals must withdraw annually from tax-deferred retirement accounts once they reach a certain age. With […]

by Thomas Mowbray, A.M.’64 and Ph.D.’67 (with assistance from Julia Vail)  A love of the outdoors leads to study of biology  The route to when and why I decided to leave a gift to the Nicholas School of the Environment is long and complex, but it begins with my childhood in Northern Minnesota. I grew […]

As Charles Dickens once wrote, “The year-end brings no greater pleasure than the opportunity to express to you season’s greetings and good wishes. May your holidays and new year be filled with joy.” While I would never presume to edit Dickens’s words, they feel incomplete for me without adding the pleasure of embracing and expressing […]

With the end of the current calendar year fast approaching, charitable tax planning is top of mind for many individuals. This topic is particularly timely in 2025, due to several provisions in the federal tax legislation enacted by Congress in July that impact charitable giving. Some of these provisions will apply beginning in 2026—creating opportunities to […]

R. Sanders “Sandy” Williams, MD and his wife, Jennifer Scheid Williams, PA-BHS  To commemorate the 50th reunion of his Duke University School of Medicine class, R. Sanders “Sandy” Williams, MD’74, HS’77-’80, P’09 and Jennifer Scheid Williams, PA-BHS’74, P’09, made a $1 million commitment to establish the Williams-Wallace Biomedical Research Fund in honor of their friends […]

Donor Advised Funds (DAF) are charitable investment accounts that allow donors to contribute funds and receive an immediate tax deduction. The funds are then invested and grow tax-free while donors recommend grants to qualified charities on their own timeline.  There are some restrictions on what DAFs can fund — for instance, donors can’t receive a […]

On July 4, 2025, the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill” was signed into law. The legislation includes several provisions related to charitable giving and other tax updates, with some changes taking effect in 2025 and others in 2026. Highlights include: Key Tax Changes Charitable Donations – Opportunities and Challenges (Starting in 2026) Planning strategies to […]

August is National Make a Will Month. We previously shared why having a will is important. If you don’t already have a will or revocable trust in place, now is the time to make arrangements! You can start by making a list of all the assets you own — bank accounts, cryptocurrency accounts, investments, life […]