Giving with Purpose and Joy
Outdoor Enthusiasts Help UM Faculty and Students Flourish
September 5, 2024
When Joel Meier accepted a job at UM in 1970, he and his wife Patti had never set foot in Montana. It didn’t take long for them to fall in love with the state’s spectacular landscapes and abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation. Although the Meiers have since moved to Colorado, the Treasure State and UM continue to hold a special place in their hearts.
Joel served the W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation until 1994, first as professor and coordinator of the recreation management program, then as associate dean. Together, the Meiers enjoyed activities like skiing, kayaking, backpacking and leading a family camping and outdoor recreation workshop.
“At UM, I matured professionally because I had the chance to innovate new programs and connect with phenomenal colleagues,” Joel said.
The Meiers have given back to the University by providing annual support for the Joel Meier Distinguished Professor of Wildland Management and by establishing the Wilderness Institute Graduate Fellowship. Additionally, they made a commitment in their estate plan to establish the Patricia and Joel Meier Distinguished Chair of Parks, Tourism and Recreation Management. Their estate gift will also endow the Joel Meier Distinguished Professor of Wildland Management and provide support for the Native American Natural Resources Program.
Distinguished Professor of Wildlife Management.
The Meiers gifted Libby with a grizzly bear sculpture, which
she keeps on display in her home as a reminder
of their support.
The Meiers’ giving helps UM attract outstanding scholars and remain a global leader in the preservation of outdoor experiences and the education of future wilderness professionals.
Knowing the gift in their estate plan would be their most significant contribution allowed the Meiers to dream big about the impact of their philanthropy without overextending themselves financially. Tax-efficient gifts of appreciated stock enabled the Meiers to begin giving during their lifetime, letting them witness first-hand the benefits of their generosity.
circa 1971, his first year at the
University of Montana.
“It’s been heartwarming to build relationships with the faculty and graduate students we’ve supported,” Joel said. “It’s humbling to learn about their research and academic progress.”
The Meiers chose to support UM through Qualified Charitable Distributions, which allow individuals 70½ or older to transfer up to $105,000 per year from a traditional IRA directly to charity. The contributions count toward their required minimum distribution “RMD” in the year of the gift and are not counted as income for federal income tax purposes.
Patti, who worked for 40 years as a public health consultant in Native American communities, said making strategic long-term investments early on positioned the couple to begin building their support.
“We decided at a young age that we wanted to be philanthropists,” she said. “Qualified Charitable Distributions are an easy way to reduce our taxes and give back. It’s been precious to see our dream come to fruition.”
Joel agreed, reflecting that their philanthropy embodies the Japanese concept of ikigai, or “reason to live.”
“Supporting UM has given our lives purpose and joy,” he said. “It’s an enriching experience to know our gifts will help programs flourish in perpetuity.”
For the Meiers, the recently launched Treasure Montana: Cultivating Our Tomorrow campaign to support UM’s hub for environment and conservation presents an additional, rare opportunity to serve Franke College students and broader communities. The Meiers are excited to support the new facility, which will provide 60,000 square feet of classrooms, labs, gathering space and student services at the heart of campus.
“The new building will bring faculty and students together,” Joel said. “It will instill pride in everyone who lives in Montana and wants to learn about the great outdoors, natural resources and wildlife.”
Learn More
To learn more about the Treasure Montana: Cultivating Our Tomorrow campaign to support UM’s hub for environment and conservation, visit TreasureMontana.org.