Many people don’t know they can include a university in their will

Many people don't realise their will can enable “groundbreaking medical research” or help young people “develop innovative ideas”. They are more likely to leave money for charities such as the KWF Cancer Relief Foundation or Doctors Without Borders.

Four years ago, fourteen university funds joined forces for a joint fundraising campaign. Now, the campaign is being revived with new radio and newspaper advertisements.

“Education and research are often seen as the government's responsibility rather than a charitable cause,” explains Robbert Jan Feunekes, from the Utrecht University Fund. He argues that donations can enable wonderful projects that would otherwise receive no funding.

Emergency funds and PhD placements
The campaign's main focus is the importance of scientific research. However, the money can also fund emergency support for students or set up PhD positions for PhD candidates.

Feunekes explains that donations often support a specific cause close to the donor's heart, such as a particular illness or a subject they studied while at university.

However, sometimes people leave a bequest without contacting the Utrecht University Fund beforehand. “In such cases, the sum can be spent at our discretion. Nevertheless, we very much appreciate it when people discuss matters with us in advance. That way, we can discuss what someone would like to achieve and ensure it is properly set out in their will.”

Tens of thousands of euros
Most bequests to Utrecht University come from people who have studied or worked at the university. They have often had successful careers: the sums involved can run into tens of thousands of euros.

Some years, the institutions receive more money than others. For example, Utrecht University is receiving a bequest of 75,000 euros this year, specifically for the botanical gardens. Last year, however, the institution received nothing.

At Wageningen University, the annual figure is around fifty to two hundred thousand euros, says Harry Verwaaijen, from the Wageningen Fund. “There are sometimes years when we receive nothing, and other times there’s a real spike.”

Last year was one such exceptional year. Four Dutch universities received ten million euros from a bequest: Wageningen, Tilburg, Twente and VU Amsterdam each received a one-off payment of 2.5 million.

The University of Groningen’s endowment fund received a donation of 600,000 euros a few years ago, explains staff member Elise Kamphuis: “But last year we got nothing, and next week we’ll be receiving 50,000 euros.” She hopes that the campaign will boost income: “People are more likely to donate to well-known charities. They often don’t realise that university endowment funds are also recognised charities.”

Initial response
This week, the funds are meeting to assess the initial response to the new campaign, says Feunekes. Rotterdam reportedly has two registrations, and two people have contacted UU. “Those aren’t huge numbers, but they are valuable. In the previous campaign, we ended up with dozens of contacts.”

In other countries, bequests and other donations make up a much larger proportion of a university’s income. In the United States, for example, it is much more common to provide financial support to your former university after completing your studies. For instance, the endowment of the prestigious Harvard University, worth billions of dollars, consists of donations and bequests.