Q and A with Doris Duncan

Longtime faculty member Doris Duncan thought it was the perfect time to make a charitable gift annuity (CGA) and create the Doris G. Duncan Technology Research Fund. We recently interviewed Dr. Duncan to find out more about her planned gift.

What motivated you to make a gift?

As a former faculty member for nearly 40 years at Cal State East Bay, I know how challenging it can be to get much needed funding to support research, journal publications, and to present academic papers at conferences. Yet research and writing are integral parts of academic life, especially for faculty seeking tenure and promotion.

I believe in the mission and values of Cal State East Bay and the College of Business and Economics, and I wanted to do something positive after retiring from my professorship in Computer Information Systems. My endowment gift seems like an excellent way to encourage faculty research in collaboration with students while making effective use of technology. 

Many students and some faculty are like me in being the first ones in their families to complete college. My gift will have more impact at Cal State East Bay than it would at a well- endowed top tier university or an Ivy League school. In short, my gift is a modest way I can help to make the world a better place one faculty member and one student at a time.

Why did you decide on a charitable gift annuity as the vehicle for your gift?

A charitable gift annuity is a win-win proposition. Cal State East Bay can use my gift to support my stated purpose. I received an income tax deduction for the year I made my gift. I will also receive income from the CSU Education Foundation for the rest of my life. I will point out that the rate of interest paid by the annuity is noticeably higher than interest rates paid by banks and financial institutions today. I consider the annuity to be a form of longevity insurance. A charitable gift annuity makes good sense if the donor has a long life expectancy.

In your own words, what is it about Cal State East Bay that makes you want to donate?

I invested nearly 40 years of my professional life at Cal State East Bay and wanted to continue contributing in some way after retirement. Part of the fun of my position was the research and writing. My gift is a way to share my passion by encouraging others to research and write. This is my way of letting my peers and future faculty and students know I believe in them. Their lives matter. I believe in Cal State East Bay’s mission and the diverse community it serves. My values align well with the mission and values of the College of Business and Economics. By making a planned gift, my legacy will help support CBE for the rest of my life and beyond. I have more say in how the money gets used by making the gift while I’m alive and well, plus I earn dividends in the form of psychic income for the rest of my life!

Would you recommend others give through a charitable gift annuity?

The guaranteed fixed income stream for life enabled through a charitable gift annuity provides longevity insurance. One has less reason to worry about running out of money if blessed by a long life. A gift annuity combined with having more than one income stream also provides peace of mind. 

Is there anything else you would like our readers to know?

Planned giving is a wonderful vehicle for supporting the people and programs you love with the potential of a significant savings on income taxes. Among the many ways to create a legacy are outright cash gifts, appreciated property, charitable gift annuities, IRA charitable rollovers, bequests, and more. Estate planning has many dimensions. I would advise anyone thinking about making a significant gift to explore the possibilities by meeting with one of the knowledgeable members of University Advancement. They can help you find a meaningful purpose to support with more impact than you may ever have imagined.

If you are interested in setting up a charitable gift annuity, or a different planned gift, please contact Holly Stanco, Associate Vice President for Development, at holly.stanco@csueastbay.edu or (510) 885-3183.