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Make us a beneficiary of your IRA or other “non-probate” assets

Plan your beneficiaries

Why beneficiary designations are so powerful

Assets not included in your will are called non-probate assets. Examples are 401(k)s, IRAs, life insurance policies and other accounts. Designating the College of Saint Benedict as a beneficiary can have a big impact and may avoid unwanted taxes for your heirs.

Charitable benefits

Receive an estate tax charitable deduction
Reduce the burden of taxes on your family
Continue to use assets or property during your lifetime
Leave a lasting legacy to the College of Saint Benedict

Common gifted assets for beneficiaries

  • IRA
  • 401(k)
  • Life insurance
  • Joint real estate
  • Joint bank accounts
  • Joint property ownership

Designate College of Saint Benedict as a beneficiary to one or more of your accounts.

We have partnered with FreeWill to offer this free online platform that will walk you through the process of setting up your beneficiaries. These gifts have a big impact and can often prevent unwanted taxation.


You can impact future generations

Generosity comes in many forms, and it’s often the best way for you to support important causes that matter the most in your life. When you give to the College of Saint Benedict, you help us make a difference.

Ardeth Harth Duthoy ’52 and Everette “Ev” Duthoy ’52’s story

Ardeth (Harth) and Everette “Ev” Duthoy are keen to make solid investment choices. That inclination translates to their commitments to the annual and endowment funds at the College of Saint Benedict, where they believe students not only receive a good education but “instructions for a good life.”

“It is our belief that a good education is everything you need to build a strong future,” Ardeth explains. She and Ev learned this first-hand, when they were students at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University and while they were preparing their own kids (Mark, Dale, Paula, James, Mary, Teresa, Samuel and Lisa) for college. “We owe CSB and SJU for the life we have,” offers Ev. “Our college experience wasn’t only about the education. We had fun, and we met lifelong friends.”

Ardeth and Ev graduated from Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s in 1952 – she pursued sociology, and Ev graduated with a chemistry degree and became a urologic surgeon. Today, they are happy to share the rewards of their life so that current and future CSB students can have the opportunity of a residential liberal arts education.

In honor of their deceased daughter, Teresa Jean Duthoy, the Duthoys have established an endowed scholarship. In addition, they make an annual contribution to the endowed and annual scholarship fund and have included Saint Ben’s in their estate plans, which will significantly enhance the Teresa Jean Duthoy Scholarship Fund and create a legacy that honors their daughter and their love of Saint Ben’s.

The Duthoy children also contribute to their parents’ commitment to education. Ardeth and Ev have asked their children to refrain from buying them gifts for holidays or birthdays, but to give to their Saint Ben’s endowment instead.

Read more

Frequently Asked Questions

A non-probate asset is an account or other asset that won’t be governed by the decisions you make in a will. Instead, these accounts commonly have an assigned beneficiary that you choose. Types of non-probate assets include many retirement accounts, life insurance, some bank accounts and some assets (like a house or vehicle) that you jointly own with another person.

The most commonly gifted non-probate asset is an IRA or 401(k). This is because these accounts are always taxed (even for people below the estate tax threshold). Giving these accounts to charity keeps your heirs from having to pay unexpected taxes.

Yes! Even if you have a will in place you still need to designate beneficiaries for your non-probate assets.

Yes! Gifts of any size are deeply appreciated. Many people choose to leave a percentage of their estate, which scales up or down with your estate size.

No. You can usually make these easily and at no cost to you. 

Yes. You are always free to revise or update your estate plans.

We’re here to help you meet your goals!

Our team would be happy to speak with you in confidence about your giving goals with no obligation.

Name: College of Saint Benedict Planned Giving Office

Title :Tara Maas Tessmer ’14 and Katie Brand Riitters ’96

Schoenecker Commons
37 South College Avenue
St. Joseph, MN 56374

Phone: 320-363-5307

Email: csbplannedgiving@csbsju.edu

Already included us in your estate plan? Let us know

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More ways to make an impact

Gifts in a will or trust

Donations in your will or trust are (by far) the most popular type of planned gift. Establishing a will or a trust allows you to plan for the future and take care of the people and causes that you care most about.

Learn more

Popular tax-smart gifts

Many people are increasingly choosing to give non-cash assets, so they can have a bigger impact at less cost to them.

Learn more

Gifts that pay you back

Give assets while providing yourself or others with income for a period of time or distributions at a later date.

Learn more