Outright gifts of Cash or Check

Cash contributions to The Cooper Union provide immediate and vital support. They can also result in tax benefits if you itemize your deductions.  Print and return the fax/mail 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 Card
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.

Matching Gifts
Many companies offer employees, and even retirees and/or spouses, a matching gift benefit that in effect doubles (or in some cases, 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. 

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.