Combined with the many gifts they have made over the last forty years to support Humboldt and Humboldt students, their generosity will continue to help make a Humboldt education possible for both current and future generations of students.
"We hope it helps students actually be able to go to college," Lynch says. "We want them to have the opportunity to pursue a degree. Not everybody gets that chance."
Rather than limiting the scholarship to a single academic program, they intentionally created an endowment that gives the University the flexibility to support students where the need is greatest.
"It was important to trust the school to make the decision about the best use of the money," Tanner says. "Just keeping the basic idea of the gift—which is scholarship support—in mind."
Their commitment to giving has been decades in the making.
"It's a habit that starts small," Tanner says. "Once you're used to what that does, you can grow it bigger and bigger."
That philosophy has shaped not only their charitable giving but also the way they think about retirement. In addition to their planned legacy gift, Lynch and Tanner make annual gifts through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs).
A QCD allows people aged 70½ and older to transfer money directly from an IRA to a qualified charity, such as the Cal Poly Humboldt Foundation. For retirees who must take annual Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), a QCD can satisfy the required minimum amount you must withdraw from your IRA every year, lowering your overall taxable income. In other words, it's tax-smart and supports students.
Tanner believes more people should know about this option.
"People who are unaware of it are really missing out on an opportunity to give very efficiently," he says.
Lynch's own journey to Humboldt began with a map.
"I'd lived in Los Angeles since junior high, and I wanted a change,” she says. “My father said I could go to any state college. So I got the map out and said, 'Humboldt looks the furthest away.' My dad was very disappointed—he wanted me to go to San Diego because he liked to visit there."
Instead, she found a place that felt like home.
"I loved the environment. I loved that it was a small community," Lynch says. "I'm a tree hugger. I think I was even before I got there, but even more so now. It was just a great experience with great people."
She fondly remembers Political Science Professor Bruce Haston, whose thoughtful teaching inspired lively discussions and encouraged students to think critically.
After graduating from Humboldt, Lynch attended law school and built a successful career. Tanner earned his undergraduate degree from UC Davis before completing his M.B.A. at UCLA. The two met while serving in the Coast Guard Reserves.
As retirement approached, the couple began thinking carefully about how they wanted their resources to make a difference.
"When we went to school, you could work in the summer and make enough money to pay for half of your schooling," Tanner says. "That world has passed us by."
They know today's students often face financial uncertainty that can interrupt their education, especially those who are the first in their families to attend college. Scholarships can provide not only financial support but also the confidence to stay enrolled and keep moving toward graduation.
"College is a place for safe growth," Tanner says. "It's a chance to stand on your own, become more independent, and gain confidence."
A Qualified Charitable Distribution can be a simple, tax-smart way to leave a lasting legacy at Cal Poly Humboldt. To learn more about making a legacy gift through your IRA, contact the Cal Poly Humboldt Foundation at giving@humboldt.edu or (707) 826-5200.