Three Gifts that Keep Giving
The Phillips Society welcomes alumni, parents, and friends who have made a commitment to Bates’ future by including the College in their estate plans. We are grateful for each and every gift that helps ensure that the best of Bates will endure for generations to come.
Gifts from Phillips Society members have transformed an even stronger future. Here are just a few examples.
A gift and a namesake. In 1998, Bates’ fourth president, Charles F. Phillips, and his wife, Evelyn Minard Phillips made a $9-million endowment bequest. The gift helped pay for Pettingill Hall, now a central fixture on campus. Their investment in Bates has also supported student and faculty fellowships offering immersion experiences in other cultures.
A gift of literary note. Iva Foster graduated from Bates in 1930. She later attended Columbia to receive a degree in library science. In 1993 her estate made a gift to Bates that would provide income for her family while growing steadily as part of the Bates Pooled Income Fund. Her gift came to Bates to create the Irene & Irving Foster Library Endowment, which supports student and faculty resources at the library. Almost 100 years ago, Iva may not have foreseen the transformation of how students would use the library at Bates but her generosity lives on to help Bates adapt to 21st-century library science.
A gift that keeps giving. John R. Hester ’75’s beneficiary designation that came to Bates just last year has added $3.2 million dollars to Bates’ unrestricted endowment—a cornerstone of the college’s yearly operations, providing flexible annual income that can be used to address emerging needs. In recent years, the unrestricted endowment has helped to fund critical campus improvements including revitalizing Chase Hall, Hathorn Hall, and Dana Hall, home to the Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning. John’s gift is a significant part of his class’s 50th Reunion Gift this year.
What you can expect from Phillips Society membership:
- Invitations to special events and receptions
- Recognition in college communications
- Special communications throughout the year
- Tokens of appreciation that will remind you of your enduring connection to Bates
Become a Phillips Society Member
Here are three simple ways to join.
- Name Bates in your will or trust.
- Name Bates a charitable beneficiary of your IRA, your bank account, donor-advised fund and/or life insurance policy.
- Donate assets in return for a secure income for you or your loved ones.
To indicate your interest in joining the Phillips Society or to learn more, please fill out the form below. As always, you can reach out to the Office of Gift Planning at any time.