Frequently Asked Giving Questions

Where can I find information about Calendar Year End Deadlines?

For more specific information about giving and calendar year end deadlines - including those around planned giving - please visit: giving.northwestern.edu/YearEndInfo

How do I make or renew my annual gift?

There are many different ways you can make your annual gift to Northwestern.

  • Give online: Use our convenient online giving form.
  • Give over the phone: Call Northwestern’s Annual Giving office at 800-222-5603.
  • Mail your check, payable to Northwestern University, to
    Northwestern University
    Alumni Relations and Development
    1201 Davis Street
    Evanston, IL 60208

What is the address for mailing in a check?

If you would like to make a gift by check, you can make the check payable to 'Northwestern University' and it can be mailed to:

Northwestern University
Alumni Relations and Development
Attn: Gift and Record Services
1201 Davis Street
Evanston, IL 60208

If I have a question about my giving history, whom should I contact?

You can always reach out to the Annual Giving office with questions about your giving history. We can be reached by phone at 800-222-5603, by email at giving@northwestern.edu, or online through the Annual Giving contact feature. If you contact us during non-business hours, we will respond to your message as soon as we are in the office, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m (CT).

I need a copy of my gift receipt for taxes. Whom should I contact to have a copy sent to me?

Please contact the University’s Gift and Record Services team for questions about a new receipt. They can be reached by phone at 847-491-4591 or by email at nureceipts@northwestern.edu during regular business hours Monday through Friday. If you reach out during non-business hours, they will respond to your message as soon as they are in the office.

What is Northwestern University’s fiscal year?

The Northwestern University fiscal year runs from September 1 to August 31. The fiscal year differs from the standard calendar year as well as the academic year. Membership in the Northwestern Leadership Circle (NULC), NU Loyal, and in many other societies is calculated based on the fiscal year.

How do I update my personal information with Northwestern University?

If you need to make any changes to your personal information, you can submit those changes to the Gift and Record Services team. Please submit updates to bioupdate@northwestern.edu. Any updates, including your name, contact information, or employer, will be made to your record promptly.

How can I confirm that you have received my donation?

Feel free to contact the Annual Giving office with questions about your recent gift. We will do our best to confirm your gift’s status while you are on the phone. Please note that if a gift was made in the last week, we may need to verify information with colleagues on other teams, but we will always respond once we have the answer for you. The Annual Giving office can be contacted by phone at 800-222-5603, by email at giving@northwestern.edu, or online through the Annual Giving contact feature during regular business hours Monday through Friday. If you reach out during non-business hours, we will answer your questions as soon as we are in the office.

How do I set up a recurring gift on my credit card?

You can set up a monthly, quarterly, or yearly recurring gift online using this form.

If you would like assistance setting up a recurring gift, please contact the Annual Giving office by phone at 800-222-5603, by email at giving@northwestern.edu during regular business hours Monday through Friday, or online through the Annual Giving contact feature.

How do I change my credit card information if I have set up a recurring gift?

Please contact the Annual Giving office to change your credit card information. We will email you instructions for updating your credit card information as well as a secure, personal link where you can do so. Contact us by phone at 800-222-5603, by email at giving@northwestern.edu, or online through the Annual Giving contact feature during regular business hours Monday through Friday. If you reach out during non-business hours, we will answer your questions as soon as we are in the office.

For your protection, you can only update credit card information via the secure link we will send you in an email. We do not save or have access to your credit card information, and will not be able to make this update on your behalf over the phone.

How can I give stocks, mutual funds, or bonds?

Gifts of publicly traded securities that have appreciated in value allow you to avoid capital gains taxes while also receiving a tax deduction for your gift.* Northwestern University benefits by selling the stock without paying taxes on the gain, and you benefit from making a contribution that would be larger than what you might have been able to donate in cash. You can specify which area of Northwestern you would like the proceeds to support, or have them contributed to the annual fund.

To make a gift of securities to Northwestern, please use the information below or complete the Gift of Stock Form.

The following information can be used by advisers in facilitating gifts of stock to Northwestern University:

DTC Number: 2669
Account Number: 26-07242
Taxpayer ID Number: 36-2167817
Broker Name: Northern Trust Chicago
Reference: (Name of donor/purpose)

Before a transfer of stock is made, we ask that you please notify us with the name of stock and number of shares gifted so we can monitor our account for the expected transfer.

For further information, please contact Gift and Record Services via email at giftupdate@northwestern.edu, or you may speak with Catherine Eliasik, director of Gift and Record Services, by calling 847-491-8324.

* Northwestern University is a 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are deductible as allowed by law. Please speak with your financial adviser about the deductibility of your gift.

How do I make a wire transfer?

To make a contribution to Northwestern University by a wire transfer please follow the directions below or use the Cash Gift by Wire Transfer form.  

