Paving the way through planned giving

Walking the Brickyard, finding the perfect study spot inside D.H. Hill Library and working long nights in the lab problem-solving for the next research project. For NC State engineering alumni, many of these spots are iconic to their time as students.

For future generations of Wolfpack students, they too will walk the same paths and find their home with the Pack. A planned gift can help make it a reality for them.

Through planned giving, alumni and friends are providing for future gifts to the College and University through their financial and estate planning.

“Thinking about the future and when you have passed can be difficult — but by making a plan now, you can help set aside funds for causes that are important to you,” shared Jennifer Rhatigan, MSME ’87, who set up an estate gift as part of NC State’s annual Day of Giving in March.

Rhatigan earned her Ph.D. in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Case Western Reserve University. As a mentor with NASA colleagues, students from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, AstraFemina and Phi Mu Sorority, Rhatigan has a passion for inspiring women and young girls with an interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). When it came time to select where her gift would go — she knew she wanted to support future female leaders in STEM.

“We do not know what engineering will look like years down the road, what majors the University will have — so in planning my gift, I wanted to ensure it was interdisciplinary and would assist in helping future female engineers,” she said. “My view is that engineering will become less ‘stove-piped’ and more interdisciplinary over time. I’d like to help that along as well.”

Choosing the right planned gift depends on personal circumstances and financial goals. Through the NC State Engineering Foundation, Inc., the following planned giving investment options are available: life income, charitable gift annuity, deferred gift annuity, charitable remainder annuity trust, testamentary life income options, charitable lead trust, retained life estate and giving with retirement plans.

In choosing to provide long-term, transformational support to the College through planned giving, these arrangements can help to provide for you/your loved ones, entitle you to charitable income and/or gift or estate deductions and to leave a legacy for the next generation.

“We are very grateful to all our alumni and friends of the College who provide generous gifts in support of our students,” said Louis A. Martin Vega, dean of the College of Engineering. “These gifts help the University to continue to attract the brightest and most energetic students who will make a difference in the world.”

If you are interested in exploring how a planned gift can help you achieve your financial and philanthropic goals, please contact the NC State Engineering Foundation, Inc. at engr-foundation@ncsu.edu or 919.515.7458.