Alumnus Gift Unlocks Retirement Money in a New Way
Joelle and Bob Triebsch
By Courtney Tompkins
Robert “Bob” Triebsch’s lifelong ties to UC Davis have inspired him to support the university many times over the past 60 years, but his latest gift made him the first donor to tap into a retirement account to fund a charitable gift annuity.
“Without access to higher education, I would not have had the opportunities I have had, so I think it’s important to give back to the educational system of which I’ve been a great beneficiary,” Triebsch said.
To initiate his gift, Triebsch ’60 took advantage of a new law enacted in January that allows a qualified charitable distribution from an IRA to include a one-time gift of up to $50,000 to fund a charitable gift annuity (CGA) that will provide the donor with income for life. As an attorney who specializes in estate planning, Triebsch described the giving opportunity as a win-win.
“When I’m advising clients, I typically recommend that if they have charitable inclination, they give from their retirement funds as charities do not pay income taxes, while heirs do,” he explained.
When donors create a CGA with UC Davis to benefit themselves, they receive fixed payments for life in exchange for their gift. The payout rate is dependent on the donor’s age at the time of the gift, with older donors earning higher rates.
Triebsch’s CGA also partially fulfills a bequest commitment to fund a $100,000 endowment for student scholarships. He and his late wife, Joelle Triebsch, decided many years ago to fund scholarships at their alma maters, UC Davis and UC Berkeley. “We both have very fond spots in our hearts for the UC system, so we wanted to try and benefit students in the future,” he said.
Lifelong supporter of higher education
Triebsch spent much of his childhood in the city of Davis, as he was just six years old when his family moved there from San Francisco after the end of World War II. His late mother, Virnelle, retired from UC Davis after working 30 years at the School of Veterinary Medicine, from its founding in 1948.
The campus was much smaller when Triebsch was in college, with about 4,000 students, or 10% of current enrollment. He said that it provided opportunities to connect with faculty on a personal level, which helped him grow as a student.
“The size of the campus was very beneficial because you could walk with your professor after class to the student union and have a cup of coffee and pick their brain,” he said.
Triebsch also spoke fondly about his time as a member of a then–secret society on campus, known today as Sword and Sandals and the California Club, comprised of student leaders from various UC campuses.
“The meetings provided a way to informally connect with administrators, staff and student leaders to address political changes and concerns on campus, as well as identify opportunities for growth and advancement of the university,” he said.
These “skull sessions,” as Triebsch called them, included notable leaders such as then–UC Davis Chancellor Emil Mrak and University of California President Clark Kerr, he said.
Triebsch has been connected to higher education for much of his adult life, serving for the past 35 years on the Foundation Board of Directors for California State University, Stanislaus, 12 years on the Turlock High School Board of Trustees and on the Board of Trustees of the UC Berkeley law school.
He was also a founding member of the Davis Chancellor’s Club, the oldest donor recognition society on campus, and he served for three years on the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee.
Like Triebsch, you, too, can make a difference at UC Davis with a gift that pays you income. Contact the Office of Planned Giving at (530) 754-2286 or plannedgiving@ucdavis.edu to learn more.