Giving FAQ

General Questions

1. What is the Annual Fund and where does my donation go?
2. Why are unrestricted gifts important?
3. What are endowment gifts?
4. Where does Georgetown University need the most support and can I specify how my gift will be used?
5. Does my gift to the Annual Fund count towards my reunion giving program?
6. What is the duration of the fiscal year and when should I contribute?
7. What is a matching gift and will my company match my gift to Georgetown University?
8. How can I get more involved with fellow alumni and/or my university?
9. What if I have multiple degrees, where will my donation go?
10. How and who do I contact to make a stock/securities gift?
11. What is Georgetown University's non-profit tax ID number?
12. How do I get a copy of my tax receipt?
13. How do I access my giving history?
14. Who can I contact about information about my gift?

Georgetown Fund Questions

1. What is the Georgetown Fund?
2. What are the goals of the 1789 Scholarship Imperative?
3. Is the Georgetown Fund the same thing as the Georgetown University Annual Fund?
4. Can I still designate my gift to specific areas within the university?
5. Is there a dollar limit on gifts to the Georgetown Fund?
6. Does a gift to the Georgetown Fund count toward my giving participation?
7. Do gifts to the Georgetown Fund count toward my reunion giving total?
8. I hold multiple degrees from Georgetown. Does my gift to the Georgetown Fund apply to each of the schools from which I graduated?
9. Who is asked to make a gift to the Georgetown Fund?
10. If I make a gift to the Georgetown Fund, will I be solicited for an additional contribution that year?

Endowment Questions

For questions about contributions to Georgetown's endowment, please see the Endowment FAQ.

General Questions

1. What is the Annual Fund and where does my donation go?

   The Annual Fund is the most direct way for alumni, friends and family to support Georgetown University. Donations made to the annual fund directly support the student learning experience by funding annual expenses, such as scholarships, faculty support, library resources and more. Alumni like you who donate to the Annual Fund form the community that makes the Georgetown experience possible. Back to Top

2. Why are unrestricted gifts important?

   Unrestricted gifts provide the university with the maximum amount of financial flexibility to fund immediate and pressing needs. Tuition revenue covers approximately two-thirds of the annual cost of education. Unrestricted support is a critical source of funding to bridge the difference.Back to Top

3. What are endowment gifts?

   Much like savings accounts, endowment funds generate income from the investment of the principal. A gift to an endowment is placed in a restricted account so that it may grow and spin off more and more income as years pass and ensure the future financial stability of the institution. The principal remains intact. Currently, Georgetown has the lowest endowment ranking for a top 25 school, positioned at 67th out of all universities.Back to Top

4. Where does Georgetown University need the most support and can I specify how my gift will be used?

   Georgetown President John J. DeGioia has identified scholarships as the top giving priority to achieve the university's mission. In September 2009, he announced an important new effort to support access and affordability at Georgetown through an initiative called the 1789 Scholarship Imperative.
   The imperative calls for raising $500 million by 2014 to transform Georgetown’s ability to provide competitive scholarships to more students. All contributions to the Georgetown Fund will go to the 1789 Scholarship Imperative.
   As always, you may continue to support any area of the university you desire. If you would like to make a gift to another area, please indicate this when making your gift. Your generosity to any area of the university is greatly appreciated; however, please consider making the Georgetown Fund your top annual giving priority.Back to Top

5. Does my gift to the Annual Fund count towards my reunion giving program?

   Yes, if you are in a reunion year, your annual fund donation will count towards your class goal!Back to Top

6. What is the duration of the fiscal year and when should I contribute?

   The fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30 each year. Gifts during any point of this timeframe will be credited to your donation history.Back to Top

7. What is a matching gift and will my company match my gift to Georgetown University?

   A matching gift is a donation from the company you work for to your designated area of giving. Each company varies in policy and may match 1:1 or 3:1, increasing your contribution. To see if your company has a matching gift program, click here.Back to Top

8. How can I get more involved with fellow alumni and/or my university?

   There are many opportunities available for alumni and volunteers to engage with one another and the university through alumni services and programming. For more information on how to become involved, visit Georgetown Alumni Online or contact alumnirelations@georgetown.edu.Back to Top

