Types of Giving
Annual Giving Heading link
Each year thousands of donors make contributions to UIC. Combined together, these gifts support our bright and ambitious students, empower our faculty, drive discovery and help transform our communities.
Annual gifts provide an important source of operational revenue for colleges and units. They are usually used in the year they are received and can support day-to-day needs, student organizations, student travel to professional conferences, graduate student research funding, lectures and seminars and more.
Unrestricted Gifts
A gift that is not designated for a specific purpose is considered “unrestricted.” Unrestricted gifts are incredibly powerful, as they allow the chancellor, a dean or director to apply the funds immediately toward what they deem the greatest need. Unrestricted funds can be used for many kinds of assistance, including:
• Student or faculty support
• Research aid
• Student travel
Designated Gifts
Unlike unrestricted gifts, funds given by a donor for a specific purpose or to support a particular department are called designated funds. The best way to make a designated donation is to discuss your wishes with a member of UIC Advancement. We can help you find the appropriate purpose for your gift so it meets your philanthropic goals while supporting UIC’s mission.
Endowment Heading link
Endowed funds are never spent. Instead, they’re invested by the University of Illinois Foundation, and it’s the earnings from these investments that go to help the programs you choose to support. That means each gift designated for endowment provides permanent financial support. As UIC’s endowment grows, so does our strength and stability. You can read about the University of Illinois endowment performance here.
In general, endowments are usually created for a specific purpose under a specific name, with a minimum amount of $25,000 required to establish a new endowment. However, on occasion, additional, smaller gifts may generally be added to an existing fund (e.g. endowments established specifically for annual donor contributions). If you have a question about making a gift to an existing endowment, please email us or call 217-333-0909.
Contact a UIC advancement officer to learn more about establishing an endowed fund.
Matching Gifts Heading link
Many employers will match their employees’ charitable donations. This will sometimes hold true even if you’re retired from the company or if you’re the spouse or widow of an employee. Visit the Foundation’s participating companies database to determine if your company offers this option. Make sure you also check your company’s giving policy to see if you’re eligible.
The Tax ID for the University of Illinois Foundation is 37-6006007. The University of Illinois Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization exempt from federal income tax.
Planned Giving Heading link
Just as there are many ways your IGNITE support can enhance UIC, there are a variety of giving methods that will help you align your financial and philanthropic goals. Visit the University of Illinois Foundation gift planning site to learn how you and your advisers can develop a giving plan that best fits your objectives and benefits UIC.