CSF Chair Chris McGee told CBS Bay Area (KPIX) how families can pay for their children’s higher education – by saving, taking advantage of 529 gifting by grandparents and friends for gifting, and having students find their own ways to cut costs.
Listen to the episode here: CBS San Francisco March 4, 2025
Program Manager/Administrator: Vestwell
529 Plan Name: VT529
Gifting Platform: Online Gifting Platform
URL: vt529.org/how-it-works/gifting
Each saver has a gifting page that they can customize and send to friends and family via email and social media. Giftors can easily make one time or recurring gifts.
Program Manager/Administrator: Ascensus
Program: IDeal – Idaho College Savings Program
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
URL: https://www.idsaves.org/home/features-and-benefits/ugift.html
Hassle-free: Gift contributions can be made online or by check. Gifts can also be made with a QR code or through the ReadySave529 App.
Program Manager/Administrator: College Foundation, Inc.
529 Plan Name: NC 529 Plan
Gifting Platform: Backer
Program Manager/Administrator: Bright Start 529 (Bright Start Direct-Sold College Savings Program)
529 Plan Name: TIAA
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
URL: brightstart.com/resources/gifting
Account owners can share an account’s Ugift code on the plans/programs secure website via email, printed invitation, Facebook, or X, or on the ReadySave529 app via email or text. Gift givers use the Ugift website and an account’s Ugift code to make a gift contribution from their bank account, and can create a profile to view gift history and set up recurring gifts.
Program Manager/Administrator: Pennsylvania Treasury Department (Ascensus)
529 Plan Name: PA 529 College and Career Savings Program
Gifting Platform: Gift of College Cards
URL: pa529.com/gift
Family and friends can choose between two great options to give the gift of education. Gift of College allows gifters to purchase an online PA 529 gift card and Ugift lets account owners share a gifting code which can be used to make an online PA 529 contribution.
Program Manager/Administrator: New York State Higher Education Services Corporation
529 Plan Name: New York’s 529 Advisor-Guided College Savings Program
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
URL: ny529advisor.com
Program Manager/Administrator: Ascensus Broker Dealer Services, LLC/New York State Comptroller
529 Plan Name: New York’s 529 College Savings ProgramDirect Plan
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
URL: nysaves.org
Program Manager/Administrator:
Private College 529
529 Plan Name:
Private College 529
Gifting Platform:
eGifting Portal (can only be used for the Private College 529 Plan)
URL: Pc529.in/gifting
Available in all 50 states, the Private College 529 plan contributions are financial gifts toward a child’s future. They help a child afford a college education and grow their options in schools.
Program Manager/Administrator: T. Rowe Price
529 Plan Name: Alaska 529 Plan
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
URL: alaska529plan.com/giveagift
Alaska 529, managed by T. Rowe Price, provides account owners with the Ugift® gifting program where friends and family can easily send a gift by secure electronic transfer using a unique Ugift code or by mail. Account owners can share the Ugift code via email, social media or on printed party invitation inclusions.
Program Manager/Administrator: T. Rowe Price
529 Plan Name: T. Rowe Price College Savings Plan
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
URL: troweprice529.com/gifting
T. Rowe Price College Savings Plan, managed by T. Rowe Price, provides account owners with the Ugift® gifting program where friends and family can easily send a gift by secure electronic transfer using a unique Ugift code or by mail. Account owners can share the Ugift code via email, social media or on printed party invitation inclusions.
Program Manager/Administrator: T. Rowe Price
529 Plan Name: John Hancock Freedom 529 Plan
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
URL: jhinvestments.com/529accounts
John Hancock Freedom 529 Plan, managed by T.Rowe Price, provides account owners with the Ugift® gifting program where friends and family can easily send a gift by secure electronic transfer using a unique Ugift® code or by mail. Account owners can share the Ugift® code via email, social media or on printed party invitation inclusions.
Program Manager/Administrator: Fidelity Investments
Program: AZ529 Arizona’s Education Savings Plan
Gifting Platform: Online Gifting Platform
URL: fidelity.com/529-plans/college-gifting
Fidelity Investments makes college gifting simple. Family and friends can easily contribute to your 529 college savings account through a secure, personalized gifting page. Add a photo, greeting, and details about your beneficiary to make it meaningful. Contributions can be made online using an electronic check, with no fees.
Program Manager/Administrator: TIAA
529 Plan Name: ScholarShare 529
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
URL: scholarshare529.com/resources/gifting
Personalized gifting platform where family and friends can contribute through a link sent by the account owner.
