Questions

We're passionate about making the giving experience easy and fulfilling for our donors—and we're always here to help!

Find answers to frequently asked questions below, and don't hesitate to contact us via email at akuo@widener.edu or phone call at (610) 499-4466 if you have any other questions, comments, or concerns!

General

In 2020, Widener established the Student Emergency Fund, which helps students dealing with unexpected costs including travel, technology needs, or the loss of internship and co-op wages for themselves or their families.  This fund provides immediate cash assistance to students who apply and can demonstrate need that would not otherwise be met by normal financial aid.

Your support of the Widener Student Emergency Fund will provide immediate assistance to students with pressing, unmet needs.

The CARES Act of 2020 and the Consolidated Appropriations Act made some significant changes for charitable giving.  But additional legislation affecting the 2022 tax year made other changes.

Tax deductions are no longer available to all tax filers, unless you itemize deductions.

Donors who did not itemize were able to take deductions for charitable gifts in 2020 and 2021, but those tax benefits expired with the 2022 tax year.  However, many other charitable gift strategies remain viable, including gifts from IRA minimum distributions and charitable gift annuities.

The cap on charitable gift tax deductions had been increased, but has returned to a lower level for 2022 and later.

The cap on deductions for a charitable cash gift increased from 60% to 100% of adjusted gross income during 2020 and 2021, but gifts made in 2022 and later are no longer available to be deducted beyond 60% of a donor's adjusted gross income.

The cap on charitable gift tax deductions for corporations has been increased.

The cap on deductions for a charitable cash gift from a corporation increased from 10% to 25% of taxable income. This provides an opportunity for additional tax savings for a corporation similar to the example above for the individual donor.

Required Minimum Distribution from IRAs suspended for 2020, but returned in 2021.

Persons 72 years old and older with an IRA were not required to take a minimum distribution in 2020.  However, all IRA minimum distribution requirements were re-established in 2021.

Our federal tax-ID number is 23-1386178.

Widener's brokerage information is as follows:

Brokerage Firm: Merrill Lynch
Account Manager: Ron Reno
Account Name: Widener University
Account Number: 2Z502004
DTC Number: 8862

Yes! Find more information on upcoming giving events here.

This is the question we hope every alum asks! For information on the alumni association, upcoming events, resources and benefits for alums, and much more, visit our alumni engagement site.

Yes! We'll be happy to help you set up an endowment to fund a faculty excellence or other university position. Contact us at (610) 499-4670 or email us at devoffc@widener.edu to get started.

Widener reaches out to alumni and donors through several different types of communication, including text messages. Your communication preferences are important to the University. If you wish to stop receiving text messages, please respond with either “STOP” or “UNSUBSCRIBE” to the number from which you received the message. Once we receive your message, no further text messages will be sent.
 

Widener would love to stay in touch with you and honor the ways you want to communicate! Email devoffc@widener.edu to share your cell phone number and let the team know you would like text communications.

 

First-Time Donors

Connecting donors with the projects and funds they're most excited about is a great priority and joy for us. You can find out more about what your gift supports and dive into scholarships and experiential learning giving opportunities on their respective pages.

To explore other areas of giving, including athletics, school-specific initiatives, campus beautification, and student experience, visit the support your passions page.

We also invite you to visit our Roar With Pride crowdfunding site to view current fundraising projects sponsored by student and alumni groups.

Our gift form lists a variety of giving options in the gift designation drop-down, but if you'd like to specify another area of support, select the Other option and describe what you'd like to give to.

We're here to make sure your gift goes exactly where you want it to and are always excited to hear what sorts of projects our donors are looking to fund, so please contact us via email at devoffc@widener.edu or phone call at (610) 499-4670 with any questions at all!

The Widener education is unique and indispensable, but the landscape can be crowded, especially within our region. To be heard above the fray, we must roar. While remaining true to our mission and values, we’ve launched a bold new way to tell our story that incorporates: 

  • A clear distillation of who we are and what we do best. So that we can be better known to our would-be students, employers, and community partners.
  • A powerful and concise promise to our students. 
  • A simple platform for broadcasting the Widener story to the world

Find out more about our Inside Track story.

Our donors form the essential core of our Pride, and we're always looking for ways to express our gratitude! To explore the benefits associated with various gift levels, visit our Donor Recognition page.

Faculty, Staff, & Student Donors

Right here! Simply visit our Ways to Give page and click "Faculty & Staff Payroll Deduction."  For questions, contact Brian Lewis, Director of Annual Giving, at balewis1@widener.edu.

The Student Philanthropy Council (SPC) is an organization of diverse student ambassadors passionate about supporting the Widener experience for decades of students to come. 

The SPC promotes philanthropy on campus through education, programming, and stewardship. Working under the direction of the Office of Development and Alumni Engagement staff, members demonstrate the impact of giving back for students, alumni, and other members of the Widener community. SPC members also gain practical experience in the realm of development, fundraising, event management, and leadership. Among additional priorities, the SPC will assist the Development and Alumni Engagement team at various events throughout the academic year such as Homecoming, Days of Giving, Roar4Widener, and more!

Follow the Student Philanthropy Council on Instagram and contact Albert Kuo to get involved.