Ways to Give

Charitable gifts from our alumni, friends and partners support scholarships, groundbreaking research and high impact educational programs at MSU. Below you will find the many ways our donors give as well as more information on how to give a donation to MSU.

ONLINE, MAIL, PHONE

There are many ways to make an outright gift of cash to Michigan State University.

Give Online: Our gift system is a convenient way to support what is important to you. There are two types of gifts:

1. One-time gift — your gift will be charged to your credit or debit card.

   MAKE A ONE TIME GIFT

2. Recurring gift — your gift will be charged automatically at the interval of your choice to your credit or debit card. Learn more about how to make a recurring gift, or click the button below to set up your gift now.

   START RECURRING GIFT

Gifts by Mail: Mail your checks to —

University Advancement
Spartan Way
535 Chestnut Road, Room 300
East Lansing, MI 48824

Please make check payable to "Michigan State University" and include the name of the fund you wish to support on the memo line of your check.

Give Over the Phone: Call (800) 232-4MSU or (517) 884-1000. Mention the name of the fund you wish to support and provide your credit card number and gift amount.

SECURITIES

Appreciated securities and mutual funds can be a tax-smart way to make a gift to MSU.

For transfer instructions contact the Office of Gift Planning at giftplan@msu.edu or (800) 232-4678 or (517) 884-1000.

Please allow extra time at year-end to ensure timely receipt of securities for tax purposes.

Learn more about how you can make a gift through appreciated securities.

DONOR ADVISED FUNDS

You can direct gifts to MSU from your donor advised fund (DAF). The first step is to let MSU know that you intend to direct a gift to us through your DAF. It is important for us to know the specific funds you are interested in supporting with this gift to ensure your gift is properly utilized.

Contact your DAF advisor to initiate the gift. Your advisor may need the following information when directing a gift from your donor advised fund:

• Legal Name: Michigan State University
• Federal Tax ID Number: 38-6005984

Visit the gift planning website for additional information regarding DAF gifts.

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY DONOR ADVISED FUND

MSU has partnered with Bank of New York Mellon (BNYM) to provide alumni and friends with access to a new donor advised fund, the Michigan State University Donor Advised Fund (MSU DAF), which you can use to enhance your overall philanthropy while supporting the university.

As a donor, you can open an MSU DAF with a minimum of $10,000, and additional contributions as low as $250.

Once you’ve completed the form, notify the Office of Gift Planning to share your DAF gift details or for additional assistance regarding what to support. Contact the office at giftplan@msu.edu or (800) 232-4678 or (517) 884-1000.

QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTIONS

If you are 70½ years of age you can use your individual retirement account (IRA) to make a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) to make a gift to MSU. A QCD can satisfy a required minimum distribution (up to $100,000.)

For more information on giving from your IRA, contact the Office of Gift Planning at giftplan@msu.edu or (800) 232-4678 or (517) 884-1000.

MATCHING gIFTS AT mICHIGAN stATE uNIVERSITY 

Did you know that some employers provide matching gifts that can double or even triple the value of a gift to Michigan State University? Many companies will also match gifts made by employee spouses and retirees. To find out if a company has a matching gift policy, enter the company name below.

When setting up a matching gift, you may be able to access the forms directly through the search below.

Otherwise, please send the completed and signed form along with your gift to:

University Advancement
Spartan Way
535 Chestnut Road, Room 300
East Lansing, MI 48824

MEMORIAL AND TRIBUTE GIFTS

Honoring a special person in your life with a gift to MSU creates a personal and lasting tribute. You can specify for whom or to what area you are making your gift. We will also send an acknowledgement to the honoree or family of the deceased notifying them of your thoughtful gift, but not revealing the amount of your contribution.

Below is the language you may use in your loved one’s obituary or memorial pages:

In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to Michigan State University in memory of (name of deceased) allocated to (name of allocation) mailed to Michigan State University, 535 Chestnut Rd, Room 300, East Lansing, MI 48824. Memorial or tribute gifts can also be made online at givingto.msu.edu/gift/

If you would like a link that showcases a preferred fund and preferred acknowledgement information, please contact uadv.msuannualfund@msu.edu.

PAYROLL DEDUCTION

As an employee of Michigan State University, you can support MSU through regular gifts that are automatically deducted from your paycheck. Your investment helps further the university’s mission and its impact.

To set up your gift online please visit the MSU faculty and staff page.

PLEDGES

You may set up a gift payable over a five-year period by setting up a pledge agreement. Pledges can be made for gifts of $10,000 or more. To get started, please call University Advancement at (517) 884-1000.

ENDOWMENTS

An endowment gift is one of the most powerful ways you can support undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships and exceptional faculty at MSU. When you establish an endowment for the university, the investment provides sustainable financial support. Endowed funds can be created with a minimum of $50,000 payable over five years, or through a future gift from your estate. 

Gifts to endowment will be administered as a permanent endowment under Michigan law and university policies.

Learn more about MSU endowments:

• Explore how endowments work at MSU.
• See a report on MSU′s endowment performance.

BEQUESTS, LIFE-INCOME GIFTS, REAL PROPERTY AND PLANNED GIFTS

The Office of Gift Planning can help you discover ways to leave a legacy while making the best use of your assets. Contact the office to learn how you can turn your philanthropic dreams into a plan.

Some methods of planned gifts include:

• Bequests (will or living trust)
• Beneficiary designations (such as financial accounts, commercial annuities)
• Retirement plan assets (qualified charitable distributions and/or as beneficiary)
• Life income gifts (charitable gift annuities or charitable remainder trusts)
• Specialty trusts
• Life insurance
• Real estate
• Personal property

To get started, visit giftplanning.msu.edu or contact the Office of Gift Planning at giftplan@msu.edu or (800) 232-4678 or (517) 884-1000.

wire transfers

For wire transfer instructions, please visit the MSU Office of the Controller.

Additionally, it is very helpful to notify your contact in MSU Advancement of the details of any wire transfer being sent.

Depending on the country of origin, wire transfers may take up to 10 business days to arrive. The sending party is responsible for all wire transfer fees, including those that may be assessed by a third-party bank. The wire transfer will only be credited for the amount received by MSU.

For questions regarding the status of a wire transfer, please contact Keena Dunn at kmckenna@msu.edu or the Cashier’s Office at incomingwires@ctlr.msu.edu