The University of Minnesota has always been part of the fabric of John Stone’s life.

His early years were spent in the Prospect Park neighborhood near the Witch’s Hat water tower — right in the backyard of the Minneapolis campus, where he would later graduate from the business school, now known as Minnesota Carlson. Even after a career in healthcare finance took him around the country, his roots remained deep in the local community.

“It’s just in the blood,” John says about his enduring connection to Minnesota. Although he’s been living in Youngstown, Ohio, for many years, he comes back to visit often (most of his extended family is still in Minnesota). “A lot of people never leave Minnesota. I was one that did, but the University has always loomed large.”

That connection isn't just sentimental; it’s professional. John credits the University of Minnesota with providing a launchpad at two pivotal moments: first, through an internship program that secured his first job, and later, through a career-shifting role at the University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinics, now known as M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center.

“Without those opportunities, I’m not sure where I’d be today,” he says.

Remembering that impact, John and his wife, Kathy, established the John and Kathy Stone Scholarship Fund to ensure that more Minnesota Carlson students have access to a world-class business education. While Kathy didn’t attend the University of Minnesota herself, she says she is a full believer in scholarships as a way to equip students with “practical skills” to understand and improve the world.

As finance professionals, John and Kathy share an approach to giving that is as strategic as it is heartfelt. They use several tax‑efficient giving methods, including gifts of appreciated stock, qualified charitable distributions from their IRA and a gift in their will. They also used appreciated stock to create a charitable gift annuity, providing them with lifetime income and tax savings while supporting the University. 

John notes that his accounting background helped him understand these options, and he hopes other donors recognize the many meaningful ways to make a lasting impact.

“Our gifts won’t change the world by themselves, but they create more people who can,” Kathy says. 

By choosing these gift vehicles, the Stones are ensuring their support is sustainable, providing for the University of Minnesota long term while also meeting their own financial goals.

For the Stones, their philanthropy is the natural result of a lifetime of gratitude. When John looks back at the University that provided a strong business education and helped launch his career, the decision to give didn’t require much deliberation.

“When we talk about why we’re giving back to Minnesota,” John says, “it becomes pretty obvious.”