Paul Perlman ’76 Gives Back Through Donor-Advised Fund and Volunteering

Paul Perlman graduated from SUNY Oneonta in 1976 and went on to Harvard Law School and a successful career as a trial lawyer. Now a member of the College at Oneonta Foundation Board of Directors, he is giving back through a donor-advised fund that is funded with appreciated mutual funds.

He has endowed a scholarship in memory of his parents and continues to support the College with unrestricted gifts from the donor-advised fund.

“The donor-advised fund permits you to handle all of your charitable giving under one platform, to bunch charitable contributions into one tax year with one receipt, and to identify the charities and the timing of your gifts,” Paul explains. “Since the SUNY Oneonta Foundation is my priority for charitable giving, a donor-advised fund potentially allows me to donate more if the value of the donated mutual funds increases over time.”

Paul joined the foundation board in 2009 and has served as its president. He says being on the board is a great way to stay connected with the College.

“I had not been back to campus in many years, and serving on the board gives me a window into appreciating the talents of the current generation of students and allows me to work with other board members and alumni to create opportunities for today’s students,” he says.

He strongly complimented the College’s current students and the instruction they are getting.

“In the last ten years, it’s amazing to see what today’s students are accomplishing—whether it’s scientific research, presentations at national and international conferences, internships, or studying abroad,” Paul says. “I think that today’s students have set their sights much higher than we did, and they are reaching their goals.”

He also appreciates how the College informs donors of the impact of their gifts.

“Most important to me is the annual Scholarship Dinner, where individuals who have established scholarships get to share a meal and conversation with the students receiving their scholarships,” he says. “Scholarship students also write letters to donors about their college experience and what the scholarships mean to them. And there are many publications from the College describing what individual students are accomplishing.”

Paul remains grateful for his undergraduate education.

“SUNY Oneonta was instrumental in giving me many opportunities, which led me to Harvard Law School and then to a career as a trial lawyer,” he says. “I wanted to give back in some small way.”