Ways To Give

Outright Gifts of Cash or Checks

Cash contributions to The Cooper Union provide immediate and vital support. They also can result in tax benefits if you itemize your deductions. Print and return the online gift form and send it with your gift (payable to The Cooper Union), to: The Office of External Affairs, The Cooper Union, 30 Cooper Square, New York, NY 10003.

Credit Cards

You can also make a gift using Visa, MasterCard, or American Express by mail, phone or email or by using the online gift form. Please note that the IRS has ruled that credit card gifts are deductible only in the year that the bank processes the transaction. Credit card gifts in the same calendar year received by December 31 make a deduction possible.

Gifts of Securities

The Cooper Union welcomes gifts of cash but also encourages donors to consider gifts of securities. Often gifts of appreciated securities or stock can be one of the most advantageous ways to give because they provide significant tax relief while supporting The Cooper Union. Get instructions about how to give securities.

Pledges

You can pledge your support to The Cooper Union now, and make payments later. Notify the Office of External Affairs of your pledge intention or fill out an online gift form.

Matching Gifts

Many companies offer employees—and even retirees and/or spouses—a matching gift benefit that in effect doubles (or in some cases even triples) your gift to The Cooper Union. Determine whether your company offers a matching gift program and obtain information about how to match your gift.

Tax-Free IRA Gifts

Congress has reauthorized legislation that allows donors to make charitable gifts from their IRA accounts during tax years 2008 and 2009 without incurring income tax on the withdrawal. If you are age 70½ or older, this may be a great way to make a gift to The Cooper Union. While you cannot claim a charitable deduction for IRA gifts, you will not pay income tax on the withdrawn amount.

How it works:

• You must be 70½ years of age
• Tax benefits apply to gifts up to $100,000 per year for tax years 2008 and 2009
• The provision expires December 31, 2009
• The amount must be in the form of an outright gift

Whom it helps:

• Donors who do not itemize their deductions
• Donors whose income level causes the phase-out of their exemptions
• Donors already giving at their 50% deduction limit
• Donors for whom additional income will cause more of their Social Security income to be taxed

For more details of how this may help you plan more generous support for the college, click here or call Michael Governor, The Cooper Union's Associate Director of Major Gifts, at (212)353-4172 or email him at govern@cooper.edu.

Planned Gifts

You can make gifts to The Cooper Union that will also produce income for you, pass your assets on to your heirs, or reduce your estate taxes. To learn more, see Planned Giving.

Gifts-in-Kind

The Cooper Union accepts gifts-in-kind that are appropriate to its mission. Gifts-in-kind may include, but are not limited to, works of art, scientific equipment, books, and real estate.

Personal Property/Real Estate:
Outright gifts of appreciated real property, such as a personal residence, vacation home or other real estate, not only help the College but also offer tax advantages to the donor. You receive philanthropic credit and a charitable deduction for the full fair-market value of the property as determined by a qualified appraiser.

Besides an outright gift of real estate, you can also give the College a fractional or percentage interest in the property. The charitable deduction from a fractional interest gift could reduce or possibly eliminate any capital gains tax due from the sale if you and The Cooper Union plan to sell the property together. You may also give your home to the College and retain the right to live in it for the remainder of your life.

The College has a gift acceptance committee that reviews real estate gift offers to ascertain the potential costs and risks associated with each piece of property before accepting the gift. For more about gifts of real estate and personal property, contact Michael Governor at (212)353-4172 or govern@cooper.edu.

Gifts of Art, Scientific Equipment, Other Tangible Property:
To initiate a gift of art, scientific equipment or other tangible property to the College, please contact Claire Michie at (212)353-4171 or michie@cooper.edu.

Gifts in Honor or in Memory of Individuals

The Cooper Union welcomes gifts made in honor or in memory of alumni, faculty or other individuals. These gifts can be made through the Annual Fund for general support of the College's educational mission, or they can support specific purposes, as agreed to by the College.

When making such a gift, please be sure to identify the individual who is being honored. The Annual Fund Office will mail an acknowledgement letter to each donor. If a gift is made in honor of a living individual, we will inform the honoree. In the case of memorial gifts, we will inform a family member or other designated individual connected to the deceased. In both cases, the name and address of each donor will be provided.

Please contact Lauren Sampson at (212)353-4173 or sampson@cooper.edu with questions about making an honorary or memorial gift, or creating a memorial fund.