1. Contact NU’s Gift and Record Services with information on the amount of the wire transfer, the gift purpose, and the name of the donor.
Contact by email:  giftupdate@northwestern.edu
Contact by phone: Catherine Eliasik, Director, 847-491-8324

2.  Use appropriate wire transfer direction for your contribution:  

Instructions for Fed Wire Transfers are:  
NORTHERN TRUST CHICAGO
ABA# 071 000 152
Crediting Master Trust Cash Processing Acct 5186061000
Ref Acct# 2607243
Beneficiary Northwestern University  

Instructions for ACH Transfers are:  
NORTHERN TRUST CHICAGO
ABA# 071 000 152
Crediting Account # TR2607243    

Northwestern University’s Tax ID number is 36-2167817.

How do I make an international wire transfer (including cash gifts)?

To make a contribution to Northwestern University by a wire transfer please follow the directions below or use this form for international cash gifts by wire transfer:

1. Contact NU’s Gift and Record Services with information on the amount of the wire transfer, the gift purpose, and the name of the donor.
Contact by email:  giftupdate@northwestern.edu
Contact by phone: Catherine Eliasik, Director, 847-491-8324

2.  Instructions for Fed Wire Transfers are: (Transfers of USD only)

THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
50 S. La Salle Street Chicago, IL 60603
SWIFT Code: CNORUS44
ABA #071000152
Credit Name: Master Trust Incoming Wire
Account Credit Account # 5186061000
Further Credit: Northwestern University
Account: 2607243    

Northwestern University’s Tax ID number is 36-2167817.

*Wire directions for foreign currency will be dependent on the originating country. Please contact Northwestern’s Gift and record services department for further assistance at the phone or email below.
Contact by email:  giftupdate@northwestern.edu
Contact by phone: Catherine Eliasik, Director, 847-491-8324

IMPORTANT: Please call or email Northwestern’s Gift and Record Service Department to notify them of my donation so that they may instruct Northern Trust to accept the delivery.

How do I make a gift of cryptocurrency?

To make a contribution of cryptocurrency to Northwestern University please contact NU’s Gift and Record Services with information on the amount of the cryptocurrency gift, the gift purpose, and the name of the donor. Contact Gift and Record Services by calling Catherine Eliasik at 847-491-8324 or by email at giftupdate@northwestern.edu.

Make your gift using the BitPay online form. A tax receipt will be issued by NU Gift and Record Services for your gift.

When making a gift, I noticed the form looks different - is this a legitimate Northwestern form?

Yes this new form is legitimate and secure! Northwestern is in the process of updating our giving systems and there will be some time in 2024 and 2025 where the two systems overlap. Our existing system giving page URLs will start with [https://giving.northwestern.edu] or [https://secure.ard.northwestern.edu]. The URLs from the new system will begin with [https://give.northwestern.edu]. You will begin to see more giving forms with the new format and URL starting in 2024.

If you have any additional questions, please contact the Annual Giving team by phone at 800-222-5603, by email at giving@northwestern.edu, or online through the Annual Giving contact feature.

What is the Northwestern University Leadership Circle (NULC) and how do I become a member?

When you make a gift of $1,000 or gifts totaling $1,000 or more during the University’s fiscal year, your commitment will be recognized through a membership in the NULC. Gifts to any area of the University qualify. Employer matching gifts will also count toward your membership.

To learn more, please contact the NULC team by phone at 847-467-2384, by email at nu-leadership@northwestern.edu, or online through the Annual Giving contact feature.

What is NU Loyal and how do I become a member?

When you make consistent annual gifts to Northwestern, your commitment will be recognized through membership in NU Loyal. You will qualify as a member of NU Loyal when you have made a gift for a minimum of three consecutive years. Gifts of any amount to any area of the University qualify.

To learn more, please contact the Annual Giving team by phone at 800-222-5603, by email at giving@northwestern.edu, or online through the Annual Giving contact feature.

What is Infinity and how did I qualify to be a part of this group?

Infinity donor status is reserved for undergraduate alumni who have made a gift to Northwestern every year since graduation. Gifts of any amount to any area of the University qualify.

To learn more, please contact the Annual Giving team by phone at 800-222-5603, by email at giving@northwestern.edu, or online through the Annual Giving contact feature.

How do I make a gift from my Donor Advised Fund (DAF)?

To make a contribution from your DAF, provide our tax ID number (EIN) to your financial institution and include the area of Northwestern you would like to support in the designation field. If possible, please also include your name and class year or donor ID#. EIN: 36-2167817.

Checks should be sent to:
Northwestern University
ATTN: Gift & Record Services
1201 Davis St
Evanston, IL 60208

To learn more, please contact the Annual Giving team by phone at 800-222-5603, by email at giving@northwestern.edu, or online through the Annual Giving contact feature.

How do I make a gift from my IRA (Qualified Charitable Distribution)?

If you are interested in giving to Northwestern using your IRA, you can find more information on the Gift Planning website. To initiate the gift, ask your account administrator to send a check or make a direct transfer to Northwestern using this form. You can notify the University of an incoming IRA gift using this form.

To learn more, please contact the Gift Planning team by phone at 800-826-6709 or by email at giftplanning@northwestern.edu.

How do I make a gift through the Northwestern UK Foundation?

If you are interested in giving to Northwestern through the UK Foundation, please visit this dedicated website.

If you have other questions that were not answered here, please contact the annual giving team, at giving@northwestern.edu.