Planned Giving

Create Your Legacy, Build the Future Here at VCU

When you make a planned gift to VCU, your generosity has an impact far beyond your lifetime. Your gift supports generations of students whose lives will be forever changed by their VCU experience.

There are many ways to meet your financial needs while supporting the area you care most about, through any one of our four philanthropic affiliated foundations:

NEW! Charitable giving tax changes for 2024.
Find out what the changes mean for you.

Build Your Legacy, Shape the Future

Legacy Society

Is VCU already in your plans?

Please let us know so we can properly thank you and make sure your gift will be used as you’ve intended.

Upcoming Events

As a member of Virginia Commonwealth University's Heritage Society, MCV Society or Lawrence Society, you're invited to four upcoming unique opportunities.

JUNE 1 Enjoy a hands-on experience with VCU Libraries Special Collections and Archives.


JUNE 13 Tour the College of Humanities and Sciences STEM building and hear from faculty and students teaching and learning in the new space.


SEPT. 19 Attend a neurosciences lecture with VCU Health physician-scientists to hear about how they are changing the field of medicine through research in behavior health. Virtual option available.


OCT. 17 Attend a neurosciences lecture with VCU Health physician-scientists to hear about how they are changing the field of medicine through research in behavior health. Virtual option available.

Please register online for the event(s) that interest you. Space is limited. RSVP: support.vcu.edu/event/PGS23. Questions? Contact Jared Kline, event specialist, DAR Signature Events, at (540) 614-2117 or klinejc2@vcu.edu.

How to give

Not only do you have options for how your gift to VCU will be used, you also have options on what to give and how to give. There are gifts that cost you nothing now, gifts that pay you income, and gifts that allow you to make an immediate impact.

General bequest

Gifts from your will or trust

Through a provision in your will or trust, you can make a gift in the form of cash, securities, real estate or personal property. There are many types of bequests. Choose the one that best fits your needs and intentions.

Charitable gift annuity

Gifts that pay you

You can turn underperforming assets (stock, cash in a savings account, CDs, savings bonds, etc.) into a gift to VCU that provides income to you. Your Charitable Gift Annuity will give you quarterly, fixed payments for life and tax benefits, too.

Donor advised funds

Grants and beneficiary designation

Recommend a grant from your donor-advised fund to make an immediate impact and designate VCU as a beneficiary to receive all or a portion of the balance of your Donor Advised Fund (DAF) to provide future support to the programs that are important to you.

Charitable IRA rollover

Charitable IRA Rollover

If you’re 70 ½ or older, you can make an immediate impact by making agift directly from your IRA to VCU. You avoid income tax on your withdrawal. In addition, your gift will count toward your required minimum distribution, if you have one.

Beneficiary gifts

Retirement and other accounts

Naming VCU as the beneficiary of a qualified retirement plan asset such as a 401(k), 403(b), or IRA, will accomplish a charitable goal while realizing significant tax savings. VCU can also be named as the beneficiary of financial or other accounts as a simple way to accomplish a charitable goal without affecting your current income.

Gifts of stock

Appreciated stock

When you donate appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual fund shares instead of cash, you'll receive charitable deductions at full, fair market value while reducing capital gains impact.

Gifts of property

Real estate

Like stock, the fair market value of gifts of appreciated assets such as real estate, can be deducted from your income tax today and reduce your estate taxes in the future. In addition, illiquid assets such as real estate can be used to fund a charitable trust that provides income to you or others for life.

Gifts of life insurance

Beneficiary designation and paid-up policies

Name VCU as the beneficiary of an existing life insurance policy; donate an existing, paid-up life insurance policy you no longer need; or purchase a new life insurance policy and name VCU* as the owner and beneficiary.

More ways to give

Other planned giving vehicles

There are many ways to support VCU through planned giving. A charitable trust might be a great fit for you. We can show you creative ways to use your assets to benefit VCU while at the same obtaining benefits for you and your family.

Meet our donors

Donors just like you have made a real impact just by adding a few words to their will or using one of the many giving options available.

Let’s get in touch

  • PAMELA COLKER, J.D.

    Executive Director of Planned Giving, Monroe Park Campus

  • colkerp@vcu.edu

    (804) 827-2376

    111 N. Fourth Street, Box 842039

    Richmond, VA 23284

  • For professional advisers

    If you are working with a professional adviser, or advising a donor, here's a practical guide for including VCU in a charitable estate plan.