What is the Opening Doors capital campaign?
How is the Annual Fund connected to the capital campaign?
What are the differences between various types of gifts?
How can I make a gift to St. Thomas?
How do I designate funds to a particular program, scholarship or building project?
How can I maximize my estate plans with a gift to St. Thomas?
How do I make a memorial gift?
How do I make a gift in honor of someone for a special occasion?
What is the deadline for making gifts in a particular fiscal year?
Whom do I contact if I have questions about my gift?
What is the address of the Development Office?
How do I update my personal contact information?
The Opening Doors capital campaign is a $500 million multi-year fundraising effort at the University of St. Thomas. It calls upon alumni, parents of students and alumni, other friends, faculty and staff members, students, and corporations and foundations to support the mission of St. Thomas with gifts for a variety of academic and building priorities. Read an introduction to the campaign here.
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The Opening Doors capital campaign is what is known as a "comprehensive" capital campaign, which means that the goal includes all gifts, whether they are received through the unrestricted Annual Fund, as designated gifts to specific priorities, as future gifts through donors' estates or in any of several other ways. Each year, thousands of generous donors give to the Annual Fund, which supports the academic, social, spiritual and athletic development of students. This is why unrestricted annual giving is a $10 million priority in the Opening Doors campaign and why this support is so important.
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Gifts of every size are important and are greatly appreciated. While large gifts are needed and valuable, there is no gift that is too small to help St. Thomas students. Every $20, $50 or $100 helps to provide outstanding faculty, staff, scholarships, programs and facilities for today's and tomorrow's undergraduate and graduate students.
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Outright gifts: The most common and easiest way to make a gift to St. Thomas is by check or credit card. These gifts can be one-time gifts or gifts made on a recurring basis. They can be designated for specific uses or left unrestricted.
Securities/stocks: A gift of appreciated securities might provide you with greater tax advantages than a gift of cash. You can deduct the current fair market value as a charitable gift and avoid any capital gains tax on the appreciation.
Property: Since gifts of property can provide tax deductions and may help avoid additional taxes, they are a good choice for many people. These gifts include tangible personal property, real personal property, intellectual property, and closely held company stock.
Planned gifts: Many alumni and friends of St. Thomas choose to support students by including the university in their estate plans. These deferred, or "planned," gifts include bequests by will, IRA or retirement plan, gift annuity, trust arrangement, insurance policy and other means, and they can be directed toward a variety of scholarships, programs and departments.
Pledges: You can pledge to make a gift over a period of time. Your pledge can be to make a one-time gift at some point in the future or to make several gifts over time. Pledges are accepted toward specific campaign priorities as well as to the Annual Fund.
Matching gifts: Many employers (and former employers, for retirees) match the charitable gifts of their employees. Check this list of matching-gift companies to see if yours is on it. It is not an exhaustive list, so if yours is not on it, please ask your human resources department if your employer matches charitable gifts. If it does match gifts, please obtain, complete and submit a matching-gift form (or fill one out online, if that option is offered) in order to multiply the value of your gift!
If you have questions about matching gifts, please contact your human resources department or Tamara Tesch, stewardship and compliance officer at St. Thomas, at (651) 962-6958; (800) 328-6819, Ext. 2-6958; or tdtesch@stthomas.edu.
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Credit-card gifts online:
You can complete and submit a secure online giving form here.
Credit-card Gifts by phone:
Call the St. Thomas Development office at (651) 962-6950 or (800) 328-6819, Ext. 2-6950.
Check or credit-card gifts by mail:
Download, print, and complete the giving form and mail it to:
University of St. Thomas
Development Office
Mail DEV
2115 Summit Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55105-1096
Pledges:
To make giving easier, you can pledge a gift that will be paid over a period of time. Just complete the giving form and mail it to the address above.
Matching Gifts:
Many employers (and former employers, for retirees) match the charitable gifts of their employees. If you are a donor to St. Thomas, please ask your human resources department if your employer matches charitable gifts. If it does, please obtain, complete and submit a matching-gift form (or fill one out online, if your employer offers that option) to multiply the value of your gift.
If you have questions about matching gifts, please contact your human resources department or contact Tamara Tesch in the St. Thomas Development Office at (651) 962-6958; (800) 328-6819, Ext. 2-6958; or tdtesch@stthomas.edu.
