Leaving a legacy

Many of the largest and most impactful gifts that the University receives from alumni and friends come from donations made in Wills. This type of support is incredibly personal, and makes a significant and meaningful difference to the University’s mission and to our communities.

We spoke with alumnus Jesse Cantrill, who volunteers for the University as a USA Alumni Group committee member and as our representative for the British Schools and Universities Foundation (BSUF). We were honoured to learn that Jesse had recently taken the decision to leave a legacy gift to the University.

Jesse, thank you so much for remembering the University of London in your Will. Tell us a little about your connection to the University.

I did the MSc degree in Organisational Behaviour through the External Program (now the University of London distance and flexible learning programmes) in the 1990's. As I was an older student, I developed a professional relationship with my tutor and with the course administrators at Birkbeck College on the occasions when I visited London to sit my examinations.

In the course of events, I met people in the Birkbeck Development Office and became the US representative when Birkbeck joined the British Schools and Universities Foundation. I now act in that role for the University of London Development Office. You can understand that it is not easy to discuss alumni giving with those who work in Development without being an annual donor.

You have been a long-standing donor and volunteer for the University. What has inspired your support?

I need to admit that I went to the University of Pennsylvania, at the time when it was the most expensive university in the US, free of charge. This made it possible for me to become a military officer, to go to graduate school, and to have a professional career. So I have been trying for a long time to pay it back. 

It seemed only natural to contribute to the University of London, as I gained so much from the course of studies and from the friendship of faculty and staff.

What prompted you to choose this type of giving?

The Ivy League schools in the States encourage both regular giving and legacy giving, and I have included Penn (University of Pennsylvania) in my Will. It seemed only natural to do the same for the University of London. 

What do you hope your donation will achieve?

My gifts to Penn and to the University of London are so small that I don’t expect anything. But taken together with everyone else, they are important. This kind of money is transformative for students and faculty alike.

What advice would you give to anyone else who is considering leaving a gift in their Will?

Don’t put if off. 

Leaving a gift in your Will is a meaningful way to leave a lasting impact on the University and our students that will benefit generations to come.