Ways to Give

Support someone's dream—support a USF education!

Your philanthropy is essential to fulfilling our education mission. Your contributions help the University of St. Francis to maintain its high caliber of academic offerings, attract smart, hard-working students and provide them with much-needed financial aid. Every bit of support helps make students’ dreams of earning a USF degree a reality. Explore the many ways you can support the University of St. Francis! #EveryGiftMatters

Support USF Through Special Events & Initiatives

Types of Gifts

All cash gifts qualify as an IRS charitable deduction. Gifts should be mailed to:

University of St. Francis
Institutional Advancement
500 Wilcox Street
Joliet, IL 60435

 

With matching gifts, you can double or even triple your gift!

Imagine doubling—or even tripling—your gift to the University of St. Francis by simply taking a walk down to the Human Resources office at your workplace. Many companies offer matching gift programs to encourage employees to contribute to charitable organizations, sometimes matching 100% or two or three times the value of your contribution. Some companies even match gifts made by retirees and/or their spouses. What a great way to maximize your gift to USF!

To find out if your company has a matching gift policy, please click to search our directory of participating corporate match employers: Corporate Match Directory (PDF). If your company matches, you should be able to access the forms through your HR department. Follow their procedures, and the University of St. Francis can assist you through the rest of the process. Just be sure to let us know that your company matches when you make your contribution.

If you have questions about matching gifts or would like to set up a matching program at your company, please contact Lisa Sampalis at 815-740-5065 or lsampalis@stfrancis.edu.

Planned gifts have an enormous and lasting impact on the University of St. Francis, creating a legacy for USF students that lasts for generations.

Planned gifts also form part of an overall financial plan that can provide you, the donor, with significant benefits. For example, planned gifts can help you maintain control of your assets during your lifetime, take advantage of a number of tax benefits, leave a legacy at USF, and possibly even provide income to yourself or others during your or their lifetime. Unlike cash gifts, planned gifts typically come from assets in your estate, rather than disposable income.

Common Types of Planned Gifts:

  • Estate Planning/Will-Bequest
  • Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA)
  • Appreciated Assets (Securities, Stock, etc.)
  • Retirement Assets
  • Charitable Remainder Trust (CLT)
  • Charitable Lead Trust (CLT)
  • Life Estate Reserved (Gift of Remainder)
  • Bargain Sale
  • Real Estate
  • Personal Property
  • Life Insurance

View important year-end tax information (PDF).

Through thoughtful planning, we can assist you in your personal charitable aspirations that garner favorable financial effects for all parties involved. If you are interested in considering a gift planning option, please contact Lisa Sampalis at 815-740-5065 or lsampalis@stfrancis.edu.

Visit Planned Giving Homepage

The University of St. Francis accepts contributions of almost any kind of real estate, including undeveloped land, farms, commercial buildings, vacation homes or residences. The tax benefits can be even more significant than for cash gifts. To learn more about donations of real estate please contact Lisa Sampalis at 815-740-5065 or lsampalis@stfrancis.edu.

Scholarships are a great and lasting statement of your belief in a University of St. Francis education and our mission to prepare students for lives of leadership and service. Two types of scholarships—annual and endowed—can be established at the University of St. Francis.

Endowed Scholarships: Endowed scholarships are designed to be permanent and live in perpetuity. They can be created with gifts totaling a minimum amount of $25,000. The principal of the fund is invested to produce income, and an annual award is made to a student or students. The principal remains untouched, so the endowment can last into perpetuity.

Annual Scholarships: Annual scholarships can be established with a commitment of $5,000 over five years. Annual scholarships are not a permanent fund and is awarded only as long as funds are available.

To learn more about establishing a scholarship, please contact Clarissa Barkley ’20 at 815-740-3695 or cbarkley@stfrancis.edu

Giving stocks and other securities may actually offer better tax benefits than a gift of cash to USF. If you are interested in giving a gift of stock, please contact Lisa Sampalis at 815-740-5065 or lsampalis@stfrancis.edu.
 
Please Note: If you plan to contribute stock or you are wiring funds to the university, please ask your financial advisors to share your name and the appropriate contact information with the funds. 
 

How to Contribute

Please use our quick and convenient online form to make a gift today with a credit card. You can make a one time donation or sign up for a monthly, quarterly, twice yearly, or yearly recurring gift.

Mail gifts to:

University of St. Francis
Institutional Advancement
500 Wilcox Street
Joliet, IL 60435

Call 815-740-3748 to make a contribution by phone.

Unrestricted annual support of the Francis Fund helps us continue USF’s long history of anticipating opportunities and responding to emerging needs driven by what we know students can accomplish. Your contribution funds financial aid awards, student and faculty research, internships stipends, chapel maintenance, campus beautification and so much more. 

Saints are called to join together on a specific date, or Day of Giving, each spring to make an impact on campus and in the world. Join in on the excitement and watch as you and your Saints community help shape the future in just one day!

Giving Tuesday is a day for Saints around the globe to come together to celebrate USF students and encourage giving to the university! Learn more about this special which takes place annually in the fall!

Why give?

As an employee your gift means a great deal. Your donation, no matter how large or small,  directly supports USF students and is important to the future of University of St. Francis. Our goal is 100% employee participation in support of our deserving students. Click here to find out more!

The tradition of reunion giving is a meaningful way to give back to your alma mater and provide opportunity for the next generation of Saints. Your gift to the Francis Fund supports scholarships, campus ministry and outreach efforts, academic programming, athletics, and other critical needs. Your generosity ensures the opportunity for academic excellence for those following in your footsteps. Together we are St. Francis. Make a gift today!  #EveryGiftMatters

This student-led initiative aspires to show current senior students the great importance of giving back. With the hundreds of programs, clubs, and activities that take place on-campus, this program allows students to donate to those activities that they enjoyed most. Not only will this ensure the existence of such activities for future students, but it will help every student build their legacy at USF. Click here to visit the Senior Class Gift page!

The Student Emergency Fund is one way the University of St. Francis responds to our students’ growing needs. The Student Emergency Fund was created to address the unforeseen hardships of our students that compromise their pursuit of education.