U ND L EADS /// TODAY, TOMORROW, FORE VER Each of us leads as we are able. The 1889 Legacy Society honors those who have made a commitment for the future support of UND with estate, planned, or deferred gifts through the UND Alumni Association & Foundation.
JO Y IN T HE P R E S E N T,
SATISFACTION FOR THE FUTURE
Alumni in Legacy Society contribute early to their testamentary endowments to see immediate impact. In 2018, a letter arrived at the UND Alumni Association & Foundation (UNDAAF) outlining a couple’s intention to leave a gift to UND in their will. Both retired and with no children of their own, Dave Dornacker, ’74, and Jody Spencer, ’84, wanted to leave a meaningful legacy for the next generation at their alma mater.
1889 LEGACY SOCIETY
Their letter led to the establishment of two testamentary scholarship endowments. One would benefit students within the College of Arts & Sciences and the other for those studying occupational therapy. Both scholarships would support LGBTQ+ students or enrolled members of federally recognized Native American Tribes.
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There was just one lingering question they had about their future gift. As with any bequest, the scholarships outlined in their will would be funded only after their passing. Could they start making an impact sooner? A conversation with
UNDAAF Senior Director of Gift Planning Shane Hersch led to their decision to contribute to their scholarships early. “If we didn’t decide to intentionally develop and plan for that now, we obviously have no say about it after we’re gone. We thought if we do something now, we might actually get to see some results, which we have,” Jody explained. While they both had positive experiences at UND that led to full careers – Dave as co-owner of a grain commodity trading company and Jody as an occupational therapist and director of a Minneapolisbased healthcare system – Dave and Jody were very aware of the struggles underserved students often face while earning a college degree and wanted to help. “It was an enormous adjustment for First Nations students coming from the reservation, particularly with no real