Vance Bristow - “Planning for the Future”
Vance Bristow
While other fundraisers solicit outright gifts for Mississippi State University, Vance Bristow works with individuals as they make charitable estate plans. He has served as director of planned giving for the MSU Foundation since joining the university in 2001.
"I work with donors who want to make provisions for a gift to MSU as part of their estate, such as a bequest in their will, a charitable trust, a life insurance gift or a gift annuity," Bristow explained.
As a fundraiser, Bristow has the opportunity to meet and work with a wide range of alumni and friends of the university, particularly those near retirement age and beyond. One of his favorite things about his job is getting acquainted with them.
"It has been interesting to meet and interact with donors as they relive memories of yesteryear," said Bristow. "Many of them are just hard working people who saved their money and want to leave something to Mississippi State without any recognition."
He added, "Understanding their motivation for giving allows me to assist them to the best of my ability."
Through his role, Bristow relishes a unique connection with alumni who were in school with his father. While an MSU student in the 1950's, Van Bristow illustrated a popular comic in The Reflector called "Cow College Comedy." He later worked for the syndicated newspaper strip, "Snuffy Smith" and co-founded the Bristow-Miles Advertising Agency in Tupelo. He passed away, however, when Vance was only 7 years old.
"People knew my father because of his cartoons," Bristow said. "Now, a lot of people I interact with had met him earlier in their lives so I hear a lot of great stories about his time in college and his days as an Old Main resident."
A native of Tupelo, Vance Bristow earned his bachelor's degree in business from Mississippi State in 1986, and later a master's in business administration from the university in 2008. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in higher education, also from MSU.
Bristow's professional experience includes managerial positions with the Bank of America, Hibernia National Bank, and BancTexas, all in Dallas, Texas. Prior to joining MSU, he was community bank president for Union Planters National Bank in West Point.
Bristow and his wife, Stephanie, live in West Point with their three children.
Bristow may be contacted at vbristow@foundation.msstate.edu or by telephone at 662.325.3707. His office is located in the Hunter Henry Center.
