The University of Birmingham is a charity. You can support us in a variety of ways, from regular donations to legacies and Give As You Earn schemes.
Professor David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor and donor "Without philanthropy, the University of Birmingham would not exist, meaning our supporters truly are woven into our DNA. We are grateful to every one of the alumni and friends who have played their part in our history and hope you will continue to be a part of our future."
Regular donations
A regular Direct Debit allows you to manage your giving long-term and helps us plan our future funding more effectively. All donations made by UK taxpayers also qualify for Gift Aid, increasing the value of your gift by almost 25% at no extra cost to you. To set up a regular Direct Debit, please email annualfund@contacts.bham.ac.uk to request a donation form.
One-off donations
You can choose to make a single donation to an area of your choice through our online giving site.
All cheques should be made payable to the University of Birmingham and should be addressed to Development and Alumni Relations, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT.
Class gifts
Our annual reunions for alumni who left 10, 25, 35, 40 and 50 or more years ago are a great opportunity for the year, as a group, to transform the lives of our students by making a Class Gift. For further information see the Influencing Innovation theme of our Circles of Influence campaign.
Share giving
Donations of shares listed on a recognised stock exchange are eligible for relief of capital gains tax. In addition, the shares’ market value on the day of transfer can be offset against income tax liability in the year they are donated.
For more information on share giving, please visit the HM Revenue & Customs website
Leaving a legacy
Leaving a legacy to the University in your will is tax-efficient and straightforward to arrange. There are solid financial grounds for leaving a charitable legacy to the University of Birmingham in your will. Many estates are liable for inheritance tax (IHT), currently 40% in the UK, but any legacy you leave to Birmingham is free from IHT. If you are leaving a legacy from the United States, your bequest is also deductible for estate tax purposes.
If your estate is worth more than the inheritance tax threshold (£325,000 for the 2010–11 tax year), any legacy you leave to the University may be exempt from inheritance tax. Contact Martha Cass on +44 (0)121 414 6679 or m.cass@bham.ac.uk for further information.
US residents
Alumni and donors in the United States can make tax-effective gifts through the University of Birmingham Foundation. Gifts from US residents also qualify for the Government Matched Funding Scheme.
To find out more contact Matt Mangan, Director of Fundraising, via m.a.mangan@bham.ac.uk or +44 (0)121 414 8640.
Canadian residents
If you are a Canadian taxpayer, your gift to the University is tax-deductible. Send your donation to the University, and we will send you a receipt which will be accepted by the Internal Revenue.
For more information on giving from Canada, please visit the HM Revenue & Customs website
Benefit your business
Becoming a corporate sponsor is a fantastic opportunity for you and your business. All companies will get tax relief when they give money to a UK charity by deducting the amount given from profits and paying less corporation tax. Companies can make gifts directly, or can offer a corporate matching gift scheme through which they double charitable donations made by their employees.
For further details, contact Matt Mangan, Director of Fundraising, via m.a.mangan@bham.ac.uk or +44 (0)121 414 8640.
For more information on giving to charity through your business, please visit the HM Revenue & Customs website
Useful information
The University is an exempt charity under Schedule 2 of the Charities Act 1993. An exempt charity enjoys all the tax exemptions and other benefits of a charity, but is exempt from certain requirements, including the need to register with the Charity Commission. The University preserves its exempt status under the Charities Act 2006. As it is not on the Register of Charities, the University does not have a charity registration number, and, although it is a corporate body, the University is not a limited company therefore it is not registered at Companies House. It does have a tax-exempt Inland Revenue charities reference number (X7237).
Download a printable copy of our ethical policy, or alternatively, request a copy by emailing alumnioffice@contacts.bham.ac.uk