Faculty and staff members can support UNC Charlotte through a number of creative ways, and a new planned giving website outlines the “benefits of giving wisely.”
John Cullum, who recently joined the Division for University Advancement as director of planned giving, spearheaded the development of the new site.
“As University employees, we have a vested interest in the success of the University, and private support is increasingly more important to fund student scholarships, research grants and other scholarly and creative endeavors that enhance the UNC Charlotte experience,” said Cullum. “Most faculty and staff members may not realize they can support the University with a gift that doesn’t impact their current financial situation – they can designate UNC Charlotte to receive estate assets in the future.”
Cullum noted that such planned gifts might include a bequest and/or charitable income gifts, such as charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder unitrusts, charitable remainder annuity trusts or gifts of life insurance.
The planned giving website has a number of links that provide details on gifts anyone can make, as well as information on how a gift could provide income to the prospective donor. If faculty or staff members use the service of a professional financial advisor, the site includes a link with information pertinent to them, too.
University founder Bonnie Cone made a planned gift through a bequest to UNC Charlotte beyond many other donations throughout her life. The Bonnie E. Cone Society is a community of UNC Charlotte faithful, including alumni, faculty, staff and others who have made provision for a new generation of students through long-term financial and estate planning. More details on how individuals can become members of the Cone Society are on the planned giving website.
A Certified Financial Planner®, Cullum came to UNC Charlotte from the financial services industry as well as Presbyterian College. He has served on the boards of Greenville Technical College and the South Carolina Planned Giving Council and was a past trustee of the Historic Columbia Foundation.
Cullum said he looks forward to working with current and prospective donors to develop customized giving strategies and to implement solutions based upon a thorough understanding of their personal values, goals and vision for their legacy.