Ways to Give
What works best for you, works best for us.
Many Ways to Give. Many Reasons to Roar.
From estate gifts to corporate matching, from the annual fund to Pride-themed giving events, there are many ways and opportunities to contribute to Widener. Of course, you are also welcome to give us a call or drop a check in the mail. Or just make a gift online.
Whatever path works best for you, our gratitude will be the same.
Giving Options
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 72 years or older, you can make gifts to Widener directly from the Required Minimum Distribution of your traditional IRA accounts, 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.
To learn if your employer matches, please search our online matching gift partner's database.
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.
Widener employees may give through monthly paycheck deductions by submitting a Widener Faculty and Staff Contribution Form. Simply download and fill out the form and send the completed document to 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.