Frequently Asked Questions

What is #Giving2UCday?

#Giving2UCday is Ursinus College’s annual day of giving. Scheduled to coincide with Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving following Tha­­­nksgiving, #Giving2UCday is a day for alumni, faculty, staff, parents, students and friends to join together and combine their support to make a real difference in the lives of students today and in the future!

When is #Giving2UCday 2020? What is our goal?

Our seventh annual #Giving2UCday will take place on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 from 12:00 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. EST. This year, our goal is to reach 2,020 donors in 24 hours! 

Who can participate in #Giving2UCday?

Anyone can support #Giving2UCday by making a gift of any amount.

How do I make my #Giving2UCday gift?

Online (preferred):
To ensure that your gift gets counted in #Giving2UCday totals, the best way to give a gift is online at www.ursinus.edu/giving2ucday on Tuesday, December 1 (12:00 AM through 11:59 PM).

Phone:
Call 610-409-3585 between 8:30 AM-8:30 PM EST on Dec 1 to make a gift over the phone using your credit card.

Mail:
Gifts can be mailed to the following address:
Ursinus College Advancement Office
601 E. Main Street
Collegeville, PA 19426

Please make checks payable to “Ursinus College” and be sure to write “#Giving2UCday” on the check to ensure your gift will be counted in our #Giving2UCday totals. Please also remember to indicate the designation of your gift.

IRA:
If you are eligible to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA), we may be able to include you as a #Giving2UCday donor! Be sure to instruct the IRA custodian to send the QCD directly to the Ursinus College Advancement Office (610 E. Main St., Collegeville, PA 19426), on or before December 1.

To inform us that your QCD is coming and that you’d like it to count for #Giving2UCday, please call the advancement office at 610-409-3585 or email us at ucalumni@ursinus.edu. Please be sure to tell us the name of IRA custodian and the amount of the donation so we can keep an eye out for your generous contribution. If you have questions, please contact Christopher Corish, director of gift planning at 610-409-3028 or ccorish@ursinus.edu. 

Can I give to any area of the college on #Giving2UCday?

Gifts to the Annual Fund are preferred, though you can give to another area if you’d like.

Remember that the following designations are part of the Annual Fund:
- Area of Greatest Need
- Bear2Bear Student Emergency Fund
- Bruins Club
- Diversity and Multicultural Affairs
- Friends of the Berman
- Friends of the Myrin Library
- Friends of Music
- Friends of Theater and Dance
- Scholarship Fund
- Student & Faculty Research Fund
- Student Life & Programming
- Parent’s Fund

For gifts to a fund that is not listed in the options, please use the “other” box. For the athletic teams fundraising at this time, please write “Your Sport – Special Support”.

I can’t afford to make a large gift. Will my donation really make a difference?

Yes! Even a gift of $10 will make a difference. In fact, every gift improves Ursinus’s donor participation rate and can assist the college in benchmarking and rankings.

What payment methods are accepted?

Cash, checks and credit card gifts are accepted on #Giving2UCday. Types of credit cards accepted: Visa, American Express, Discover and MasterCard.

For each online donation, a platform fee of 3% and a processing fee of 2.2% + $0.30 will be applied. Donors have the option to cover these fees on behalf of Ursinus on the final step of the donation flow.

Is there a minimum donation amount?

When making a gift online, the minimum donation amount is $5.

Can I make a pledge on #Giving2UCday?

Pledges made on December 1 will not be counted in our #Giving2UCday totals, however, if you currently have a pledge and wish to make a payment on #Giving2UCday, that payment will be counted.

What if I have already made a gift this fiscal year? (I donated since July 1, 2020.)

We appreciate your support and encourage you to make another gift on #Giving2UCday to help us reach our goal of 2,020 donors!

I’m an employee of Ursinus College. Does my ongoing payroll deduction count toward #Giving2UCday?

Yes! Ursinus College employees who currently give through payroll deduction or those who hand in a new payroll deduction form to the advancement office on or before December 1 will be counted as #Giving2UCday donors. Please contact Abbie Cichowski Kim '10 at acichowski@ursinus.edu with questions.

Can my employer match the gift I make on #Giving2UCday?

Many companies will match their employees’ charitable gifts, increasing the impact! Visit www.ursinus.edu/matchinggifts and type in your employer. If your employer will match your gift, you can fill out the matching gift form right there!

Will my gift be tax-deductible?

Yes. You will receive an acknowledgement by mail. If you make your gift online, an e-receipt will also automatically be emailed to the email address you provided.

Besides making a donation, how can I help make the day a success?

  • Spread the word! Every #Giving2UCday post and email you share leading up to and on #Giving2UCday will contribute to the success of the day!

  • When you make your gift, tell your classmates, family and friends and encourage them to make a gift, too.

  • Post about #Giving2UCday on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram. Be sure to make your post public, use the hashtag #Giving2UCday and tag Ursinus College, too.

  • Share Ursinus College’s Facebook posts

  • Click "Going" on our #Giving2UCday 2020 Facebook Event, share the event on your profile and invite your friends

  • Re-tweet the messages from @UrsinusCollege on Twitter

  • Share your favorite Ursinus memories on Facebook and/or Instagram. Don’t forget to tag @UrsinusCollege and use the hashtag #Giving2UCday. Not on social media? Email us your photo at ucalumni@ursinus.edu!

My spouse and I are both Ursinus alumni. Will we each count toward the 2,020 donor goal?

Yes, you will each count as a donor – that’s why we love gifts from our alumni and parent couples!

What are challenges and matches?

This year, your participation has an even bigger impact, thanks to a handful of generous supporters who have offered matches and challenge funds to be “unlocked” as we reach specific milestones throughout the day. 

What is the leaderboard?

The leaderboard is a fun way to show who’s giving to Ursinus! The leaderboard populates based on the affiliations you select when filling out the online gift form. Please note: Gifts that come in over the phone and through the mail may not be reflected on the leaderboard.

How does the USA Map update?

The USA map updates based on the billing address that you provided on the online donation gift form. Please note: Gifts that come in over the phone and through the mail may not be reflected on the USA map.

Who is Zachie?

Zachie was a real bear cub who lived on campus and served as UC’s mascot during 1939-40!

How can I stay up to date on what's happening?

News and updates will be posted regularly to our social media sites:

Ursinus College on Facebook
Ursinus College on Twitter
Ursinus College on Instagram
Ursinus College Alumni Facebook
Ursinus College Alumni Instagram

I still have questions. How can I get in contact?

You can call the office of advancement at 610-409-3585 or email ucalumni@ursinus.edu. We will be available between 8:30 AM – 8:30 PM EST on December 1.