Award: Bronze

Institution: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Title of Entry: Estate Planning During COVID-19

About this Entry: The University of Michigan School of Information (UMSI) launched its first estate planning workshop in partnership with UM’s Office of Planned Giving in fall 2014. The on-campus workshop provided attendees with an overview of estate planning, tax considerations, durable powers of attorney, and other relevant considerations including estate gifts. Following the pilot estate workshop in 2014, UMSI and the Office of Planned Giving expanded this fall workshop to include units across campus, with invitations extended to alumni and friends in Southeastern Michigan. Results from the workshop included planned gift conversations, documented planned gifts, and feedback that the workshop is a resource and service.

When the university went to remote operations in response to COVID, UMSI decided to pivot from the broader campus estate workshop and hold its own virtual estate workshop specifically tailored to UMSI alumni. As part of this, UMSI built on a planned giving mailing sent to alumni between the ages of 50-85 at the beginning of the summer followed by two virtual estate planning workshops in August 2020. UMSI decided to hold two virtual estate workshops to ensure manageable numbers and better facilitate conversation. UMSI timed the workshops to occur 1.5 months after its planned giving mailing and invited alumni across the country. Additionally, UMSI invited two other units with similar constituencies to join and collaborated with the Office of Planned Giving throughout the process. Both workshops had strong attendance with individuals across the country, feedback was positive, and follow up planned gift conversations have occurred.