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Leave a legacy

A tradition of benefaction

Legacies have contributed greatly to Hughes Hall from its earliest days and are vital to its future. Many generations of Hughesians have benefited from the generosity of predecessors who have helped the College to flourish by making legacy gifts.

This tradition was established by Jürgen and Emily Pfeiffer, whose legacy in 1895 enabled the College to build the Margaret Wileman Building, and is remembered in the Pfeiffer Room and the Pfeiffer Fellowship. Throughout its history, legacies have helped Hughes Hall to expand and thrive into the vigorous intellectual community it is today.

We are now looking to build a bright and dynamic future for the next 100 years of College life, and we would very much appreciate your support in this endeavour.

Helping future generations of Hughesians

The College aims to set the highest academic standards and create the best possible learning environment, whilst also building a College community rich in social, sporting and cultural activity for its students. Our vision for Hughes Hall is to be a recognised leader in the University of Cambridge.

Legacy gifts can help the College achieve this vision in many ways: by helping to grow our endowment, develop new buildings which provide a home away from home and a supportive environment for learning and discovery, supporting Fellowships that contribute to world-class research and the future of science, law, education and business, establishing scholarships that make a Cambridge education possible to people from all walks of life and providing new resources for the Library.

Benefits of making a legacy gift

Many Hughesians and their families who wish to make a significant gift to the College are unable to do so during their lifetime because of everyday commitments. Including a legacy in your Will offers you the opportunity to make that gift, while the charitable status of the College means that legacies and bequests to it may be free from UK Inheritance and Capital Gains Taxes, reducing the total liability on your estate depending on your personal tax status and the prevailing regulations.

Recognising your gift

The College recognises that your Will is a personal matter that you may wish to keep confidential. However, if you do choose to inform us of your intention to make a bequest to Hughes Hall, it will give us the opportunity to thank you for your support and to ensure we fulfil your wishes long into the future.

We are delighted to invite all legacy donors, who share their intentions with the College, to join our legacy circle, ‘The Marsh Marigolds’. This golden flower has been associated with the Hughes Hall community since 1885, having grown in abundance along the Cam and in the water meadows near the College’s first home in Newnham. Members will be welcomed back to the College for our annual donors’ event, when the College thanks its members for making such an important decision.

To discuss legacy giving please contact the Alumni Relations & Development Office.

How to leave a legacy

A legacy to the College may be included in your Will, either when it is first drawn up, or subsequently by the addition of a Codicil to an existing Will. If using a Codicil, it needs to be separately signed, dated and witnessed by two Witnesses, as for a Will.

We recommend in any event using a qualified solicitor to ensure your Will is valid. A legacy to be used at the President’s and Fellows’ discretion is the most beneficial way in which you could help further the College’s aims. It gives the College flexibility to use your gift in the most effective way at any given time in the future. However, if you would prefer to direct your bequest to a specific purpose, we would be happy to provide you with a list of our current requirements.

We suggest you use the following wording when donating to Hughes Hall via your Will:

“I give to the President and Fellows of Hughes Hall, Cambridge, CB1 2EW (Registered Charity Number 1137471) the residue / a proportion of the residue of my estate / the sum of £ (amount) free of tax for the President and Fellows to apply in such a manner as they in their absolute discretion think fit for the benefit of the College and I declare that the receipt of the Director of Development or Bursar, or other authorised officer for the time being of the College shall be a good and sufficient discharge to my Executors.”

Legacy giving in the USA

For US residents a planned gift can offer significant tax benefits, substantially reducing capital gains and estate tax, and can provide immediate income to you or a beneficiary. US taxpayers wishing to support Hughes Hall through an estate plan may do so with Cambridge in America (CAm).

We suggest you use the following wording to leave a specific bequest to Cambridge in America in your Will:

“I bequeath to Cambridge in America, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation organized and existing under the laws of the District of Columbia with the business address of 1120 Avenue of the Americas, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10036, the sum of ________ [dollars or percentage of estate], to be used exclusively for its charitable purposes. It is my hope that these funds will be utilized by the President and Fellows of Hughes Hall, Cambridge, CB1 2EW for support of general operations.”

** Under its charter and in accordance with US tax law, Cambridge in America may not receive restricted gifts. However, the Board gives every consideration to donors’ requests when allocating gifts to Cambridge and its colleges.

There are many other ways of giving in a tax-efficient way from the US, including retirement plans, life insurance policies or life income plans, such as Charitable Remainder Trusts or Charitable Lead Trusts. CAm would be delighted to discuss the options with you and recommends that you also seek the advice of counsel when preparing your Will or codicil. US supporters making legacies are also eligible for membership of CAm’s legacy society, The 1209 Society.

For more information visit cantab.myplannedgift.org or contact plannedgiving@cantab.org.

Leaving a Legacy brochure

Hughes Hall Legacy Brochure WEB FINAL 23 UPDATE

Our Leaving a Legacy brochure can also be downloaded here.