How to Give to the Graduate School

Support Current Grad Students!

Donations are integral to the future of the MU Graduate School's programming and services. Your gift to may be used to support:

• Graduate School Travel Fund: The Graduate School awards roughly 40 travel scholarships each year, each one not to exceed $400. The scholarships are available for doctoral students who have successfully completed doctoral comprehensive/matriculation examinations and have been admitted to doctoral candidacy.
• Student fellowships, scholarships, and internships (annual basis.)
• Program development such as career services, bridge programs, and the PhD completion project.
• Faculty research projects to increase student participation in conferences and exhibitions across disciplines.

How to Give: Check or Credit Card

Gifts to the Graduate School are centrally process through the University of Missouri's development offices. Donors have several options: pledge, check, online, through Mizzou payroll deduction or by credit card.

Checks should be made payable to the University of Missouri and mailed with a gift form to:

Mizzou Annual Fund
401 Reynolds Alumni Center
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211

Credit Card. Please us one of the following options for gifts paid by Visa, MasterCard or Discover:

• Make a gift online at the For All We Call Mizzou giving site.
• Call toll-free at 1-877-GIFT-2-MU with your credit card information.
• Download a gift form (pdf) and mail the completed form to the above address.

Major Gifts, Endowments & Fellowship Support

Major Gifts can be cash, securities (stocks or bonds) or property. Major gifts can create new or support existing endowments for doctoral or masters fellowships, travel, or general development.

Major gifts may be made by contacting the Graduate School Director of Development, Andrew Grabau at 573-882-3645, or by email at grabauan@missouri.edu.

Planned Gifts & Testamentary Gifts

Bequests are one of the easiest forms of planned giving. A bequest may be provided through a will or trust, but it must be worded correctly in order to ensure that the donor's wishes are fulfilled.

Donors may name the University as the beneficiary of their retirement account. This gift option may provide significant income tax and estate tax benefits.

Permanent life insurance policies may be donated to the University. Donors will obtain the greatest tax benefits by naming the University of Missouri as both the owner and beneficiary of the gifted policy.

Gifts That Give Back

Donors and the University both receive financial rewards through the following three types of gifts:

Charitable Gift Annuity

A charitable gift annuity is a simple, contractual agreement between the University and a donor in which assets are transferred to the University in exchange for life payments. Payments can be for one or two persons. Rates are based on age. After the annuitant's lifetime the remainder is available to be used by the University as specified by the donor.

When donors transfer cash or other assets to a charitable remainder trust, these funds are invested, and quarterly income from the trust is paid to the donor or to others chosen by the donor. When the trust is terminated, the remaining funds are transferred to the University.

The University's Pooled Income Fund

The University's Pooled Income Fund is similar to a mutual fund. This fund allows gifts to be "pooled" with those from other donors, and prorated shares of the fund's earnings are distributed to all donors. After a donor's lifetime, the remainder of his or her interest in the fund is transferred to the University.

Retained Life Estate

A retained life estate allows donors to contribute their home to the University while continuing to live there. The University becomes the sole owner of the property either when donors choose to move from their home or after their lifetime.

The information provided above on planned gifts is presented in summary form.

For an illustration of any planned gift tailored to a specific request, donors may contact the Andrew Grabau at 573-882-3645, or by email at grabauan@missouri.edu. Also, donors should consult with their attorneys or tax advisers for legal and tax advice.

The Need

• 26% of MU's seniors hope to pursue advanced degrees*
• Grad students' debt climbs each year.
• Grad fellowships are needed across disciplines.
• MU faculty & grad alumni can attest to students' needs.

Quick Facts:

The Grad School supports about 40 students annually.

98% of MU grad alums are employed in a field related to their degree*

Most awarded grad fellowships: Ridgel, Huggins, Marshall & Gregory.

*2006-07 MU
Destination Study