Gies College of Business

Study: Inherited family heirlooms shape heirs’ donation behaviors

Share on social


Nov 11, 2026 Phil Ciciora Business Administration Faculty Research


As the households of the baby boom generation downsize, their adult children continue to face difficult decisions about what to do with the sometimes unwanted leftover goods bequeathed to them. A new paper indicates that heirs don’t simply donate family meaningful possessions and move on from them.

Gies College of Business
515 East Gregory Drive
Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: 217-300-7327