COLLEGE PARK, MD – The Robert H. Smith School of Business is participating in the Maryland Legacy Challenge, a new campus-wide initiative that ups the impact of any new or increased planned gifts with immediate-use matching funds to benefit students now.
“With the Maryland Legacy Challenge, the impact of a donor’s gift begins immediately,” said Jennifer Goforth, assistant dean and Chief Development Officer at Smith. “This program increases supporters’ influence by directing current as well as legacy funding to the people, programs and priorities they care about most. We are excited to bring this unique opportunity to our Smith alumni.”
Through the program, donors who document the Smith School in their estate plans can access a current-use matching gift equal to 10% of the estimated value of their planned gift, up to $10,000. The matching funds are directed to a current-use Smith School priority, chosen by the donor, that closely aligns with the legacy gift, creating an impact for students today while establishing support for the future.
For example, when a Smith supporter documents a $100,000 gift in their will or trust, the Maryland Legacy Challenge program will direct a $10,000 current-use cash match gift to an existing Smith School fund closely aligned with the purpose of the future gift. This money will be deployed immediately to support Smith students. The estate gift will provide lasting support after the donor’s lifetime.
How it works:
- Document a new or increased planned gift using the Maryland Legacy Challenge gift confirmation form.
- Unlock current-use matching funds equal to 10% of the planned gift's estimated value, up to $10,000.
- Direct the matching funds to a closely aligned Smith School current-use fund of your choice.
- Make an immediate impact while creating a lasting legacy for future generations of business students.
Formalizing a commitment requires only a straightforward intention document. Qualifying designations include bequests in wills or trusts, named primary or secondary beneficiaries for retirement accounts or life insurance policies, charitable gift annuities, and other deferred giving mechanisms.
The Maryland Legacy Challenge will continue while matching funds remain available. Matching funds are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. The initiative is a key component of the university’s Forward campaign and gifts will count toward that $2.5 billion fundraising goal.
To learn more, participate in the program, or discuss planned-giving opportunities benefiting the Smith School, visit the Maryland Legacy Challenge website or explore the University’s Gift Planning resources.
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About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in business education and cutting-edge research. The school’s world-class faculty facilitate experiential learning opportunities rooted in the real world. Smith students learn to think like entrepreneurs, prepared to drive positive impact. The school offers undergraduate, online and on-campus business master's, full-time, part-time, online and executive MBA, plus PhD and DBA degree programs, and non-degree and executive education programs. Where Smith leads, the future follows.