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Planned Giving Gifts Honor Donors, Provide Needed Funding to Students

Nancy Egede-NissenSacred Heart University has been a grateful beneficiary of financial support from its many supporters and donors, but bequests to SHU that people specify in their wills are especially touching.

The family of alumna Nancy Egede-Nissen ’82 is in the process of establishing an endowed scholarship for Connecticut students studying social work who demonstrate a financial need. It is their way to honor and memorialize Nancy, who passed away in 2016. Throughout her life, she credited SHU for giving her opportunities that led to her successful and fulfilling career.

Nancy, a Trumbull native, enrolled in SHU’s social work program in 1979 at the age of 42. A single mother of three at the time, she was working long hours as an office manager when she realized social work was her true calling, said her husband Lars Egede-Nissen (the two met in the 1980s.)

Lars explained that his wife was in very difficult financial circumstances, as she was trying to support her family and tend to her medical needs as a type 1 diabetic. Financial help from SHU enabled her to enroll and find her passion.

“Nancy always said that SHU had so much compassion,” Lars recalled. “They saw the potential in her. Someone in that admissions department said, ‘She’s got it. She might not have a lot of money to pay for tuition, but let’s give her a scholarship and a shot at something great.’”

Planned gifts and bequests say thank you to SHU, but they also provide worthy students with the chance to serve others just like Nancy, her husband said.

At SHU, Nancy excelled in the social work program and went to Fordham University after graduation to earn her master’s in the field. She became an advanced clinical practitioner and was hired by former U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd as a case manager. Afterward, she worked at Family & Children’s Agency in Norwalk and at Connecticut Hospice before opening her own private practice. “She was an incredibly busy person,” Lars said.

Lars and Nancy met in Norwalk soon after Lars had been recruited from California to become executive director of Mid-Fairfield Hospice. The hospice had recently formed an alliance with Connecticut Hospice. Lars was so impressed by Nancy that he urged Connecticut Hospice to hire her. They did and stationed Nancy as their clinical coordinator in the Mid-Fairfield Hospice office.

The duo worked together for five years before a relationship blossomed. “One day we went out to dinner, and something just happened,” said Lars.

His expertise in running hospice centers took him from Connecticut to Maryland and then to Texas. The couple maintained a long-distance relationship, but when it came time for Lars to run a hospice in Houston, Nancy—a “true Connecticut Yankee”—decided to join him. The couple married and Nancy opened her private practice.

“She helped so many patients,” Lars said. Nancy received referrals from a local church and was able to help people improve their quality of life.

Lars concluded his hospice career as executive director emeritus of Hospice of Lansing in Michigan. Nancy also finished her own career there by becoming one of the hospice's most cherished volunteers in its inpatient center.

“All of the good work Nancy was able to accomplish started with SHU,” Lars said. “They gave her the keys to launch. This bequest is to say thank you … Nancy was always a person who said, ‘thank you.’”

“Nancy and Lars spent their entire professional careers helping others,” said Kierran Broatch, director of the Curtis Society for SHU’s advancement department. “It is very fitting and generous of Lars and the family to memorialize Nancy with this planned gift to establish an endowed scholarship, which will support social work students at Sacred Heart for generations to come. It is always rewarding to learn that this University has had such a positive impact on people that they are inspired to support the education of future Pioneers through their estate plans—and we are incredibly grateful for that.”

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Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to Sacred Heart University a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

 Bequest Language

"I, [name], of [city, state ZIP], give, devise and bequeath to SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose."

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to SHU or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to SHU as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to SHU as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and SHU where you agree to make a gift to SHU and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.
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