Paying It Forward

December 2025

For Brandon and Heather Smith, Brigham Young University was more than a place to earn their degrees—it was a turning point. The experience, Heather says, “changed the trajectory of our lives.” Their time at BYU shaped not only their education and careers but also their faith, their family, and their desire to give back so others can have the same opportunity.

Different Paths, Shared Purpose

The Smiths met as students at BYU, but their paths to Provo couldn’t have been more different. Heather grew up always knowing she wanted to attend BYU. “I only applied to one school,” she says. “I was going to go to BYU.”

In contrast, Brandon says, “I applied to BYU under duress.” A convert who gained his testimony at age 20, he had a full-ride scholarship at Idaho State and planned to return there after his mission in Hartford, Connecticut. “I had no interest in attending BYU,” Brandon recalls. “But on my mission, a bishop’s wife basically told me, ‘You’re going to apply to BYU if you want another dinner appointment here.’”

Though reluctant at first, he filled out the application—and in the process of writing his essays, something changed. “I realized these essays were me convincing them that I was the right person for this university. And as I wrote, I convinced myself that BYU was the place for me,” Brandon says. “It was the connection between my education and the gospel testimony I had. I didn’t know that’s what BYU was all about, and I wanted that.”

The Power of a Scholarship

Although Brandon hadn’t planned for BYU to be part of his story, the university now features prominently in his life. He earned two BYU degrees and has worked for the university for 20 years. “I went from being an adamant non-BYU supporter to being thoroughly convinced of its value,” he says. “I’ve seen the worldwide impact BYU has had on members of the Church and on others as well. That’s part of why we want to give back.”

Both Brandon and Heather were scholarship recipients, and they remember clearly how those gifts made their education possible. “Neither of our parents provided funding for our education,” Heather explains. “I got scholarships from BYU and outside sources, and my master’s was paid for through research grants.”

Brandon adds, “I got a scholarship through the Fritz B. Burns Scholarship. We worked our tails off, but we needed help. BYU isn’t the most expensive school, but it was still hard to finance everything while working and starting a family.”

Those experiences shaped their perspective on giving. “We’ve been richly blessed—much more than we are deserving of,” Heather says.

Brandon adds, “We’d love to be able to pay that forward.”

Living the Law of Consecration

Two years ago, the Smiths sold their family business and decided to meet with a financial planner to discuss estate planning. “We thought about the law of consecration and how that fits—not only while we’re alive but also after we’re gone,” Brandon says. “We’re still in that stage of life where we’re taking care of our family, but we wanted to plan for what happens when we’re gone.”

They soon connected with the Philanthropies Department to learn how they could include BYU in their future giving. The couple ultimately decided to create a donor-advised fund and deferred gift for BYU to support students with financial need through scholarships—donations that will continue giving long after they’re gone. This decision also made them members of the Jesse and Amanda Knight Society, which honors those who include BYU in their estate plans.

“We’re happy to know that what we give is going to grow and expand and be able to give more than we could have done on our own,” Brandon says. “We want those funds to help students who are self-reliant and working hard but just need a little help to make it possible.”

Fostering Giving Hearts at Home

Brandon and Heather have fostered a culture of giving in their three children as well. Inspired by their middle son, who raised thousands of dollars for refugees a decade ago at age eight, the family has since made charitable giving a shared project.

Their youngest daughter runs a summer “Sunshine Stand,” baking treats to raise money for stuffed animals she donates to children in a local hospital. “For her, it matters that they’re the soft, fluffy ones,” Heather says. “She wants to give the very best.”

Last Christmas, they introduced a family donor-advised fund with a small tin that sits in their home. “It’s just a cookie tin,” Brandon says, laughing. “But our kids keep track of what goes in and out. They decide where it goes—whether it’s hygiene kits, Giving Machines, or fleece blankets in Kenya.”

“It keeps giving at the forefront of their minds, “Heather adds. “They’ve even donated their own money. We just try not to stand in the way of their giving hearts.”

Their oldest son, now a student at BYU, continues to participate in the family’s giving traditions from campus. “We want our children to understand that what we have isn’t really just for us,” Brandon says. “It’s for us to help other people with.”

Giving a Boost to Future Students

When asked what message they’d share with future recipients of their scholarship, Heather reflects, “We hope they’re someone who really wants that BYU experience—the education and the spiritual aspect—but just can’t quite afford it. That’s where we were. We want to give them that little boost to focus on learning instead of worrying about finances.”

Brandon adds, “Do the best you can while you’re at BYU. Use what you learn to go out and make a positive difference in the world.” 

For the Smiths, giving is an act of faith—a way to consecrate their blessings and extend the same grace once given to them. “We’re giving what we can,” Brandon says, “and the Lord will make the most of it.”

If you have made a deferred gift to BYU in your will, trust, gift annuity, life insurance policy, retirement account, or payable-on-death account, you are eligible to join the Jesse and Amanda Knight Society. To learn more about membership, visit give.byu.edu/knight.