An Impact to Beat the Band: Plan Today to Support Duke’s Tomorrow
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 Cameron since graduation. The atmosphere was electric and Duke scored a huge win. I conducted a few pieces, but ‘Devil With The Blue Dress’ after the win was the most fun!”
Charlie has long invested in Duke – including as a regional board member, an alumni advocate, and a loyal supporter of the Duke Annual Fund.
Later in his career, while serving as a nonprofit executive, Charlie also recognized the importance of building a pipeline of future support – and the transformational impact that gifts from a will, revocable trust, or retirement fund beneficiary designation can have on long-term mission success.
Charitable bequests offer a simple, flexible way to support Duke’s future without giving up any assets during your lifetime. These gift arrangements are revocable, meaning you can adjust your plans as needed over time.
Charlie has named Duke University as a beneficiary to receive a percentage of his retirement account remainder. He’s a big fan of this approach for a few reasons: “There is no need for an attorney to draft a document when you do this – you simply fill out a form for your plan. I use the ‘percentage of account’ approach so there is no need to update specific dollar amounts over time.”
Leaving certain assets to charity, he notes, can also be more tax-efficient for your estate and/or your surviving heirs.
Charlie’s tip: Remember to inform your designated charities that you have listed them as a beneficiary of your retirement plan! It’s important to let them know how you want your gift to be used. Charlie’s deferred gift to Duke will support the Sanford School of Public Policy and the music department.
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