Gifts of stock or other securities:
If you are considering a gift of stock, please contact Tamara Tesch in the Development Office at (651) 962-6958; (800) 328-6819, Ext. 2-6958; or tdtesch@stthomas.edu, for the most up-to-date information.
Gift Planning:
By remembering St. Thomas in your will or trust (use the name "University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN"), you receive benefits in addition to tax savings and retention of your assets for life: You create a legacy of helping others, expressing gratitude and making a difference in the world. Please contact Susan Dunlop in the Development Office at (651) 962-6964; (800) 328-6819, Ext. 2-6964; or scdunlop@stthomas.edu. Visit www.USTGiftPlanning.org for helpful information.
Real estate or other tangible property:
If you would like to make a gift of real estate or other tangible property, please contact Tamara Tesch in the Development Office at (651) 962-6958; (800) 328-6819, Ext. 2-6958; or tdtesch@stthomas.edu to discuss your options.
Corporate/foundation giving:
The University of St. Thomas welcomes gifts from corporations and foundations. These range from sole proprietorships to Fortune 500 companies, and from small family foundations to some of the largest national foundations. If your company or foundation might be interested in supporting St. Thomas students or programs through the Opening Doors campaign, please contact Susan Spray in the Development Office at (651) 962-6984; (800) 328-6819, Ext. 2-6984; or srspray@stthomas.edu.
Questions?
The St. Thomas Development staff would be happy to answer your questions about the capital campaign or giving a gift. Contact the Development Office at (651) 962-6950; (800) 328-6819, Ext. 2-6950; or development@stthomas.edu.
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Yes. To give a gift online, simply complete this secure online-giving form.
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When you complete either the online-giving form or the printable giving form, you can direct your gift(s) to a specific campaign priority or another specific area. If you have questions about ensuring that your gift is directed properly, please contact the St. Thomas Development Office at (651) 962-6950; (800) 328-6819, Ext. 2-6950; or development@stthomas.edu.
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Unrestricted gifts are vital to the well-being of St. Thomas because they allow resources to be directed to where they are needed immediately or where future opportunities are greatest. Read about the important unrestricted Annual Fund priority of the Opening Doors campaign here.
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With thoughtful tax and gift planning, more can be done than you might think possible. You can easily obtain a tax-law update to assist in getting the most out of your estate plan, or find out about ways to give a gift and receive guaranteed income for life for you and your loved ones. Contact Susan Dunlop, scdunlop@stthomas.edu, or visit www.USTGiftPlanning.org.
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An endowment gift is a contribution that becomes principal a permanent investment account. Only a portion of each year's earnings is spent on the charitable purpose (a scholarship, for example). The rest is reinvested, increasing the principal in the account, also increasing the next year's earning's as well as the amount available for use. Donors can establish endowments at St. Thomas with a total gift of $50,000. Any amount can be contributed to an existing endowed fund.
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On either the online-giving form or the printable giving form, you can specify if you would like your gift to be a memorial gift.
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On either the online-giving form or the printable giving form, you can specify if you would like your gift to be made in honor of someone or for a special occasion.
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June 30 is the end of St. Thomas' fiscal year. All gifts must be received in the Development Office by June 30 to be included in that fiscal year's stewardship-report recognition. (For example: To have a gift credited to fiscal year 2008, it must be received in the Development Office between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008.)
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Contact the University of St. Thomas Development Office staff.
Staff members will be happy to assist you with any of your questions about the capital campaign or your gift. The Development Office can be reached at (651) 962.6950; (800) 328-6819, Ext. 2-6950; or development@stthomas.edu.
The contacts below might be of help with your specific question:
Annual Fund – John Bannigan, (651) 962-6982; (800) 328-6819, Ext. 6982; or jfbannigan@stthomas.edu.
Matching gifts, scholarships, property, stocks – Tamara Tesch, (651)962-6958; (800) 328-6819, Ext. 2-6958; or tdtesch@stthomas.edu.
Gift planning – Susan Dunlop, (651) 962-6964 or (800) 328-6819, Ext. 2-6977; or scdunlop@stthomas.edu.
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University of St. Thomas
Development Office
Mail DEV
2115 Summit Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105-1096
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Now it's easier than ever to update your address, telephone number, e-mail address and other personal information. Just visit The Quad. It's a secure environment in which you can update your information and look up other alumni.
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