The Burnett Society

A giving society for individuals who support the university with a planned gift

To learn more about the impact of the Burnett Society, please watch our video below. You'll hear from Dr. Amy Hellman, Assistant Professor of Neurology at UNMC, and John Focht, UNO senior and Louise Coe Spire Memorial Scholarship Recipient. Both Dr. Amy Hellman and John Focht have been pursuing their dreams thanks to the Burnett Society.

Since 1967, the University of Nebraska Foundation has had a program to recognize donors who, through their consistent giving to the University of Nebraska, have raised the stature of the institution. These donors are members of the foundation's Giving Society. The Burnett Society specifically recognizes members of this group who support the university through a planned gift. The group takes its name from Edgar A. Burnett, a chancellor at the University of Nebraska during the Great Depression, who recognized the university would not succeed on state funding alone. Burnett called on 30 business and civic leaders, and together, they created the University of Nebraska Foundation to raise private funds for the university. The foundation received its first bequest in 1937 from a former faculty member; the second came in 1938 from an alumnus and 40-year employee of the library.

By establishing a planned gift to benefit the University of Nebraska, you demonstrate your commitment to education. Thank you for supporting the future of the University's outstanding students, faculty, research, programs and facilities.

How does it work?

Membership in the Burnett Society is reserved for those who have named the foundation as a beneficiary of their estate or have made a planned gift to the foundation. As a Burnett Society member, you join a distinguished group of people who share a common vision for the future of the University of Nebraska and believe in its mission.

Confidentiality

The details of your gift are always confidential. We will not release gift information or publish your name without your consent. You may also decline membership in the Burnett Society or request anonymity.

More information

Knowledgeable staff members are available to answer your questions about the benefits of planned giving. By working together on your gift arrangement, we can ensure your wishes will be clearly represented and carried out.

Legal designation

As a reminder, the appropriate designation in all legal language is: "the University of Nebraska Foundation, a nonprofit corporation."

Events

Our Burnett Society members enjoy several special events throughout the year specifically for them: campus tours, lunches and educational opportunities just to name a few.  If you are interested in learning more or would like to make a planned gift to benefit the University of Nebraska, please contact any member of the gift planning team.

Take a look below at photos from previous Burnett Society events: