Class Gift

Class of 1976 Challenge: Leave Our Legacy


Celebrate our milestone anniversary by participating in our 50th Reunion Class Gift. This Colgate gift tradition brings our class together to build a legacy that strengthens our alma mater and benefits generations of Colgate students.

Every gift makes a difference as we work toward two bold 50th Reunion Challenge goals:

  • Reach 76% class participation, a record-breaking goal set by our gift committee. (July 2025 – June 2026)
  • Through our collective giving, double the $3.55 million already pledged by a group of generous classmates. (December 2025 – June 2026)

Thank You to Our Challengers

Chase ’76 and Wendy Carey
Rich Conti ’76
Mark Hempton ’76 and Lorie Dunne ’76
Verne Shortell ’76 and Stephen Harvey

The Class of 1976’s 50th Reunion Gift

Individually, we can each direct our Reunion Gift to areas most meaningful to us. Collectively, we will have extraordinary impact across all areas of the University. See information below on annual spendable gifts, capital/endowment gifts, and planned gifts.

Every gift type counts: outright gifts (cash, securities, tax-free IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions), pledges to be paid over five years, and, starting at age 70, bequest intentions (estate provisions shared with Colgate since graduation). Giving from your IRA can be an attractive way to address some US tax code changes that took effect in 2026.

All gifts made after our 45th reunion will be included in our 50th Reunion total. Our gifts also count towards Colgate’s visionary Campaign for the Third Century, which has surpassed $745 million toward its $1 billion campaign goal.

Annual Spendable Gifts
Annual gifts are put to work right away. The Colgate Fund impacts every student and program, expanding financial aid access to a Colgate education and enhancing the experiences of all students. The Colgate Athletics Fund provides our Athletics Director with discretionary funds that benefit every student-athlete and team in our Division 1 program. Gifts can also be directed to a specific academic department, sports team or campus program. 

Capital and Endowment Gifts
Colgate’s Third Century Plan is a long-term roadmap to guide actions and resources across the University. Under this transformative Plan, Colgate will enhance its academic programs, complete its campus, attract and support new levels of talent, and fully realize Colgate’s potential to become a national leader. Your gift in support of one of the Third Century priorities will help Colgate realize its ambitions. 

Planned Gifts
Planned gifts allow you to make a meaningful donation without an immediate monetary payment. Options include.

  • Gifts through your will or living trust: Name Colgate University as a beneficiary.
  • Gifts from retirement accounts or life insurance: Designate Colgate as a beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k), or a life insurance policy.
  • Gifts that provide you income: Some planned gifts, like a charitable gift annuity or charitable trust, can provide you with income and potential tax and estate benefits.
  • Gifts of assets: Donating non-cash assets, like real estate, may help you avoid capital gains taxes.

Each of these can be customized to fit your personal financial situation. This helpful video has more  information. The Colgate Planned Giving Office is ready to help you explore your options.

Join us!
Let’s come together and leave a legacy worthy of our remarkable class. See FAQs below for more information.

Sincerely,
’76 Class Gift Committee

Harry Horwitz and Sue Shibel Horwitz (Chairpersons)
Lynn Weiner Anderson
Patricia Apelian
Madeline T. Bayliss
Joseph C. Costanzo
Sally Frazee
Kevin C. Glynn
Robert A. Kindler
Steven W. Matson
Amr Nosseir
Jeffrey A. Oberg
Stephen W. Solomon
Joanne D. Spigner

How to Make a Gift to Colgate

Online
Donate Online Here

Phone
1-800-668-4428

Mail
Colgate University
P.O. Box 313
Canajoharie, NY 13317-0313

Here’s an easy-to-follow Primer on 50th Reunion Gift options.

For more information
Contact Michelle Jacobsen, Class of 1976 Staff Fundraising Liaison, at mjacobsen@colgate.edu.

For planned giving information, contact Andrew M. Coddington P’25, acoddington@colgate.edu, Associate Vice President for Advancement & Director of Planned Giving

View Gift Committee’s past emails here

50th Reunion FAQs

(Click to expand for answer.)

Online: Donate Online Here

Phone: 1-800-668-4428 during business hours

Mail: Please send a check to our secure lockbox at:
Colgate University
P.O. Box 313
Canajoharie, NY 13317-0313

Visit https://www.colgate.edu/give/ways-give for additional ways to make a gift including stocks, donor advised funds, and more

  • Outright gifts (cash / securities, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions) 
  • Pledges documented with a Statement of Intent
  • Estate and Life Income Gifts: Bequests and IRA designations; gift annuities and other life income arrangements; and gifts of assets, such as life insurance. Attaining Age 70 within the five-year counting period, a documented bequest intention will count for the 50th reunion. 
  • Any gift (outright or planned) that you made in the four years leading up to the Reunion year (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2025)
  • Any gift (outright or planned) that you make in your Reunion year (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026)
  • Any pledge, provided that it is documented during your Reunion year made for the four years following your Reunion (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2030).

You can give to any campus initiative that is meaningful to you. We hope you will consider designating at least some of your gift in support of the Colgate Fund, where needs are greatest, but your 50th reunion gift is an opportunity to make an impact on what matters most to you – whether that is an endowed fund, capital project, sports team, or other. 

Any gift that you make during your 50th reunion, and any documented pledge or planned giving as described above will be included in the totals for the Campaign for the Third Century. Essentially, any gift or pledge documented for the ten year counting period will count for the Campaign for the Third Century. 

Planned gifts provide many options to participate in your 50th Reunion Gift: gifts that can come through your estate – via your will/revocable trust or by beneficiary designation from your IRA or life insurance – or gifts that provide you income in return, such as a charitable gift annuity or charitable trust, or gifts of illiquid assets, such as unneeded real estate. Each can be tailored to your needs. Planned Gifts will be a vital component of our 50th Reunion Gift and for meeting the priorities of the Plan. Colgate’s Planned Giving Office is ready to assist with your philanthropy. 

Michelle Jacobsen, Class of 1976 Staff Fundraising Liaison mjacobsen@colgate.edu.

For planned giving: Andrew M. Coddington P’25, acoddington@colgate.edu, Associate Vice President for Advancement & Director of Planned Giving

Charitable Estate Planning Webinar

Hosted by Colgate’s Planning Giving Office

I am sure many of you are like me and thinking about personal, financial, and philanthropic goals. So when Colgate offered a philanthropic estate planning webinar for our class, I decided to attend and I am really glad I did. The representative from TIAA (Laura Alexander) was very knowledgeable and included many possible strategies – who knew there were so many options! Her detailed descriptions gave me a much stronger sense of what might work best for me. It’s definitely worth your time to watch. ~ Cynthia Perry, ’74

Watch Webinar >