There are a variety of ways in which alumni, friends, parents, faculty, staff and organizations show their support for Duquesne. Every donor and every dollar makes a difference in our students' lives by improving the quality and value of a Duquesne education.
Learn more about how you can give back to Duquesne University in a way that is meaningful to you. We thank you for your consideration of Duquesne among your philanthropic priorities.
Make a gift that goes to work right away.
Every donor, every gift, every year - enhances every aspect of the Duquesne experience. Make a difference with your gift to The Duquesne Fund.
A Duquesne education offers a distinctive blend of academics that challenge, values that guide, a location that inspires and an experience that defines.
It takes more than tuition to make this possible. Every student, even those not receiving direct aid, benefits from donor support.
It takes more than a strong and growing endowment. Investment returns account for only a small percentage of Duquesne's annual budget, and they're restricted to use for designated purposes.
It takes more than prudent management that makes Duquesne one of the "Best Value" Schools, lauded by U.S. News & World Report.
Sustaining and improving our holistic education for the mind, heart and spirit requires consistent annual support - gifts of all sizes, from thousands of alumni and friends - with a powerful cumulative effect.
Duquesne Fund gifts may be unrestricted, providing the University with the flexibility to address areas of greatest need, or you may direct your gift to an area of Duquesne that is meaningful to you. Whatever you choose, your gift goes to work right away to benefit students.
Gifts of every size make a big difference.
Not only does each gift support our mission to serve God by serving students, but it also enhances Duquesne's reputation locally and globally:
The Duquesne Fund makes the difference - every day, everywhere, for everyone across the Bluff. Give our students something more.
Recurring giving is a convenient way to provide consistent support to the area of campus that means the most to you, on a flexible schedule that fits your budget.
Like with subscription-based services such as Netflix or Amazon Prime, you simply sign-up one time to make a recurring gift, then your donation will automatically be processed on a monthly or quarterly basis. No more checks/stamps or need to renew your support each year. The process is simple and secure, plus you can cancel at any time.
Why make a recurring gift?
Simply visit our secure online giving form at this link to make your recurring gift.
Questions?
If you have any questions about recurring giving or need assistance navigating the donation form, email annualfund@duq.edu.
The Duquesne Fund is a critical source of immediately-expendable funds that can be invested in meeting the ever-changing needs of the University, its nine schools, and selected programs and activities.
Duquesne Fund gifts touch virtually every aspect of campus life: academic program support, scholarships, computers, library and lab technology, student activities, facilities and more.
Your gift to The Duquesne Fund will be spent in the year in which it is received.
You may choose to make an unrestricted gift or designate your gift to any one of Duquesne's schools, or to general scholarships, Spiritan Campus Ministry, the Gumberg Library or the Duquesne Athletic Fund.
The University's fiscal year ends on June 30. Every July 1, The Duquesne Fund begins at $0 and zero donors. We depend on your support to build it up again to meet emerging needs in the new year. Moreover, every gift improves Duquesne's participation rate, which in turn raises Duquesne's profile in national rankings, with major individual and organizational donors, and with financial ratings agencies.
Returns from endowments make up only a small portion of the University's annual budget. Payouts may vary from year to year and are restricted to support specific purposes as designated by donors. While the endowment is an important part of the University's financial picture, annual gifts also play a critical role in providing the flexibility to meet changing operational needs and seize unexpected opportunities.
No. Endowments are invested in perpetuity with only a portion of the returns used in any given year, while Duquesne Fund gifts are spent annually. Endowed fund donors are welcome and encouraged to make an additional Duquesne Fund contribution each year to maximize the benefits of their generosity.
Gifts of all sizes really do make a big difference. In fiscal 2018, nearly $614,000 was raised from gifts of $250 or less.
You may make a quick, easy and secure gift using your credit card online, or give by mail with a check or credit card.
Many companies will match their employees' gifts to the University, effectively doubling or even tripling its value. Learn more and see if your employer participates.
Yes; these are convenient ways to support The Duquesne Fund. Simply specify the billing or pledge reminder schedule (monthly, quarterly or annual) on your online commitment form.
Call the Office of Annual Giving at (412) 396-6040 or email annualfund@duq.edu.
When you make a gift to The Duquesne Fund, you make an immediate impact on our students' experience on the Bluff.
The Duquesne Fund provides operating support for the top priorities and most pressing needs of the University, its schools and vital department through its support for:
Academics: Teaching, research, educational technology, and library resources.
Access: Scholarships and financial aid that make attending Duquesne more affordable for all.
Activities: A vibrant student life that augments classroom learning and promotes individual growth, including hundreds of organizations, special events, recreation and athletics.
Atmosphere: Safe and well-maintained facilities for learning and living, offering students the unique benefits of a self-contained campus within a lively city center.
Here are just a few examples of how The Duquesne Fund went to work on campus last year:
The Duquesne Fund makes the difference - every day, everywhere, for everyone across our Bluff. Give our students something more. Make your gift to The Duquesne Fund today!
Make a gift with enduring impact.
Through named and endowed gifts, you can make an enduring impact on our students' lives - for years to come, or even forever.