Program Manager/Administrator: CollegeInvest
529 Plan Name: CollegeInvest®
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
URL: collegeinvest.org/friends-family-gifting/
Colorado’s CollegeInvest® makes it easy for friends and family to contribute to your child’s college savings fund. Ugift® is a free-to-use service that enables anyone to contribute to your Direct Portfolio, Scholars Choice, and Stable Value Plus account at any time.
Program Manager/Administrator: TIAA/Nuveen
529 Plan Name: Scholars Choice Education Savings Plan®
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
URL: nuveen.com/en-us/investments/529-plan/scholars-choice-ao/gifting
Offers contributions through Ugift®, the free crowdfunding/gifting service that invites family and friends to celebrate milestones. Gift givers can manage multiple gift contributions and gifting requests can also be posted on social media.
Program Manager/Administrator: FirstBank
529 Plan Name: Smart Choice College Savings Plan
Gifting Platform: FirstBank
URL: efirstbank.com/products/checking-savings/smart-choice-college-savings.htm
Program Manager/Administrator: Ascensus/Vanguard
529 Plan Name: Direct Portfolio College Savings Plan
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
Program Manager/Administrator: Fidelity Investments
Program: The Connecticut Higher Education Trust 529 College Savings Plan
Gifting Platform: Online Gifting Platform
URL: fidelity.com/529-plans/college-gifting
Fidelity Investments makes college gifting simple. Family and friends can easily contribute to your 529 college savings account through a secure, personalized gifting page. Add a photo, greeting, and details about your beneficiary to make it meaningful. Contributions can be made online using an electronic check, with no fees.
Program Manager/Administrator: Fidelity Investments
Program: DE529 Education Savings Plan
Gifting Platform: Online Gifting Platform
URL: fidelity.com/529-plans/college-gifting
Fidelity Investments makes college gifting simple. Family and friends can easily contribute to your 529 college savings account through a secure, personalized gifting page. Add a photo, greeting, and details about your beneficiary to make it meaningful. Contributions can be made online using an electronic check, with no fees.
Program Manager/Administrator: TIAA
529 Plan Name: Path2College 529 College Savings Plan
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
URL: path2college529.com/resources/gifting
Path2College 529 Plan allows friends and family to use a Ugift® code at any time to easily make gift contributions.
Program Manager/Administrator: Indiana Education Savings Authority
Program: Indiana529 Savings Plans
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
URLs:
Indiana529 Savings Plans make gifting easy with Ugift.
Program Manager/Administrator: Indiana Education Savings Authority
529 Plan Name: CollegeChoice CD 529 Savings Plan
Gifting Platform: Accepting electronic gifting to existing accounts
URL: Give a Gift collegesavings.com/onlinebanking/documents/deposits.aspx
Program Manager/Administrator: Voya Investment Management
529 Plan Name: IAdvisor 529 Plan
Gifting Platform: Online Gifting Platform and E-Gift Cards
URL: 529ia.voya.com
IAdvisor, Iowa’s Advisor-Sold College Saving Plan, makes engaging loved ones to help with the gift of education easy, through its Online Gifting Platform. This gifting platform allows Account Owners to establish a gifting page that can be shared with family, friends, and others via email or social media with a customized link. Downloadable gift card certificates are also available on the IAdvisor website for gift givers to recognize their contribution.
Program Manager/Administrator: American Century Investments
529 Plan Name: Learning Quest 529
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
Account owners share the Ugift code so friends and family can easily contribute to the account. Gift givers can make the gift contribution online through electronic bank transfer or by check, and simply enter the Ugift code.
A new innovative gifting capability makes it easier than ever to ask friends and family to give a gift to your Learning Quest account. You can create a Ugift crowdfunding goal page to help family and friends contribute. Personalize it with a picture and information about your goal. Once it’s set up, easily share it with friends and family through Facebook, Twitter and email. Anyone with a link to your goal page can make a gift contribution through electronic funds transfer.
Program Manager/Administrator: American Century Investments and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
529 Plan Name: The Schwab 529 Education Savings Plan
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
URL: https://www.schwab.com/529-plan
Start an education fund for your children or a family member with a Schwab 529 Education Savings Plan. You can open and contribute to almost any 529 plan, no matter what state you live in and regardless of your age or income.
Program Manager/Administrator: T. Rowe Price
529 Plan Name: Maryland College Investment Plan
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
The Maryland College Investment Plan, managed by T. Rowe Price, provides account owners with the Ugift® gifting program where friends and family can easily send a gift by secure electronic transfer using a unique Ugift code or by mail. Account owners can share the Ugift code via email, social media or on printed party invitation inclusions.
