Secure the Future of Fact-Based, Nonpartisan Public Policy Research

A planned gift to the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University is a powerful way to establish a lasting legacy, ensuring that future leaders and decision-makers always have access to meaningful policy analysis on the most critical challenges facing Texas, the U.S., and the world. 

Public policy directly affects daily life—from global energy markets and healthcare delivery to economic growth and international relations. By including the Baker Institute in your will or estate plans, you translate your dedication to rigorous, data-driven analysis into a permanent resource for the future.

While the immediate benefits of making a planned gift often include significant financial and tax advantages, the full value lies in the ability to create a meaningful legacy. Your foresight and generosity directly guarantee that fact-based public policy research remains a resource for national and global leadership.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is a planned gift, and how does it support the Baker Institute?

A planned gift is a philanthropic commitment arranged in the present and allocated in the future. Such gifts allow you to sustain the Baker Institute’s vital work over the long term while balancing your personal financial and estate planning goals. Popular options include charitable bequests in your will or trust, life-income arrangements, and designations of retirement plan assets.

How are Baker Institute planned gifts and endowments managed?

Because the Baker Institute is an integral part of Rice University, all planned gifts and endowments are expertly managed through the Rice Planned Giving Office and Rice  Management Company. This institutional alignment ensures top-tier stewardship, financial transparency, and optimal long-term growth for your investment.

What are the tax advantages of making a planned gift?

Planned giving offers distinct financial advantages depending on the vehicle you choose. Key benefits can include:

  • Substantial deductions on federal income taxes.
  • Reduction or elimination of capital gains taxes on gifts of appreciated securities or real estate.
  • Reduced estate tax burdens for your heirs.
  • The ability to receive steady income streams during your lifetime through life-income arrangements like gift annuities.

Where can I find more resources to help plan my gift?

Since all Baker Institute planned gifts are coordinated centrally with Rice University, a wealth of detailed information, including interactive gift calculators, legal disclosure language, and specific information on the Captain James A. Baker Society, is available directly on the Rice Planned Giving Website.

Ready to Explore Your Legacy?

The development team at the Baker Institute can help you develop a philanthropic strategy tailored to your family's financial objectives while leaving a legacy in support of public policy research and analysis. 

If you are interested in learning more about making a planned gift or have questions about how your legacy can uniquely support the Baker Institute, please reach out to us for a confidential, no-obligation conversation.  You can be assured that we will never pressure you into making important decisions and will honor your confidentiality in all matters.

Contact Us:

Jill Assir 
Director of Development
Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University 
Email: [email protected] 
Phone: 713-348-2977

Office: James A. Baker III Hall, suite 120I