9. What if I have multiple degrees, where will my donation go?

   A gift to the Georgetown Fund counts toward the Georgetown Fund, which is the giving priority within the Annual Fund for undergraduates. However, if you want to split your contribution between the Georgetown Fund and any other area of the university, you must indicate this when you make your contribution. As always, undesignated gifts will be split amongst the schools from which you graduated.Back to Top

10. How and who do I contact to make a stock/securities gift?
    

    Click here to download a form to fill out and send to our gift planning department for stock/security gifts. Alternatively, you may call our gift planning department for more assistance at 800-347-8067 or 202-687-3697. Back to Top

11. What is Georgetown University's non-profit tax ID number?

    Gifts may be tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Georgetown University's non-profit tax ID number is 530196603.Back to Top

12. How do I get a copy of my tax receipt?

    Our Department of Gift Processing can help. Please call 202-687-1690.Back to Top

13. How do I access my giving history?

    Please contact our Department of Gift Processing at 202-687-1690.Back to Top

14. Who can I contact about information about my gift?

    Our Department of Gift Processing at 202-687-1690 can answer most giving-related questions or provide a referral. The main line of the Office of Advancement (800-424-2795) is also a resource for our donors.Back to Top

Georgetown Fund Questions

1. What is the Georgetown Fund?

   The Georgetown Fund serves as a critical source of funding for the university’s highest priorities. Currently, 100 percent of gifts to the Georgetown Fund are being directed to the 1789 Scholarship Imperative. The goal of the imperative is to raise $500 million for undergraduate scholarships by 2014.
   Gifts of any size to the Georgetown Fund count toward the imperative. They will be bundled into $25,000 scholarships that will be awarded to students with the greatest demonstrated need.Back to Top

2. What are the goals of the 1789 Scholarship Imperative?
   • Raise $500 million for undergraduate scholarships by 2014
   • Support 1,789 students annually with $25,000 scholarships
   • Award scholarships to excellent candidates who want to attend Georgetown over other competitive schools
   • Increase the percentage of scholarships funded through philanthropy
   • Sustain and strengthen Georgetown’s position as one of the leading universities in the country
   Back to Top
3. Is the Georgetown Fund the same thing as the Georgetown University Annual Fund?

   No. The Georgetown University Annual Fund is comprised of many specific giving options that encompass initiatives and programs for and within each campus. Annual gifts to the Law Annual Fund, the Medical Annual Fund, Hoyas Unlimited, Mission and Ministry and other programs all count toward the Annual Fund. Gifts to the Georgetown Fund also count toward the Annual Fund.Back to Top

4. Can I still designate my gift to specific areas within the university?

   As always, you may continue to support any area of the university you desire. If you would like to make a gift to another area, please indicate this when making your gift. Your generosity to any area of the university is greatly appreciated; however, please consider making the Georgetown Fund your top annual giving priority.Back to Top

5. Is there a dollar limit on gifts to the Georgetown Fund?

   No. There is no dollar limit on any gift to the Georgetown University Annual Fund or any gift to the Georgetown Fund. Gifts of all sizes are important to advancing the university's mission. Last year, 85 percent of the $5.8 million in contributions to the Georgetown Fund were under $500. Back to Top

6. Does a gift to the Georgetown Fund count toward my giving participation?

   Yes. Any gift to any designation, including gifts to the Georgetown Fund, counts toward giving participation. Back to Top

7. Do gifts to the Georgetown Fund count toward my reunion giving total?

   Yes. All gifts to the university count toward your reunion giving total, including those made to the Georgetown Fund. Back to Top

8. I hold multiple degrees from Georgetown. Does my gift to the Georgetown Fund apply to each of the schools from which I graduated?

   A gift to the Georgetown Fund counts toward the Georgetown Fund, which is the giving priority within the Annual Fund for undergraduates. However, if you want to split your contribution between the Georgetown Fund and any other area of the university, you must indicate this when you make your contribution. As always, undesignated gifts will be split amongst the schools from which you graduated. Back to Top

9. Who is asked to make a gift to the Georgetown Fund?

   Undergraduate alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends are encouraged to support the total undergraduate learning experience by making a gift to the Georgetown Fund. Back to Top

10. If I make a gift to the Georgetown Fund, will I be solicited for an additional contribution that year?

    You may be asked to support the university by making a contribution to more than one area of the Annual Fund, especially if you have contributed to other areas in the past. Back to Top