Each year, Lawrence receives a number of gifts honoring the lives and memories of individuals who were students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, or friends of Lawrence or Milwaukee-Downer College. Lawrence deeply appreciates memorial gifts, and the development office stands ready to assist individuals and families who would like to direct memorial contributions to the college in meaningful ways.
The Lawrence Fund
The majority of memorial gifts are applied toward the general operations of the college, providing much-needed support for Lawrence's educational mission in liberal arts and music education. The college promptly acknowledges all such contributions and publishes a complete listing of individuals recognized through memorial gifts in the annual Report on Giving. When a family chooses to have memorial gifts directed to the college, gifts should be sent to the development office with a note indicating that the gift is a memorial. Please specify the person in whose name the gift is given. In addition, Lawrence notifies the family or friends of the decedent as memorial gifts are received.
Library
Memorial gifts may also be directed toward the college's library. Students, faculty, and visitors using these materials are reminded of the many individuals whose lives were touched by Lawrence and who have sought to promote its purpose for the benefit of others.
Permanent Memorials
Many individuals and families seek to perpetuate the memory of their loved one in a visible, permanent way on the campus. Lawrence staff members can provide advice on the best way of structuring a memorial gift in a way that fulfills the donors' wishes while promoting the best interests of the college. Many donors inquire about the possibility of planting a tree, installing a bench, or creating similar kinds of permanent memorials on the campus. Unfortunately, it is not always feasible for Lawrence to fulfill these wishes, although the development office will explore such ideas to see if they comport with institutional landscaping and campus plans.
Endowed Funds
Donors may create a named endowed fund in memory of the decedent that will exist in perpetuity and become a permanent addition to Lawrence's endowment. The college's Board of Trustees has established thresholds and guidelines for the creation of different types of endowed funds, beginning at the $100,000 level. Donors of endowed funds are provided with annual financial reports on their funds and a description of the activities, students, and programs they are supporting. Moreover, a description of the fund is included in the colleges' compendium of all endowed funds, which is published approximately every five years. Memorial gifts can, of course, be directed to bolster any of the over 500 existing funds in the college's endowment.
For additional information about memorial gifts at Lawrence, please contact the Office of Development at 800-283-8320, Ext. 6517.
