A gift in your will or living trust is one of the most meaningful ways to support UC Berkeley, and one of the most flexible. You can shape your legacy on your terms while maintaining full control of your assets during your lifetime.
A flexible way to leave a lasting Berkeley legacy
You can designate a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or whatever remains after providing for loved ones. Because your plans can be updated at any time, your generosity will support Berkeley’s mission for generations to come without limiting your options today. A gift through your will or living trust can be completed in as little as a single sentence, and it allows you to make a larger impact than might be possible during your lifetime.
Ways to structure your gift
- A specific bequest. Designate a particular dollar amount or a specific asset, such as securities or real estate.
- A percentage bequest. Direct a set percentage of your estate to UC Berkeley, allowing your gift to grow proportionally with your assets over time.
- A residual bequest. Leave all or a portion of what remains after other obligations and bequests have been fulfilled.
- A contingent bequest. Designate UC Berkeley as a beneficiary if your primary beneficiaries are not living at the time of your passing.
- An endowed gift. Establish a named endowment to support a school, program, or scholarship in perpetuity.
Do You Have Questions?
How to make a gift in your will or living trust
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Reflect on your priorities
Decide which Berkeley programs you’d like to support and how you’d like to structure your gift.
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Talk with your attorney
Share Berkeley’s legal designation: the University of California, Berkeley Foundation (Tax ID: 94-6090626).
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Use sample bequest language
Our team can provide language tailored to your goals, from unrestricted gifts to named endowments.
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Let us know
Notifying our team is confidential and carries no obligation, but it lets us thank you and confirm your wishes can be fulfilled.