Leave a lasting impact at Niagara University while also achieving your personal philanthropic and generational financial goals.
Planned giving offers you the opportunity to make a significant, enduring investment in Niagara University without affecting your current lifestyle. By including NU in your long-term plans, you help secure the financial future of the university and its students for generations to come.
Explore Your Options
Our team is happy to help you decide the best way for you to leave your legacy. If these options interest you, fill out the contact box below and we will connect with you promptly.
- Gifts That Cost You Nothing Now: Include NU in your Will or Trust (General Bequest), or name us as a Beneficiary on your Retirement Account or Life Insurance Policy.
- Gifts That Pay You Income: Learn about a Charitable Gift Annuity that provides fixed payments for life while offering immediate tax benefits.
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Marcus Brown Heritage Society
The Brown family’s legacy will live on for generations at Niagara University
The Marcus Brown Heritage Society recognizes those alumni and friends who have invested in Niagara University through a planned gift. The Society is named after Marcus Brown, who is credited for rescuing Niagara University from foreclosure in 1882.
How Marcus Brown Saved and Transformed Niagara University
Niagara University exists today because of Marcus Brown. He saved the university from foreclosure in 1882. Over a century later, Marcus Brown’s grandson Richard Brown and his wife Jane Brown left Niagara University a multi-million-dollar estate gift, continuing the family’s legacy on our campus.
In December of 1882, Father Michael Cavanaugh, then Treasurer of Niagara University, learned that the seminary’s property would be subject to immediate foreclosure unless an outstanding loan could be repaid in full. Unable to secure the money, Father Cavanaugh suggested they ask Marcus Brown for assistance. Brown was a Niagara Falls clothing store owner and a friend of Father Cavanaugh. Though Brown was not a Niagara University student, a faculty member, or even a member of the Catholic faith, he quickly agreed to lend the seminary the money without interest. Brown appeared in person the following day to hand over the cash, and the seminary repaid the loan in full two years later.
Brown’s transformative generosity came at a critical point in Niagara’s history and is reflective of St. Vincent de Paul’s message to serve the needs of others. The Niagara community owes the Brown family an incredible debt of gratitude. In April 1971, Niagara University unveiled the plaque honoring Marcus Brown in an intimate gathering including Brown’s grandson, Richard Brown, and his wife, Jane.
Richard and Jane Brown continued Marcus Brown’s legacy of generosity and commitment to the university and the community. In 2005, they made a meaningful commitment by including Niagara University in their will. In recognition of the Brown family’s enormous generosity, the university renamed its legacy society the Marcus Brown Heritage Society. Upon Jane Brown’s passing in 2021, Niagara University was the beneficiary of an estate gift totaling over $8.5 million. This gift will impact generations of students through scholarships and provide necessary improvements to our campus for centuries to come.