Wanting to give back, but unsure of where to start, many donors default to the simplest option: writing a blank check to their alma mater and calling it a day. Universities, of course, are more than happy to accept unrestricted gifts. But too often, donors miss an opportunity to make their giving personal, meaningful, and directly connected to the values they hope to advance.
That is what makes Jeremy Kugel’s gift to the University of Maryland so refreshing.
Rather than simply contributing to a general fund, Kugel chose to create something tied to his family’s legacy and the character of student life on campus: the Kugel Family Station for Omelet Excellence.
Yes, an omelet station.
At first glance, the name may sound eccentric. But behind it is a thoughtful vision for philanthropy in higher education. Kugel, himself an employee at the University of Maryland, wanted to support students who work in the dining halls, while also honoring his mother, Judy, who lives with food allergies. In her honor, the gift includes the omelet station at Yahentamitsi Dining Hall, helping provide students with a reliable gluten-free dining option as part of a $50,000 endowment supporting scholarships for student dining hall workers.
Through the omelet station, Kugel connected philanthropy to both personal legacy and institutional character.
His gift affirms the dignity of work and reinforces the virtues universities so often claim to cultivate—service, humility, fellowship, and, as Kugel himself put it, “joy in the mundane.” The scholarship recipients are not only earning degrees; they are serving their classmates, contributing to the life of the campus community, and developing the habits of discipline, commitment, and stewardship that shape responsible citizens long after graduation.
Higher education philanthropy is often discussed in abstract terms: capital campaigns, unrestricted giving, naming opportunities, or billion-dollar endowments. But Kugel’s gift is a reminder of the power of specificity when giving. Donors should not feel pressured to support institutions in generic ways detached from their own values, experiences, or hopes for future generations of students.
Instead, giving can—and should—reflect something personal. It can honor family, reinforce institutional mission, and support the kinds of student experiences that build character alongside credentials.
That is precisely why services like the Fund for Academic Renewal exist: to help donors think more carefully about how their giving can strengthen higher education in concrete and lasting ways. Sometimes, the best gifts are not the biggest. Sometimes, they are the ones served with eggs.
This piece was originally published by The College Donor Digest on May 14, 2026.
Since 1995, the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) has championed academic excellence, academic freedom, and accountability in higher education. To further these goals, ACTA established the Fund for Academic Renewal (FAR), a specialized program designed to give higher education donors confidence that their gifts advance the best in American universities. FAR has advised on $275 million in higher education giving, helping donors maximize the impact of their philanthropy through personalized consultation, careful review of gift agreements, and expert guidance through the complexities of university giving.
Launched in 1995, we are the only organization that works with alumni, donors, trustees, and education leaders across the United States to support liberal arts education, uphold high academic standards, safeguard the free exchange of ideas on campus, and ensure that the next generation receives an intellectually rich, high-quality college education at an affordable price.
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