Program Manager/Administrator: MEFA, managed by Fidelity Investments
529 Plan Name: MEFA U.Fund® College Investing Plan
Gifting Platform: U.Fund Gift of College Card, Fidelity Gifting Page
URLs:
fidelity.com/529-plans/college-gifting
The Massachusetts 529 plan, MEFA’s U.Fund College Investing Plan, is a tax-advantaged investment plan, professionally managed by Fidelity, to help reach your child’s educational dreams. Gift-givers are invited to contribute to an existing U.Fund account by accessing the recipient’s online gifting page. Additionally, Gift of College Cards, available at CVS stores in Massachusetts, provide friends and family members a tangible way to contribute toward a child’s college savings account to commemorate a birthday, graduation, holiday, or any other special event, or to simply give the gift of future education.
Program Manager/Administrator: TIAA
529 Plan Name: Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP)
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
URL: misaves.com/resources/gifting
With a Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP) account, anyone can make a gift of account contributions to your child’s college education. From grandparents and other family members to friends and neighbors, everyone can get in on helping your child reach their goals.
Program Manager/Administrator: TIAA/Nuveen
529 Plan Name: MI 529 Advisor Plan
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
URL: nuveen.com/en-us/investments/529-plan/map-ao/gifting
Most parents can’t cover 100% of their son or daughter’s college education. With the gift options from the MI 529 Advisor Plan, you don’t have to. A unique part of the plan is the capability to give and receive gift contributions from friends and family — making supporting a child’s future education a win-win for everyone.
Program Manager/Administrator: Michigan Department of Treasury
529 Plan Name: Michigan Education Trust
Gifting Platform: Individuals with a student’s account number can contribute online at thepayplace.com/mi/treas/metpayasgo or mail in a payment
URL: michigan.gov/setwithmet/get-started/gifting
Individuals with a student’s account number can contribute online at thepayplace.com/mi/treas/metpayasgo or mail in a payment. We offer purchasers gifting cards to fill out with their account number and share with family and friends.
Program Manager/Administrator: TIAA
529 Plan Name: Minnesota 529 College Savings Plan
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
URL: mnsaves.org/gift
With a Minnesota 529 College Savings Plan account, anyone can make a gift of account contributions to your child’s college education. From grandparents and other family members to friends and neighbors, everyone can get in on helping your child reach their goals.
Program Manager/Administrator: Nebraska State Treasurer, Trustee, Union Bank & Trust, Program Manager
529 Plan Name: NEST 529 Education Savings, NEST 529 Advisor Plan, Bloomwell 529 Education Savings
Gifting Platform: GiftED, Gift Cards
URLs
nest529.com/friends-family-gifting
nest529advisor.com/friends-family-gifting
bloomwell529.com/friends-family-gifting
A simplified gifting platform where family members can easily contribute to a 529 savings plan through an online portal.
Program Manager/Administrator: Fidelity Investments
Program: UNIQUE College Investing Plan
Gifting Platform: Online Gifting Platform
URL: fidelity.com/529-plans/college-gifting
Fidelity Investments makes college gifting simple. Family and friends can easily contribute to your 529 college savings account through a secure, personalized gifting page. Add a photo, greeting, and details about your beneficiary to make it meaningful. Contributions can be made online using an electronic check, with no fees.
Program Manager/Administrator: Franklin Templeton
529 Plan Name: New Jersey 529 College Savings Plan (NJBEST)
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
URLs:
Education Savings | Franklin Templeton
Ugift is an easy, free-to-use service that lets 529 plan account owners encourage family and friends to celebrate children’s milestones with the gift of college savings, in lieu of traditional gifts. Account owners receive a unique Ugift code for each beneficiary/student, which can be shared with others and used to contribute here at Ugift529.com.
All gift contributions sent in to Ugift are invested into the student’s 529 plan account.
Program Manager/Administrator: Education Trust Board of New Mexico
529 Plan Name: The Education Plan®
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
URL: TheEducationPlan.com/gifting
Program Manager/Administrator: Education Trust Board of New Mexico
529 Plan Name: Scholar’s Edge®
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
URL: ScholarsEdge529.com/resources/contributions
Both plans offer online access through Ugift, allowing account owners to share a unique gift code for one-time or recurring contributions.
Program Manager/Administrator: Ohio Tuition Trust Authority
529 Plan Name: Ohio 529, CollegeAdvantage
Gifting Platform: 529 Gift Central, Ugift®, Gifting Reminder Emails
URL: collegeAdvantage.com/529-gift-central
Our dedicated gifting site, 529 Gift Central, provides an overview of Ugift and other contribution options, ordering for physical greeting cards and other program information for parents and grandparents. In addition, CollegeAdvantage.com/Manage, allows account owners to schedule reminder emails for birthdays, graduations and other life events.
