Alum couple has campus-wide impact
Pete and Eunice Kuhn keep finding new ways to benefit UND academics and athletics
Their generosity dates back to 1967, just two years after they graduated from college.
That’s when Pete and Eunice Kuhn gave their first gift of $20 to support their alma mater. Since then, the dollars have added up, as nearly every year the couple has supported the University of North Dakota.
“It’s a passion for us,” Pete shared. “We want to see UND succeed, in sports and elsewhere.”
In the past couple of years, the Kuhns have found a new way to support their alma mater and save on income tax by giving through their Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Rollover. Gifts can be made directly from an IRA account once the owner is 70½ years or older. These gifts (up to $100,000 per year) are not reportable as taxable income but still qualify for the minimum required distribution, which can lower income and taxes.
“It makes economic sense for us since we are at the age where we are required to withdraw or take a penalty,” said Pete. “But we still get to control where that is distributed to UND — sports, scholarships or something else, without having to write individual checks.”
Lifetime of giving
Pete and Eunice appreciate the ease of funding projects through their IRA rollover, knowing the money is there and they can designate it where they see fit.
They originally took the IRA distribution as income, made a donation and then deducted it. Their tax advisor then explained the benefits of directly giving to UND from their IRA. Some benefits include saving taxes, satisfying the required minimum distribution, and reducing taxable income. For those who are no longer able to itemize deductions due to the new tax laws, giving directly from your IRA is an attractive option.
Over the years, the Kuhns have donated to countless areas, including scholarships for Fighting Hawks Athletics, the College of Business & Public Administration, and the College of Education & Human Development; as well as the building of the Betty Englestad Sioux Center and the High Performance Center; a media center for basketball and locker rooms for football and volleyball.
Most recently, with the money from their IRA rollover, they funded part of the expense for the new mascot costume.
“We’re so grateful for the continued support of Pete and Eunice,” said Steve Brekke, senior associate athletic director at the UND Alumni Association & Foundation. “They’ve always been an example for others about what it means to be UND proud, and this is just another way they continue to make an impact at their alma mater. Loyalty like theirs is hard to come by.”
Pete, a former owner of the insurance adjustment company Border Area Adjustment, and Eunice, a long-time art teacher in East Grand Forks, Minn., feel fortunate to be so connected to their alma mater.
“We do everything we can to support UND and we will continue to do that as long as we can,” Pete said.
For more information about how to give through your IRA Rollover, go to UNDalumni.org/IRA or click here.
About the Author
Lauren Vetter, ’18, is a Content Specialist at the University of North Dakota Alumni Association and Foundation. The recent graduate of UND and native of Fargo, double majored in Communication and Public Affairs, with a minor in Nonprofit Leadership.
