Supporting the Spirit

Ways to Give

Unrestricted Support: Unrestricted gifts of any amount are deeply appreciated, as they assist the University in meeting its most urgent and ongoing needs—scholarships, library materials, and campus and dorm maintenance. Unrestricted gifts can be made through the Notre Dame Annual Fund, the Sorin Society or the President's Circle.

Undergraduate Scholarships: Financial awards that partially or fully cover the tuition costs of select undergraduate students. Scholarships can be endowed at the Premier ($5 million), Presidential ($1 million), Distinguished ($500,000), Prize ($250,000), and Named ($100,000) levels.

Graduate Fellowships: Financial awards made to top graduate students in the Graduate School, the Law School, the School of Architecture, or the Mendoza College of Business. Fellowships, which are designed to support student scholarship and decrease dependence on loans, can be endowed at the following levels: Premier ($5 million), Presidential ($1,000,000), Distinguished ($500,000), Prize ($250,000), and Named ($100,000).

Faculty Chairs: Endowed faculty positions in support of the teaching, research, and professional development needs of highly distinguished professors. Faculty chairs can be established at three levels: the Premier Chair ($5 million), bestowed upon world–renowned faculty with extensive research needs; the University Chair ($3 million), which recognizes the outstanding academic achievement of senior–level faculty; and the Collegiate Chair ($1.5 million), conferred upon junior faculty members who exhibit strong potential for outstanding achievement as teachers and scholars.

Endowments for Excellence: Endowments designed to enhance a particular college, academic department, or program. Endowments for Excellence can be established at a variety of giving levels: Premier ($5 million), Presidential ($1,000,000), Distinguished ($500,000), Prize ($250,000), and Named ($100,000).

Endowed Library Collections: Endowed funds designated for the creation or expansion of library collections and services in a particular academic discipline. Endowed library collections can be established at the Premier ($5 million), Presidential ($1 million), Distinguished ($500,000), Prize ($250,000), and Named ($100,000) levels.

UROP/Research Endowments: Grants provided to specially selected students and faculty to support independent research projects, including travel, equipment, and other related expenses. Named research endowments can be funded at the following levels: Premier ($5 million), Presidential ($1 million), Distinguished ($500,000), Prize ($250,000), and Named ($100,000).

Capital Gifts: Grants for the construction, renovation, or refurbishment of campus buildings intended to provide excellent and up–to–date environments for teaching, learning, living, and spiritual growth. Benefactors may name capital projects at varying amounts, as determined by the officers of the University in careful consultation with the University Architect.

Instruments of Giving

Pledge Payments are gifts of cash, check, or credit card directed toward the fulfillment of an existing commitment to the University of Notre Dame.

Outright Gifts of cash or check (not attached to a pledge) are immediately beneficial to the University and can be directed toward any funding priority.

Gifts of Securities often confer significant tax benefits on the donor; for example, contributions of appreciated securities held for over a year are generally deductible at market value and are exempt from the capital gains tax. Securities can be transferred to the University as outright gifts, pledge payments, or as planned gifts.

Planned Gifts—including bequests, unitrusts, annuities, insurance policies, and retirement assets—can provide benefits to families now and in the future, while assisting Notre Dame for many generations to come.

Gifts of Property, including artwork and book collections, have given rise to many of the prominent collections housed in the Snite Museum of Art and the Hesburgh Libraries.

Matching Gifts are made by companies that wish to multiply the charitable giving of employees. Most companies will match gifts dollar for dollar, and some will double– or triple–match employee donations.

Question? Please contact us at spirit@nd.edu.