Ways to Give

To make a gift by mail, please send a check or money order to Widener University:

Widener University
ATTN: Office of Development and Alumni Engagement
1 University Place
Chester, PA 19013

Gifts may be designated to any school, unit, team, academic program, or scholarship. If you have any questions about how to designate your gift, please contact us via email at devoffc@widener.edu or phone call at (610) 499-4670.

Call us at (610) 499-4670 or send a fax to 610-499-1349 to make your gift.

We support a number of specific crowdfunding campaigns throughout the year and are constantly updating our Roar With Pride platform to reflect our latest projects, as well as the projects of our students, faculty, and staff. View our current crowdfunding campaigns here.

The future of Widener is built today.  Using the assets you've accumulated through your own life, you can make a gift through your estate, life insurance, retirement plan, or securities to help put the next generation on the Inside Track. Planning for this investment now ensures that your legacy will persist at Widener in an important and meaningful way.

Planned gifts can take many forms, including:

• Estate gifts
• Life insurance and retirement fund beneficiary designations
• Charitable gift annuities

Learn more in our Planned Giving booklet (PDF) and, if you're ready, you can print and fill out the non-binding Planned Giving Declaration form.  Once it's received, we'll contact you to confirm your intentions and make sure that Widener honors your investment in us and our mission in the way you intend.

When you make or document a planned gift, you will be honored with other members of the Widener University Legacy Society, which recognizes individuals who will continue their relationship with Widener beyond their own lives. Learn more about how we recognize our donors.

For more information about including Widener in your plans, please contact us via email at devoffc@widener.edu or phone call at (610) 499-4670.

Widener University recommends you consult with your preferred tax and estate planning professional for all significant gifts.

Appreciated Securities

A gift of securities can help you achieve your philanthropic goals and satisfy your tax needs. For securities held longer than one year, donors can deduct the entire full market value of the shares regardless of cost basis—up to 30% of the donor’s annual income—and avoid paying capital gains tax.

For more information including our Depository Trust Corporation number and brokerage information, visit our Questions page. To set up your gift of appreciated securities, please contact us via email at devoffc@widener.edu or phone call at (610) 499-4670.

Giving From Retirement Funds/IRAs

If you are aged 73 years or older, you can make gifts to Widener directly from the Required Minimum Distribution of your traditional IRA accounts, up to $105,000 for the 2024 tax year, which can reduce your tax liability for the year.  You can also leave Widener as a beneficiary of a retirement plans like a 401(k) or 403(b).

Want to learn more?  Read on and download a sample instruction letter for your IRA Administrator (pdf).

Widener University recommends you consult with your preferred tax and estate planning professional for all significant gifts.

Many companies sponsor matching gift programs that can double or even triple your contribution to Widener by matching part or all of employee contributions to charitable organizations. Many employers will also match gifts by retirees or spouses.

Please send all completed matching gift forms to:

  Widener University
  ATTN: Data Services
  Office of Development and Alumni Engagement
  1 University Place
  Chester, PA 19013

If your company's matching gift form or website requires an email for Widener, please use devoffc@widener.edu.

For forms requiring our federal Tax ID, use 23-1386178.

You can support any area of the university by making a gift through payroll deduction. Visit https://my.widener.edu/task/all/make-a-gift to set up your payroll deduction (Login to MyWidener is required). For questions, contact Brian Lewis, Director of Annual Giving, at balewis1@widener.edu.

We welcome your gifts at any time of year, but we're always looking forward to our next giving event! Find information on our upcoming giving events here.