Ways to Give

Traditionally, a majority of the gifts made to the Divinity School come in the form of cash, via check or credit card. A gift of cash entitles you to the most generous federal income tax deduction available for charitable contributions. You may deduct up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income for gifts of cash and may carry any amount over that figure forward for up to five additional years.

Checks should be made payable to “Yale University” and mailed to

Yale University
Office of Development
Contribution Processing
P.O. Box 2038
New Haven, CT 06503-2038

For payments by Visa, Mastercard, or American Express, please visit Give Online or call
(800) 395-7646 or (203) 432-5359

To make a donation via cash wire transfer, please visit Give Now or call (203) 432-2206.

A gift of appreciated securities that you have held for more than one year is frequently the most economical way to give. You will be eligible to take a federal income tax deduction equal to the fair market value of the stock on the date of the gift for up to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income and will not have to recognize the appreciation as capital gain.

How to Give Securities or Mutual Fund Shares to the Divinity School

Securities Held by Your Bank or Broker

• Please notify your bank or broker that you are making a gift of securities to Yale Divinity School and instruct your bank or broker to either telephone Contribution Processing at (203) 432-4107 or e-mail donated.securities@yale.edu(link sends e-mail) for instructions. Please tell your bank or broker not to proceed until speaking with a representative at that office.
• Or you may visit Give Now(link is external) to make a donation of securities.

Securities Held by You

• Please send unendorsed certificates by mail, along with a letter giving your name, address, indicate that your gift is to benefit Yale Divinity School , and the purpose of your gift to:
  • Yale University
    Office of Development
    Contribution Processing
    P.O. Box 803
    New Haven, Connecticut 06503-0805
    Telephone: (203) 432-4107
• In a separate envelope, please mail to the same address a stock power for each certificate, along with a copy of your letter. Do not complete any information on the stock power other than your signature and the date. If the certificate represents a greater number of shares than you intend to give to Yale, please enclose a note requesting the return of a new stock certificate with the non-gift balance.
• Your bank or broker can supply you with blank stock powers, or Contribution Processing will be happy to send them to you. For most expedient handling, do not fill in Yale’s name as transferee on either the stock certificate or the stock power, and please do not send stock certificates to a transfer agent for transfer into Yale’s name.

Mutual Fund Shares

• Please contact Contribution Processing at (203) 432-4107 with information about your mutual fund shares. The procedure for transferring shares is established by the mutual fund company, and Contribution Processing will be able to assist you with the appropriate letters of instruction.

Yale’s Federal Tax Identification Number:

• 06-0646973

Gifts to Yale can come in the form of other assets as well. For example, you may wish to consider gifts of closely held stock, tangible personal property if its use is related to Yale’s educational purpose, or real estate. See Planned Gifts (link is external) for further information.

Questions: Call toll free (800) 395-7646

or e-mail: development.gifts@yale.edu

For information on making a major gift, please contact:

Rod Lowe

Senior Associate Director of Major Gifts
Yale Divinity School
409 Prospect Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Telephone: (203) 432-8127

Or e-mail: rodwin.lowe@yale.edu

We invite you to join Yale Legacy Partners, a society of alumni, family, and friends who have made bequests or other planned gifts to the University.

Donors who remember Yale in their estate plans support the ambitions of talented students and faculty from around the world. To learn more, please contact the Office of Planned Giving or any development officer at the Divinity School.

Many alumni and friends have chosen to support the Divinity School through the making of “planned gifts” that may include gifts of assets other than cash or securities; life income gifts whereby the donor transfers an asset and retains, or provides for another person or persons, an income for life; charitable lead trusts that may permit people to save on income, gift, and estate taxes; or bequests.

Even gifts of cash and marketable securities may be considered to be planned gifts. In fact, any time you stop to consider the timing or tax benefits of making a gift, you may be making a planned gift.

A complete description of opportunities is on the Yale Tomorrow Planned Giving web site. For more information about planned giving opportunities, please phone, fax, e-mail, or write:

Rod Lowe
Senior Associate Director of Major Gifts
Yale Divinity School
409 Prospect Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Telephone: (203) 432-8127

Or e-mail: rodwin.lowe@yale.edu

Your Legacy

If your gift is given as an endowment, it will serve in perpetuity according to your expressed desires. At Yale Divinity School all bequests, large and small, are appropriately honored and cared for according to the wishes of the donor.

As a center for preparing young men and women for religious leadership, the Divinity School has in every generation made a difference in the lives of millions around the world, through the leadership and service of our graduates.

Your Bequest to YDS

You can make a specific gift of cash, securities, real estate, or other property through your will, codicil, or trust instrument. You can also designate YDS as the beneficiary of all or part of the remainder of your estate or trust after payment of estate-related expenses, other bequests, or following the death of a spouse or other primary beneficiaries. Another way to include YDS in your estate plan is to name the Divinity School as beneficiary of your retirement plan or life insurance policy.

Directed Giving

While unrestricted gifts allow the Divinity school to allocate funds to areas of greatest need, you may designate your bequest for a particular purpose, such as a named scholarship fund. In order to ensure that the evolving educational needs of future generations of students are met, it is advisable to include the following language with restricted gifts:
“If at any time in the judgement of the Yale Corporation it is impossible or impracticable to carry out exactly the designated purpose, the Yale Corporation shall determine an alternative purpose as near as possible to the designated purposes.”

Assisting You

Sample Testementary Language“I give (____ dollars) or (a specific asset, such as securities, real estate or other property) or (all) or (__ percent of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate) to Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, for the sole benefit of the Divinity School (for its general purposes) or (for he following purpose:_______).”

For further information for including Yale Divinity School in your estate plan, members of our professional development staff are ready to assist you in identifying the right gift opportunities for your bequest or in considering other planned giving opportunities. We would be pleased to assist you as you plan your Gift of a Lifetime.

For further information on including YDS in your estate plan, please contact:

Rod Lowe
Senior Associate Director of Major Gifts
Yale Divinity School
409 Prospect Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Telephone: (203) 432-8127

Or e-mail: rodwin.lowe@yale.edu

Thank you for your interest in supporting endowed funds at Yale Divinity School. If you wish to contribute to an existing scholarship fund, or what to learn how to establish a new fund, please contact Rod Lowe with the Office of Alumni Engagement and Development. 

Rod Lowe
Senior Associate Director of Major Gifts
Telephone: (203) 432-8127

Email: rodwin.lowe@yale.edu