Types of Gifts

Annual Gifts

Invest in Illinois. Each year, gifts from alumni and friends help make the dream of an Illinois education possible for talented, hard-working students; allow faculty and students to engage in research that will one day lead to solutions for society’s greatest challenges; and inspire students to become leaders by providing meaningful study-abroad experiences and internships.

All members of our campus community and beyond benefit from annual gifts that enhance our internationally-recognized cultural facilities and programs; ensure the University Library may continue to preserve and grow their internationally-recognized collection; fund important sustainability projects; and create extraordinary service opportunities in which students and faculty reach out to communities close to home and around the globe to change lives. Give now by visiting our secure website, giving.illinois.edu.

Matching Gifts

You can double or even triple the value of your gift! Thousands of companies nationwide sponsor matching gift programs to encourage employees to support their colleges and universities. To find out if your company has a matching gift program, and for forms and information, please contact your employer’s personnel or human resources office. Learn more at: uif.uillinois.edu/matching.

Endowment Gifts

If you want to offer long-term support for the University of Illinois, you should consider an endowed gift. Through an endowment, your gift is invested and pays out a yearly distribution, which goes to support an area of your preference. Many times, endowed gifts go to support the most important assets of the University, our students and faculty, by providing scholarship, fellowship and professorship support.

A minimum amount is required to establish an endowment. However, an endowment can be built up with smaller gifts over a period of time. For more details about establishing an endowment, contact Director of Stewardship at 217-333-2975 or kaschmid@illinois.edu.

Honorary/Memorial Gifts

You can pay tribute to a valued family member, friend, classmate, or faculty member with a gift. Honorary or Memorial gifts are a thoughtful way to remember a loved one while supporting an area of importance to them.

Your Honorary or Memorial gift can be made anytime either by mail, online or phone. Please indicate who the gift honors or memorializes at that time. For a more permanent gift such as an endowment, please contact Alex Schmidt, Director of Stewardship at 217-333-2975 or kaschmid@illinois.edu.

Planned Gifts

You may want to consider making a planned gift to the University, which can offer financial benefits through income and estate tax savings and arrangements that provide lifetime income. Planned gifts include assets, bequests in a will, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, retirement plans, and life insurance policies. For additional information about planned giving, visit the University of Illinois Foundation web site: uif.plannedgifts.org.