Make a Gift

When you give the University of Illinois appreciated property you have held for longer than one year, you qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction, and you may minimize or eliminate capital gains tax.

You can make a gift that will support the University of Illinois while having the flexibility to change your will if life circumstances change.

Your flexibility is increased when you designate the University of Illinois as a beneficiary of your IRAs and retirement plans, life insurance policies, donor‑advised funds, or commercial annuities.

If you are 70½ years old or older, you can give any amount (up to a maximum of $105,000 this year) from your IRA directly to benefit of the University of Illinois without having to pay income taxes on the money.

Many employers match gifts to the University of Illinois made by their employees, retirees, and/or spouses. To find out if your company has a matching gift policy, search the database.

Payroll deduction is an easy way for University of Illinois employees to make gifts directly from a paycheck. You instruct the university to withhold a minimum contribution of $5 per paycheck for a period of time or until you instruct us to discontinue the withholding. Please download and open this form in Adobe.

The Founders’ Pledge is a non‑binding personal commitment to make a future gift to the University of Illinois reflective of your success and the success of your venture.

With a charitable gift annuity, you agree to make a gift to the University of Illinois. In return, the Foundation agrees to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount for the rest of your life.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals with income each year for life or a term not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create. At the end of the trust term, the balance benefits the University of Illinois.

A donor‑advised fund gives you the flexibility to recommend how much and how often money is donated to the University of Illinois Foundation. You can recommend a grant or recurring grants now to make an immediate impact or use your fund as a tool for future charitable giving.

When you set up a charitable lead trust, you transfer assets to a trust that makes payments to the University of Illinois for a period of time. When the term is up, the remaining trust passes to your family or other selected beneficiaries.

The most popular ways to gift retirement fund assets to the University of Illinois are through beneficiary designations, smart giving from your IRA, contributing from your donor‑advised fund, or establishing a charitable remainder trust.

Your life insurance policy can become a meaningful way to support the University of Illinois. You can designate the university as the primary beneficiary for a percentage or specific amount. You can also name the University of Illinois Foundation as the owner and beneficiary of an existing or new policy.

You can make a gift of closely held stock if the constituting documentation for the business permits additional owners and it is debt‑free.

Your valuable antiques, stamp and coin collections, works of art, cars, boats, and other personal property can make a suitable gift for the University of Illinois today or after your lifetime.

An endowment gift to the University of Illinois Foundation today provides a brighter picture for our future. When you make a donation to an endowment, you give a gift with both immediate and long‑term benefits.

By establishing a scholarship or contributing to an existing fund, you can transform someone’s future.

If you have a loved one who has been impacted by the University of Illinois, establishing a memorial or tribute gift is a meaningful way to honor them or celebrate a special occasion, such as a birthday or anniversary.

When you donate appreciated securities or mutual funds to support the University of Illinois mission, you can reduce or even eliminate federal capital gains taxes on the transfer.

Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) is a secure way to deliver your gifts directly from your bank to the University of Illinois Foundation. The University of Illinois Foundation will debit funds automatically from your account according to your instructions or until you decide to stop.

Gifts of cryptocurrency are a way of donating digital assets to the University of Illinois. Cryptocurrency provides donors with lower transaction fees and potential tax benefits. The university accepts Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Ethereum.