Program Manager/Administrator: TIAA
529 Plan Name: Oklahoma 529 College Savings Plan
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
URL: oklahoma529.com/gift
With an Oklahoma 529, anyone can make a gift of account contributions to your child’s college education. From grandparents and other family members to friends and neighbors, everyone can get in on helping your child reach their goals.
Program Manager/Administrator: Vestwell
529 Plan Name: Oregon College Savings Plan
Gifting Platform: Online Gifting Platform, Gift Cards
URL: oregoncollegesavings.com/community-gifting
Offers a community gifting platform for account holders to receive contributions from family and friends.
Program Manager/Administrator: Invesco
529 Plan Name: CollegeBound 529
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
URL: invesco.com/education-savings/en/collegebound-529-investor/gift-of-education.html
Family and friends can help you save for college by taking advantage of Ugift and Upromise, or by setting up recurring contributions.
Program Manager/Administrator: Orion
529 Plan Name: Texas College Savings Plan, Texas Tuition Promise Fund, & Lonestar529 Plan
Gifting Platform: Online Platform & Gift Coupon
URLs:
lonestar529.com/lonestar-529-plan-as-a-gift
texascollegesavings.com/gifting
texastuitionpromisefund.com/gifting/ready-to-give-form
The platform allows family and friends to contribute to a child’s 529 plan via ACH or check, with personalized email invitations sent by the account owner. All three programs—Texas College Savings Plan, Lonestar529 Plan, and Texas Tuition Promise Fund—offer online downloadable gift coupons and notify the family of the gift.
Program Manager/Administrator: Utah Education Savings Board of Trustees
529 Plan Name: my529
Gifting Platform: Online Gifting Platform
URL: gift.my529.org
The platform allows family and friends to contribute to a child’s 529 plan via a debit or credit card, ACH or check, with personalized email invitations sent by the account owner.
Program Manager/Administrator: Commonwealth Savers Plan (formerly Virginia529)
529 Plan Name: Invest529
Gifting Platform: Online Platform, Gift Certificates, GiftofCollege Gift Cards
URL: https://www.invest529.com/account-management/give-a-gift
Commonwealth Savers Plan offers multiple gifting options such as gift certificates and Gift of College gift cards for contributors to help fund a child’s education.
Program Manager/Administrator: WA529
529 Plan Name: DreamAhead College Investment Plan
Gifting Platform: Gifting Platform, Online Gifting, Gift Certificates
Family and friends can choose from various gifting choices to contribute towards a child’s college savings with Washington’s DreamAhead College Investment Plan. Loved ones can use a personalized gifting page to suggest a gift using E-pay or online gift vouchers, send a personalized message via DreamAhead’s Gift Messaging Service, or share a gift invitation through the mail.
Program Manager/Administrator: WA529
529 Plan Name: Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) Prepaid Tuition Plan
Gifting Platform: Online Gifting Platform
URL: 529.wa.gov/get/give-a-gift-get
The state’s Guaranteed Education Tuition program (GET) provides an online gifting platform with which account owners can invite friends or family to contribute a gift. Giftors can create an online profile to give gifts and track gifting activity to multiple beneficiaries.
Program Manager/Administrator: TIAA
529 Plan Name: WA529 Invest
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
URL: https://529invest.wa.gov/resources/gifting
With a WA529 Invest account, anyone can make a gift of account contributions to your child’s college education. We offer Ugift, a secure, free and easy way to ask friends and family for gift contributions.
Program Manager/Administrator: Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions/TIAA-CREF, Tuition Financing Inc.
529 Plan Name: Edvest 529
Gifting Platform: Ugift®
URL: edvest.com/gift
The Edvest 529 College Savings Plan’s gifting program makes it easy for family and friends to contribute toward a child’s future education. Account owners can share a child’s unique Ugift code through the secure website via email, include on invitations, share on social media, or through the ReadySave529 app via email or text. Gift givers use the Ugift website to make a gift contribution from their bank account, and can create a profile to view gift history and set up recurring gifts. Plus, the Wisconsin state income tax deduction for contributions made to a Wisconsin 529 plan is available to any Wisconsin taxpayer, not just the 529 plan account owner, making gift contributions a benefit for family members or friends! It’s a simple way for loved ones to celebrate milestones – like birthdays and holidays – while helping grow their education savings.
Program Manager/Administrator: Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions/Voya Investment Management
529 Plan Name: Tomorrow’s Scholar
Gifting Platform: Online Gifting Platform
URL: 529wi.voya.com
Parents or other account owners can set up a personalized gifting page and have the option to set a goal. They can share that page with family and friends via email or social media platforms with a personalized message encouraging gift contributions.
