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Bequests

Bequests—both large and small—have helped shape the Harvard of today, beginning with the University’s first bequest from John Harvard in 1638. You may choose to name Harvard as the beneficiary of all or a portion of your estate, or of a particular asset in your estate.

Through a bequest, you can provide critical, flexible support to the University or a specific School, or direct your gift to support ongoing specific needs such as undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships, faculty, or maintaining our facilities. Naming Harvard in your will costs you nothing now and can be revised should your family’s circumstances change throughout your lifetime.

If your are interested in a specific designation for your gift, or creating an endowed fund, please contact a member of the Harvard Gift Planning team.

How It Works

  • You may give cash, property (real estate, art, securities, etc.), or retirement plan funds. You can also use gifts from your bequests to fund a life income gift or lead trust, to provide for your spouse, children, or other beneficiaries while still supporting Harvard.
  • You can leave a specific amount or percentage of your estate to Harvard, or a percentage of the remainder of your estate after accounting for heirs and other beneficiaries.
  • Include the following sample language in your will: “I give ( _____ dollars or _____ percent of my estate or the remainder of my estate) to the President and Fellows of Harvard College, a Massachusetts educational, charitable corporation (for its general purposes) or (for the benefit of <name of School or affiliate, e.g., Harvard College, Harvard Medical School).”
  • Fill out our contact form or reach out to the Harvard Gift Planning team at 800-446-1277 or giftplanning@harvard.edu to let us know about your gift. We can help customize the language above to ensure your gift will be used how you intend—and we’d love to thank you!
  • Your gift may make you eligible for membership in on of Harvard’s recognition societies, which provide access to special events, news updates, an engaging community of fellow donors, and more.

“Harvard changed my life in ways I can never repay. I’ve made lifelong friendships and became a better critical thinker and citizen of the world. Making a bequest is the least I can do.”
—Melissa Blair Fisher AB ’94, MBA ’98

Learn more about Melissa’s bequest to Harvard.

For assistance in transfers of gifts from trusts and estates to Harvard, please contact:

President and Fellows of Harvard College
Alumni and Development Services
124 Mount Auburn Street, 4th Floor
Cambridge, MA 02138
Attn: Director, Trusts and Estates
DonorEstates@harvard.edu

Tax Identification Information

Harvard’s Tax ID number is 04-2103580.

Interested in learning more?

Fill out our online form or contact the Harvard Gift Planning team at 800-446-1277 or giftplanning@harvard.edu.

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