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Gift Planning

Planned Giving

Find out what types of assets make the best planned gifts. Learn about gifts of cash, securities and property.

Bob and Mary Are Giving Smarter and Achieving Their Dreams...Find Out How You Can Too!

Couple posing with two dogs

Bob and Mary first met at Two-Bit Flicks, a 25-cent movie night held on Fridays in Brighton Lecture Hall. When the spring formal hosted by the women's dorm came around, Mary asked Bob to go with her. It was their first "official" date.


The rest, as the saying goes, is history. Or in Bob and Mary's case, it is natural history. That's because Emporia State also introduced them to a lifelong passion for the natural sciences.


Bob and Mary feel Emporia State was the catalyst for the life they've built together. Mary became a science educator for 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th grade students. Bob founded and served as director of the Great Plains Nature Center and became a renowned nature photographer.


Now they want others to have the same opportunity they did. They want to help students come to ESU and discover a passion they can follow for the rest of their lives.


Bob and Mary found a simple and easy way to achieve this dream. When they set up their trust, they named Emporia State as a beneficiary.


What's your dream?


Learn how easy it is to make your dream a reality by naming Emporia State University in your will or trust. Contact Angela Fullen, Director of Planned Giving at the Emporia State University Foundation. She can answer your questions or help you get started. If you have already named Emporia State in your will or trust, let us know. We will make sure your gift does everything you want it to do.


"I would encourage anyone, if they are thinking about doing something like this, to contact the Foundation. For us, it has been a great experience." - Mary Butel


Getting Started is Easy

Not sure how to take the first step? We've got just the thing you need. Download your free Will and Estate Planning Guide. This guide is an easy way to get started on, or update, your estate plan. It will help you explore your options at your own pace. It's free, easy and yours to keep.


Download your copy today or contact Angela Fullen to request a printed copy.



Image of Angela Fullen

Angela Fullen
Director of Planned Giving
Telephone: 620-341-6465
[email protected]

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The Retirement Unitrust

The Retirement Unitrust
Mary grew up on a farm. When her parents passed away, she and her husband Bill inherited the farm.

When Mary was a child, the farm was out in the country. Now that the city has grown, the farm is within the city limits. Several developers would like to build homes on the farmland.

Mary: We received modest payments from the farm over the years, including from a neighboring farmer who rented our land for grazing. Since I inherited the farm from my parents several years ago, the value has greatly increased.

Bill: Since it is a good time to sell, that's what we would like to do. We would also like to invest the sale's proceeds for growth for about 10 years until we retire. However, when we checked with our tax advisor, she told us that if we sold the farm, we would have a large capital gains tax bill.

Mary: But then she told us about a plan that would provide for our retirement. She explained that we could transfer the land into a special retirement trust. Once inside this trust, the farm could be sold tax free and the cash invested for growth. The proceeds would grow tax free inside the trust until we retire. By the time we retire, the payouts would be taxable, but we could have as much as $900,000 in the trust.

Bill and Mary's advisor discussed a charitable remainder unitrust, or retirement unitrust. The retirement unitrust pays out either a fixed percentage of the trust assets each year or the trust income, whichever is lower. Because the trust is invested for growth instead of income, the payments from the trust will remain low while Bill and Mary are still working. This strategy allows the trust to grow in value so that the unitrust can provide greater income to Bill and Mary in retirement.

Bill: We took her advice and transferred the farm to the unitrust. We know we will enjoy a very nice retirement. We already have an IRA and are planning to use that for retirement. With the extra income from this retirement trust, we will be able to travel and really enjoy our golden years.

Is a retirement unitrust right for you?


If you have a highly appreciated asset, such as real estate or stock, and are several years away from retirement, a retirement unitrust could help you sell the asset tax-free while saving for retirement. Please contact us if you have questions about a retirement unitrust.

*Please note: The names and image above are representative of a typical donor and may or may not be an actual donor to our organization. Since your unitrust benefits may be different, you may want to click here to view an example of your benefits.


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