HOW TO MAKE A GIFT
There are many ways to give to WWU through The Foundation for WWU & Alumni.
Please review our Gift Acceptance Policy and refer to the giving methods below.
Give through VikingFunder
Support a project, or apply to set up a project in our crowdfunding platform.
Give over the phone
Make your gift over the phone, or talk to one of our development professionals to learn more.
Mail a check
Make checks payable to WWU Foundation.
Write the area you wish to support in the memo line of your check.
Mail your check to:
The Foundation for WWU & Alumni
516 High Street, MS 9034
Bellingham, WA 98225
Volunteer
Contribute your time! Some ways you can give to Western:
- Share your skills and experience with current students
- Sponsor or host an event
- Become a mentor or provide an internship
We appreciate it!
Give in memorium or in honor of someone
A gift to honor or memorialize a family member, friend, student, or colleague is a powerful way to pay tribute to that important person. Many memorial funds are established as permanent endowments, carrying on the name(s) of those honored.
Gift to a department, program or scholarship
Make a gift of any amount to your favorite department, program or scholarship in honor of someone. Simply indicate the name of the person you are honoring when giving online or on the memo line of your check. If you would like us to send a card to the person or their next of kin, please include the name and address of the person we should send our “in honor/memory of” letter to.
Purchase a brick
Purchase a brick for $100 or more to be placed on the memory walkway in front of Old Main.
Establish a scholarship
Establish an annual scholarship in honor of someone with a gift of $2,000 per year, or an endowed scholarship with a gift of $25,000 (payable over five years). Please visit our scholarship page for more information.
Please call (360) 650-3027 for help setting up a fund, or making a contribution to an area or program of interest in honor or in memory of someone special.
Matching Gifts
Check our Matching Gifts portal
Did you know that your employer and WWU might be the perfect match? Your company could double-or even triple-your gift through its matching gift program. You can use our Matching Gifts portal to see if your company will match your gift, and initiate that match.
Appreciated Stocks and Securities
You can make this in the form of an outright gift, or as a payment on a pledge. Stock certificates may be reassigned directly to The Foundation or may be transferred through the donor's broker.
For more information, visit our Securities page. The mean market value on the date of the transfer will determine the value of the gift for tax purposes. It is best to consult with a development professional before making a transaction. For consultation or general questions on securities, call (360) 650-3027.
Donor Advised Funds
A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a charitable giving program that allows you to combine the most favorable tax benefits with the flexibility to support Western Washington University. From your Donor-Advised Fund you may recommend donations to the area(s) on campus you are most passionate about. Please be aware that IRS limitations and regulations prohibit any benefits, such as tickets or items, be received by the donor when giving through their financial institution’s donor-advised fund.
Visit your DAF’s website to submit your gift recommendation. Here is some additional information you’ll need to provide:
- The amount of your gift
- The name of the particular campus fund or campus unit that you’d like to support
- Checks must be made payable to The Foundation for WWU & Alumni and mailed to the address below:
The Foundation for WWU & Alumni
516 High Street, MS 9034
Bellingham, WA 98225 - The tax identification number for the WWU Foundation is 91-6073519
If you have questions, you or your DAF can contact The Foundation at forwestern@wwu.edu or 360-650-3027. Thank you!
Payroll Deduction (Western employees)
Use the Payroll Deduction form
As a Western employee, you can give directly through your paycheck. The minimum deduction amount per pay period is $5. Use the Payroll Deduction form to update, replace, or start a new payroll deduction gift.
Use the payroll deduction cancellation form to cancel an existing payroll deduction pledge.
Gift of Property
You can contribute your personal residence, land, commercial or other property to the WWU Foundation. We also accept certain works of art, books, furnishings and other non-cash items.
In most cases, these gifts are recorded at their fair market value. Gifts with a value of $5,000 or more must have a professional appraisal. Please call (360) 650-3027 to speak with a development professional about your gift of property.
Planned Giving
When you make a gift to Western Washington University through your will, trust, or retirement plan, you are sowing the seeds of future support that will benefit Western—and its students—for generations to come. Planned gifts can provide flexible, creative approaches to your charitable and estate planning. While gifts through one’s estate are the most common type of planned gift, some planned gifts can provide you with income for life, while many others may reduce your taxes. Your gifts can be directed to support any area of the university you choose to further student success.
To learn more about planned giving, including how to direct a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA, visit our Planned Giving site.
The Foundation now has a partnership with FreeWill, an online tool that allows you to create free, legally valid estate documents. Start your will today.
Matt Hammatt
Director of Planned Giving
Matt is available to explore all options available to you. Visit the planned giving site or contact Matt:
(360) 650-2443