Bonny Kellermann changed her major eight times as an undergraduate at MIT—ultimately graduating with an SB in political science—but her commitment to giving back to MIT and its students has never wavered. As an alumna, involved community member, donor, and employee (40-plus years in a number of administrative and leadership roles), Kellermann holds a unique position in the MIT community. This perspective allows her to see a broad spectrum of institutional needs along with the impact and benefits of the different ways of giving. After decades of supporting the Institute through outright gifts, Kellermann chose planned gifts to help provide scholarships for students—and income for herself. 

Like her MIT career, Kellermann’s giving has evolved over the years. She began with small gifts upon graduation that increased as her income allowed. An unexpected small inheritance after her mother’s passing in 2008 planted the seed in her mind to set up a scholarship fund to honor her parents. Just as they had supported her as a student, the planned gift would continue to provide support for Kellermann. She supplemented the inherited funds with money that she had been setting aside monthly into a mutual fund account. By donating this money to a charity, she did not have to pay capital gains, and the ultimate purpose of the fund was clear. “Because of my previous work in the admissions office, I’m painfully aware of how many students want to come to MIT but can’t afford to without scholarship support,” says Kellermann. 

Kellermann chose to establish a charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT), a deferred gift annuity, and a bequest intention to make her desire to help students a reality. Named in honor of her parents, the Rae and Alex Kellermann Scholarship Fund will help support MIT students who might not otherwise be able to afford to attend MIT. Kellermann knows how advantageous a CRUT is to both the Institute and the donor. Over time, she says, she expects to get more back than she put in, yet the principal will still grow to serve the ultimate purpose. “It’s mutually beneficial,” she says. “Because I get the stream of income, I was able to afford to make a gift that was a substantial portion of my annual income. And because of the opportunity to invest alongside the MIT endowment in the CRUT, I expect the amount of income that I receive to grow over time.” 

For Kellermann, supporting students and the community she adores comes naturally. “I love being at MIT,” says Kellermann. “And I love that so many people are focused on how their efforts can make the world better.”