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Gift Planning: Investing in the Future of the University

A growing number of alumni and friends support the University of Virginia through financial or estate planning. This process is known as "gift planning" and the gifts are referred to as "planned gifts." Planned gifts may be of three types:

  1. Plans from your estate (bequests)
  2. Plans that pay you an income
  3. Plans that help the University now and your family later

Bequest Campaign

Private gifts, including bequests, have sustained the University since its inception. As early as 1817, forward-looking donors helped fund construction of the public university. Thomas Jefferson bequeathed to the University library some of his books after selling the bulk of his personal library — more than 6,000 volumes — to the Library of Congress in 1814 to replace its collection, which had burned during the War of 1812.

In recognition of the importance of bequests, the University has added a $400 million bequest goal to the $3 billion campaign, which runs through the end of 2011. As of August 17, 2009, future commitments are at $204 million.