Major gifts can be tailored to your circumstances and targeted to the aspects of Duquesne you care the most about. Gifts may be directed toward immediate operational needs or used to establish endowed funds providing perpetual support for the programs or activities of your choice.
Whether you want to Invest in the Future, Illuminate the Mind, Inspire the Soul or Integrate Health Care, our gift officers can help you craft the perfect gift.
Endowment Investment: Individual and organizational endowment gifts (scholarships, resource funds, chairs, etc.) are recorded as separate funds for purposes of recognition. For investment purposes, these funds are commingled within Duquesne's total endowment. The endowment is invested in a diverse portfolio of domestic and international equities, fixed income instruments, real estate and alternatives designed to achieve long-term growth of principal and income without undue exposure to risk. The University's total endowment stood at nearly $683 million as of June 30, 2021. Of this amount, approximately 42 percent was designated to support scholarships and 58 percent to other endowed purposes.
Endowment Spending: Duquesne's spending policy allocates a pre-specified percentage (currently 5.0%) of the average market value of the endowment over the prior 16 quarters. This type of spending policy is used by a majority of colleges and universities because it focuses on the total return of the endowment and mitigates the effects of market volatility. Eligibility for endowment distributions is based upon the date on which gifts are received.
Reporting: Endowment spending distributions are determined each spring for the next fiscal year (July 1-June 30). However, specific details of how each fund is spent may vary. This is especially true of scholarships. Because the selection and awarding process is interwoven with admissions, financial aid and registration functions, final determinations of recipients for some accounts are often not available until the middle of the fall term. In November of each year, major endowed and operational scholarship donors will receive a mailing outlining the financial status of each fund as of the end of the previous fiscal year, accompanied by a list of students who received funds from their particular endowed scholarships. Donors who created non-scholarship endowed funds, such as endowed chairs and professorships and resource funds, will receive a similar report.
More InformationAppreciated Securities allow you to support Duquesne while receiving a charitable deduction and possibly avoiding capital gains taxes. See our Stock Transfer Instructions for more details.
Real Estate: Your home, land and other real estate may be used to make an immediate or life income gift. As with appreciated securities, real estate gifts held more than a year can offer significant tax benefits. Environmental, liability and marketability analyses, as well as prior approval by our Gift Acceptance Committee, are required before we can consider acceptance of real estate gifts. The value we place on your gift will be determined by an appraisal required by the IRS. Learn more to see if you qualify
Personal Property: You may wish to give personal property, such as instruments for the Mary Pappert School of Music, rare books for the library, or technical equipment for our labs. Tax treatment for a personal property gift differs depending on whether the gift's use is related or unrelated to Duquesne's exempt purpose. The IRS requires an appraisal for personal property gifts worth $5,000 or more. All proposed gifts of personal property must be evaluated by our Gift Acceptance Committee, and a Deed of Gift completed, before they can be accepted.
Bequests, trusts, annuities and more
It doesn't take great wealth to make a transformational gift.
It just takes a little planning.
On our Planned Giving web site you'll find a variety of ways that you can provide for Duquesne University and its students today and tomorrow. You'll also discover opportunities to enjoy income and tax advantages that can benefit you and your family members, both today and for years to come.
Gift planning may seem complex, but we've made every effort to simplify the language and added illustration tools that can help you see how different giving methods may apply to your individual circumstances.
Our gift officers are ready to meet with you and your advisors. Together, we can tailor a plan that will meet your goals and needs, secure your family's future, and build your legacy at Duquesne.
Review our gift planning resources. Browse for a while, then make the gift of a lifetime!
Learn MoreThe SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 now allows Americans age 70-1/2 or older to make a one-time direct qualified distribution
from your Individual Retirement Account of up to $50,000 to fund a charitable gift
annuity.
Your gift may satisfy all or part of your required minimum distribution and will pay
a guaranteed annual or quarterly income for the rest of your life. Upon your passing,
remaining annuity assets are transferred to the University to support a program, activity
or scholarship of your choosing.
Contact University Advancement at (412) 396-2249 or ignite@duq.edu for more details and to receive your personalized charitable gift annuity illustration.
LEARN MORESpecial events, appeals and opportunities
Spirit is Duquesne University's crowdfunding tool, which helps to ignite student, faculty and staff projects that are inspired in the Spirit of Duquesne. The online donation platform allows for project advocates to tell their story and keep donors updated on their project progress.
Learn More about SpiritThe Day of Giving is a one-day event where the entire Duquesne community comes together to support the University.
Learn More about the Day of Giving
Faculty and staff are encouraged to financially support Duquesne University and the IGNITE campaign.
Employee donors touch every area of campus, extending our mission to serve God by serving students while signaling unity and confidence to alumni, friends, and organizations considering gifts to Duquesne.
The easiest way for faculty and staff to give is through payroll deduction. During the annual “Count Me In!” drive (April-May), you can sign up for payroll deduction as part of the employee benefits open enrollment process. The minimum payroll deduction is $2.00 per pay, and you may designate your gift to The Duquesne Fund (unrestricted) or to the school, department, scholarship or activity that means the most to you.
You may also make a one-time or recurring gift with a credit card at any time using our secure online form.