Planned Giving
For Today and For Tomorrow
Join the Yale School of Nursing and help shape the future of healthcare leaders! Double your impact—now and in the future—without any cost to you today. By documenting a future endowed gift through your estate plan, you can unlock an immediate gift of comparable size for YSN.
Your participation ensures that Yale School of Nursing continues to thrive and innovate for generations to come. But hurry, this Challenge runs out June 30, 2026.
To request more information, please fill out this form. Or scroll down for frequently asked questions.
What qualifies as a future gift through an estate plan?
Bequest
Bequests allow you to give to Yale without impacting cash flow during your lifetime. You can indicate a specific amount or a percentage of your estate. You can still amend your will if your family circumstances change.
Giving through your IRA
Individuals who are age 70 ½ or older can make annual charitable gifts directly from their Individual Retirement Accounts to the School of Nursing. These qualified charitable distributions may count toward your required minimum distribution.
For more information on the benefits and qualifications, please click here.
Donors also may make a one-time election to distribute up to $54,000 from an IRA to fund a charitable gift annuity. Call us to hear more about how you can use your IRA for a gift that provides you with income.
Designate your retirement account or donor advised fund
Name Yale as a beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or donor advised fund. You can designate YSN to receive all or a portion of your plan, and the balance of your plan is received by YSN after your lifetime. You can continue to take regular withdrawals within your lifetime.
Gift that provides you with income: Charitable Gift Annuity
Simple, stable, and secure. In exchange for a gift of $10,000 or more, Yale will make guaranteed, fixed payments for life to you or someone else. When the annuity ends, the remainder is used by Yale for a purpose you choose. Benefits include steady income, a tax deduction for the donor, and the opportunity to strengthen YSN with a meaningful legacy.
I’m a bit confused by the options. What gift may work best for me?
We are happy to speak with you to help guide you as you think about a future gift. For more information, please email Hillary Dooley at hillary.dooley@yale.edu.
We want to help find the option that works best for you whether you are looking to maximize tax benefits, produce income, or preserve assets for your heirs. If you are not sure where to start, we offer a simple tool that can help. Answer the basic questions, and we will recommend a gift that may be of interest to you.
What if my circumstances change after I have documented my planned gift?
No problem! You are documenting a gift intention, which means you can always amend your will or trust if your circumstances change.
I named YSN in my will years ago but never filled out the paperwork with the school. Is my gift still eligible for the Challenge funds?
Yes! In fact, now is the perfect time to notify YSN, complete the paperwork for your planned gift, and discuss how to take advantage of the Challenge funds.
What types of gifts are eligible for the Challenge funds?
Gifts to endowed funds at YSN count, such as those in support of scholarship, research, global health, and more. We also can discuss the option of creating a new endowed fund for your future gift. We’ll work with you to help ensure your gift supports an area of interest at YSN that is meaningful to you.
Who is providing the Challenge funds that my planned gift will unlock?
Yale University has committed to providing $50 million in matching funds to YSN through June 30, 2026. This Challenge will advance efforts to improve health, foster advancements in health equity, and enhance the quality of healthcare for everyone.
How can I document my future gift to participate in the Challenge?
We will walk you step-by-step through how to document your gift, including completing the Bequest Intention Form. Please email Hillary Dooley at hillary.dooley@yale.edu or call 203-737-4948 to get started.
I still have more questions. Who should I contact?
Let’s chat! Please contact Hillary Dooley at hillary.dooley@yale.edu. You can also call the YSN Development Office at 203-737-4948 or fill out this form.
“As an alumna and faculty member at YSN, I want to make a lasting impact for our nursing students. I was pleased to designate a portion of my retirement account to support scholarships for YSN students. The process was simple, and I was thrilled my gift intention unlocked an additional matching contribution for YSN. I look forward to supporting future generations of students.”
Heather Reynolds ’80 MSN
“I made a bequest, creating an endowed scholarship for YSN students in honor of my mentoring relationship with Florence Wald and Virginia Henderson that blessed my final YSN year. The Brandman, Wald, Henderson Endowed Scholarship will uplift future students in honor of the inspiring effect these remarkable women had on my professional career. YSN has changed my life, and I am inspired to pay it forward.”
Wailua Brandman ’94 MSN