Duke students on West Campus | Photo: Duke U Photography

Blueprints Blog

Gift planning insights to build a plan for your future

The Gift Planning Blueprints blog offers planning insights, charitable giving news and stories of inspiration to help you plan for your future.

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Brothers Edwin ’72 and Terry Murray began collecting comic books during the 1950s when they were young boys.  Every week they would pick up a new comic book from Durham’s Westside Pharmacy and would add it to their small collection.  As they grew older, their hobby strengthened and their collection continued to expand.  Eventually, boxes […]

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There are many reasons why you should consider making a planned gift to support Duke University.  Phil Buchanan, assistant vice president of gift planning at Duke University, describes the advantages of including Duke in your will or naming Duke as a beneficiary of your retirement account.   Your support can have a significant impact on […]

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Frances Thackston doesn’t consider herself wealthy by any means, but she feels confident the modest contributions she has made to Duke Medicine over nearly 30 years have truly made a difference to countless patients—herself included. “I would send $10, $50, or $100 occasionally,” she says.  “All of that adds up.” The Virginia resident credits Duke […]

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Most Americans create their first will when they have children or after they have accumulated some assets, typically no later than the age of 40.  Sadly, many people forget about it thereafter. Some think that updating estate plans will be too time-consuming or costly.   Others just don’t want to think about death or procrastinate […]

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Dean Sue Wasiolek ’76, M.H.A. ’78, LL.M. ’93, is a fixture on Duke’s campus.  A familiar face to generations of Duke alumni, she is known for her easy-going nature, dedication to the Duke student body, and an incredible recollection of Duke’s history. Dean Sue, as she is affectionately called, is the assistant vice president for […]

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“So much of what I have experienced in life has been related to Duke, either directly or indirectly,” said Dean Sue Wasiolek ’76, M.H.A. ’78, LL.M. ’93, assistant vice president for student affairs and dean of students.  In gratitude for Duke’s lifelong influence on her student experience and 37-year career, Dean Sue has made a […]

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Every day, I have the great fortune of working with people who want to change the world for the better. There are many ways to do that, of course, and most of the folks I work with hope to have a positive impact through philanthropy – by donating their hard-earned resources for a greater good. […]

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No matter where your passion at Duke lies, we offer a wide range of giving options that allow you to maximize your personal and charitable goals. Download or view the Compare Gift Options chart here. Deciding to include Duke in your long term plans is a personal choice.  Each individual must weigh their particular goals […]

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Challenging times
demand action

Massive cuts to federal funding are affecting Duke as hundreds of millions of dollars previously used for research are no longer available. Still, the university is committed to maintaining our core values of respect, trust, inclusion, discovery, and excellence.

How can you help? Please consider donating to a fund that will enable Duke’s leaders to address the immediate challenges and opportunities facing us right now.