Smart gift planning is a powerful way to shape the future—protecting what matters most to you while continuing the impact you started at Cornell Law. It’s not just about legacy; it’s about living your values and making a difference that lasts.
🎯 Gifts in Your Will or Trust
Costs nothing now. Create a legacy with one sentence.
📜 Beneficiary Designations
Quick, flexible option. Add Cornell Law School to your IRA, retirement plan, life insurance, or donor-advised fund (DAF).
📈 Appreciated Securities
Avoid capital gains taxes and support Cornell.
🏠 Real Estate
Give property and earn potential tax deductions and/or avoid capital gains.
⚖️ Life Income Gift
Make a gift of cash or appreciated securities and receive income for life using a Charitable Remainder Trust or a Charitable Gift Annuity
“Scholarships have always felt like one of the most powerful ways to pay it forward—and smart gift planning lets me take that impact even further. As someone who’s been connected to Cornell since my student days, I find staying involved as a volunteer, donor, and board member incredibly meaningful. But making a planned gift? That’s how I knew I could do something truly lasting for future students.
“For me, giving isn’t just something you do later in life—it’s something you build into your journey early on. I love the idea of planting seeds now, inspiring younger alumni to think about how even small commitments can grow into something big.
“It’s not about the size of the gift—it’s about starting a habit of generosity, living your values, and showing that philanthropy can be part of your story from the very beginning.”
-Andrianne Payson J.D. `00
Member, Dean’s Advisory Council
