A Bequest for the Future: The Beccalli Legacy

There is a subtle yet powerful connection between the founding of Bocconi and the gesture of Carlo Beccalli. It is not a matter of numbers, although significant, but of intention — converting personal history into an investment in the future.

In 1902 Ferdinando Bocconi decided to establish the University with a donation — not only an act of love in memory of his son, Luigi, but also a sign of trust in the ideas of progress and knowledge as a driver of collective development. Ettore, son of Ferdinando and brother of Luigi, had been at the helm of the University until his death and — having no heirs — bequeathed the entire Bocconi family estate to the University in 1932. Nearly a century later, Carlo Beccalli’s bequest of roughly €3 million follows this same path, bringing it to the present.

A Legacy That Endures Over Time

Two million euros will be added to the University’s endowment and, starting in the 2026–2027 academic year, will fund two new scholarships every year in perpetuity. The key point is that this is not simply a one-time grant, but a tool that continues to create opportunities over time, allowing access to education for talented students who would otherwise be excluded or disadvantaged. The remaining part of the bequest will be allocated for the naming of a classroom at Via Sarfatti 25, the historic building that Beccalli frequented as a student and where — as an adult — left a visible and, most importantly, practical mark on daily life at the University.

“A bequest is not just an act of generosity, but a choice that permits the University to plan long term and truly make an impact in ensuring everyone’s right to education,” notes Antonella Carù, Dean for Development and Alumni Relations. “When a gift is allocated to the endowment fund, its impact does not end there — it will still create opportunities over time.”

Continuity Over a Lifetime

Beccalli was not a one-time philanthropist. His personal life tells a story of continuity between his career, private life and commitment to social issues. With discretion and discipline, he worked as an accountant for over 70 years and even mentored younger generations of professionals.

Above all, however, it is in the way he chose to allocate his assets that the common thread becomes clear. Together with his wife, Nuccia — with whom he shared a long, childless marriage — he established Fondazione Aletti Beccalli Mosca with the goal of providing a dignified and welcoming home for self-sufficient seniors.

From Private Wealth to the Collective Good

That experience encapsulates everything: the absence of direct heirs, which opens the door to the broader community; the idea that wealth only has meaning if it is put back into circulation; and the

desire to build facilities that will continue to function even after one’s passing. The bequest to Bocconi is the natural extension of this philosophy.

“Bequests, especially those made in Italy, still remain an underutilized tool and are often met with skepticism or surrounded by a poorly developed culture of philanthropy,” underlines Carù. And yet, it is one of the most effective forms of support for institutions such as universities. “To date, 50 students have benefited from this form of support, which we are committed to expanding,” adds Carù. “Many people think of bequests as something that pertains solely to the private sphere. In reality, it is one of the most fitting ways to transform individual wealth into a collective asset and to determine what should endure after we are gone.”

A Bridge Between Personal History and Institution

There is also a less obvious, but equally important aspect: bequests build a bridge between personal history and institutional mission. Beccalli (21 September 1924–25 June 2024) was a Bocconi student, just as his father was. He lived through the war and carved his own career on the foundation of that education, and — giving back to the university, at the end of his life — means not only coming full circle, but also opening that circle for others.

Like that of Ferdinando and Ettore Becconi, Beccalli’s gesture originates in the personal sphere but takes the form of a public act with an impact on many. In both cases, remembrance is transformed into a plan of action.

A Choice to Be Emulated

The difference, if any, lies in the context. Today Bocconi is a well-established institution, capable of attracting global talent and the resources to support it. “Precisely for this reason, the role of donors becomes even more strategic,” concludes Erika Zancan, Alumni&Fundraising Director. “It is not just about supporting, but about guiding and strengthening the University’s ability to generate impact, which it has built over time. Carlo Beccalli’s bequest proves that philanthropy is a choice that is possible, practical and worthy of emulation — not an extraordinary gesture reserved for a few. It is not only how much one gives that matters, but how they choose to give and to whom one entrusts one’s future, most importantly.”