Types of Gifts
As alumni, some of you may yourselves have benefited from scholarships or public subsidy when you were students; others simply want to ensure that the Illinois Law experience remains affordable and accessible.
We understand that motivations for giving are varied and often personal. Learn more about the various opportunities for giving below, and we will work with you to ensure that your giving priorities are recognized and matched to meet the most pressing needs of the College.
The Annual Fund
The Annual Fund is the College of Law’s unrestricted fund. Contributions support scholarships to attract the best and brightest students to the College of Law; programs and services that go above and beyond traditional legal course work to provide students with an education that prepares them for their legal careers; public engagement initiatives that bring Illinois Law to the broader legal and public communities; student organizations, clinics, and a multitude of additional offerings to enrich the student experience; and more.
Scholarships
Scholarship support is welcome at all levels of giving – annual cash gifts, multi-year pledges, or major gifts. Cash gifts to support scholarships can be made through the Annual Fund. When making your gift, select “College of Law Scholarship Fund” to earmark it for student scholarship support.
Illinois Law Scholars Society
Gifts to the Illinois Law Scholars Society are three-year commitments that can be made at annual levels ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 per year. Named after the donor, these gifts are earmarked for current-use scholarships, enabling our students to benefit immediately. Learn more.
Endowed Scholarships
An endowed scholarship at the University of Illinois College of Law is backed by a commitment of at least $100,000, established through contributions over a period of up to 5 years, through an estate gift, or through a combination of these approaches. The endowment principal is held in perpetuity, with income distributed to the student on a yearly basis. Learn more.
Loan Repayment Assistance Program
The Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) gives graduates more flexibility in career selection by offering partial loan forgiveness loans and grants to qualifying applicants who are working in public interest careers. Donors can direct their gifts to the LRAP by selecting “Loan Repayment Assistance Program Fund” when making a gift online.
Planned Giving
Many alumni are interested in directing future support to the College of Law. Examples of planned gifts include assets given through bequest or testamentary trust, charitable remainder trust, charitable lead trust, charitable gift annuity, retained life estate, life insurance policy (non-term), or retirement account (IRA, 401(k), 403(b), etc.). Learn more or contact the Office of Advancement if you would like to further discuss planned giving.
Creating an Endowment
Donors can create a lasting legacy by establishing an endowment at the College of Law. The endowment principal is held in perpetuity, with income (currently, 4% of the endowment principal) distributed to the College of Law on a yearly basis to support the donor’s intended area. Learn more.
Law Firm Challenge
The Law Firm Challenge is a friendly competition among alumni in participating firms. Each year we ask these alumni to “participate” by making a gift to the College of Law Annual Fund. Those firms that achieve 80% or greater participation are specially recognized in a variety of ways. Learn more.
Other Types of Gifts
To give the College of Law a gift of publicly traded stocks or mutual funds via electronic transfer, please contact the University of Illinois Foundation Cash Receipts Department for delivery instructions at cashdesk@uif.uillinois.edu or (217) 244-0352. In eligible tax years, individuals age 70½ or over can exclude up to $100,000 from gross income for donations paid directly to a qualified charity, like the University of Illinois, from their IRA. Contact the Office of Advancement to hear more about these options.