The Herbert and Elinor Nootbaar Institute

"We recommend this to other donors. It makes sense other than wanting to be philanthropic. It works to the advantage of the donor to be able to take advantage of the tax savings on capital gains."
— Herbert and Elinor Nootbaar

Dedicated to lives of service in their church, industry, community, and nation, the Nootbaars of South Laguna became acquainted with Pepperdine through their friendship with Pepperdine's third president M. Norvel Young. Herb was president and CEO of Taylor Milling Company, corporate vice president of Ralston Purina in St. Louis, and president of H.V. Nootbaar and Company, an agribusiness-consulting firm in Capistrano Beach. Fans of reading, writing, travel, gardening, and golf, the Nootbaars have become generous benefactors of the Pepperdine School of Law. Lauding the leadership of dean Ken Starr, the Nootbaars funded and established the Herbert and Elinor Nootbaar Institute on Law, Religion, and Ethics.

One of the deciding factors for the Nootbaars' gift was the ability to save capital gains taxes. The Nootbaars held on to appreciated stock for quite awhile and wanted to take advantage of capital gains savings while also increasing their yearly income stream. Gifting appreciated stock to a Charitable Gift Annuity with Pepperdine allowed them to reduce the amount of taxes owed to Uncle Sam and also provided them with a monthly income stream.

Pepperdine is thrilled to salute this distinguished couple for their overwhelming generosity. When asked how they hoped their gift would benefit the students at the School of Law, they replied: "It should aid in opening up the world for Pepperdine and their principles."

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As a third year law student at Pepperdine University School of Law, Emily Smith is the recipient of the Herbert and Elinor Public Interest Stipend. She is working toward her goal of helping people in third world countries achieve justice. In particular, Smith has traveled to Uganda to clerk for Ugandan high court judges. During her clerkship she set up Uganda's first electronic database of criminal case files. She says: "The cases stored there are now accessible and searchable. A digital system of judgments will make research easier and judgments stronger as they can be more heavily supported by precedent."

Emily grew up in Tennessee and moved to Malibu to attend law school. Emily is graduating this spring and the experience she gained with the Nootbaar Institute has helped her obtain a fellowship with the International Justice Mission.