Planned Giving

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Planning the future. Giving possibility.

Your planned gifts can have an enormous impact on the future of Wheaton College and our students—an impact that will last for generations. A planned gift can benefit both you and Wheaton, during your lifetime and in the future. By including the college in your financial plans, you become a member of the Wheaton College Founders Society.

Learn more about the Founders Society and explore planned giving at Wheaton.

My gift. My way.

“Perhaps unusual for most alumni, I have ‘attended’ Wheaton several times—as a student, as a bride in Cole chapel, and as a staff member, a trustee and recipient of an alumni award and honorary degree. These experiences helped shape my thinking and approach to life’s complexities and gave me the tools to succeed and grow. My husband, Joe, and I want to see Wheaton prosper into the future. So, we established a charitable gift annuity a few years ago and another one just recently. We are able to reap the benefits, financially as well as emotionally, knowing that the funds provided now will help students and the college for many years to come. All of our philanthropic support is crucial to the college’s ability to provide excellence in an increasingly competitive environment.”

Susan Stampler Paresky ’68
Former senior vice president and chief philanthropy officer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and former Wheaton College Trustee

“Wheaton changed the trajectory of my life, starting with the generous scholarship that I received. I loved the campus from the beginning and I treasure the friendships I developed that are still ongoing. What continues to impress me about Wheaton is its holistic approach to education—the rigorous academics, the arts, the makerspaces and plentiful extracurriculars. Thanks to the education I received, I was well prepared to pursue other great opportunities, including graduate school at Cornell University. My entire career has been centered on financial aid at Massachusetts Institute of Technology [MIT]. So, I am passionate about the importance of scholarships, and that led me to create a named Wheaton Fund scholarship and to include Wheaton in my estate planning. I have eight grandchildren, and if every one of them went to Wheaton, I would be very happy. You can go anywhere with a Wheaton education.”

Susan Anthony Wilson ’71
Retired associate director of student financial aid and resource development at MIT

“Soon after I graduated in 1994, I updated the beneficiaries of my life insurance policy and added Wheaton. Later on, when the opportunity came to include Wheaton in my first will—leaving part of my legacy to the place that helped me lay the foundation of my life—it was a natural step. I wanted to give back to benefit future Wheaton students, in the same way that those who came before me supported my Wheaton experience. I am in the process of updating my will again, acknowledging the fact that I am about 15 years from retirement. I spent time reflecting on the nearly 32 years I have been connected to Wheaton and the profound impact it has had (and still has) on my life. This reflection included the joyous fact that one of my former students is a first-year student at Wheaton now, three decades after I started my Wheaton journey.”

Jeffrey Banks ’94
High school mathematics and special education teacher, Boston Public Schools; Program coordinator and instructional coach, Catapult Learning
Recent Member-at-Large, Alumni Board of Directors; Past Chair, Engagement and Philanthropy Committee, Alumni Board

“As a Classics major at Wheaton, I enjoyed the benefits of small classes and gifted professors. I spent my junior year in Rome at the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies, where the world of Greek and Roman archaeology opened to me. Advancing my education, I earned graduate degrees in classical archaeology at UNC-Chapel Hill and went on to a 35-plus-year professorship in ancient art and humanities at the University of Louisville in Kentucky. The life-changing experiences at Wheaton and in Rome led me and my parents to establish a scholarship to support student travel abroad. A substantial portion of my estate will continue to provide that kind of opportunity. The college had a profound influence on my intellectual and personal growth and laid the foundation for a rewarding career, so I’m happy to contribute to Wheaton’s commitment to high-quality education.”

Linda Gigante ’72
Professor emerita of ancient art and humanities
University of Louisville, Fine Arts Department

“At Wheaton innovative professors taught me to communicate with impact and authenticity, and to recognize (and embrace) differences, opportunities and challenges; academic advisors provided coaching and real-world connections, leading to internships and that critical first job. I have had great career success; possess a love of travel fostered during my junior year abroad at Oxford; and I am married to my best friend [Kathryn ‘Kate’ Klode-Tomasini ’97]—all thanks to Wheaton. I’m including Wheaton in my estate planning so that
students like me (for whom college wouldn’t have been possible without financial aid) can define what an abundant life looks like, and how Wheaton can enable their quest.”

Eric Tomasini ’97
Management consultant, senior director, Huron Consulting Group
Alumni Board of Directors and Board of Trustees

Gifts by Bequest

A Bequest to Wheaton College of any size is significant to Wheaton College’s future. By letting the college know Wheaton is in your estate plans, you will become a valued member of the Founders Society and solidify your legacy to Wheaton.

Estate Gifts

Gifts by Donor Advised Funds (DAF)

A DAF gift or Donor Advised Fund can be a creative way to meet your charitable goals. They can be used to set up recurring gifts or annual gifts while providing you immediate tax income deduction for your gift to Wheaton.

Donor Advised Funds

Gifts Through Your IRA

If you are 70 ½ or over and looking for a tax-smart way to give, you may want to consider what an IRA Charitable gift can do to maximize your donation and meet your minimum distribution requirements.

IRA Gifts

Life Income Gifts

A charitable gift annuity provides fixed payments for life in exchange for a gift of cash or securities to Wheaton College. You can establish a charitable gift annuity with cash or appreciated securities, and receive a fixed income stream for life.

Charitable Gift Annuities

Contact the Office of Gift Planning for personalized assistance:

Suzie Hurd Greenup
Associate Director, Major Gifts and Gift Planning
508-286-3393
greenup_suzan@wheatoncollege.edu