As an alumnus, donating to our law school is one way to ensure your gift goes where it is needed most: towards the recruitment and training of the next generation of lawyers. Your contribution helps provide student scholarships and supports the search for solutions to the world's most pressing issues.
When you support Pitt Law, you enable students to apply what they learn in the classroom, explore different career paths, and establish valuable connections for their future careers.
Charitable Giving Funds
Academic scholarships are provided for students through donations to the Scholarship Fund in Law. Last year, 301 law students, which is 79 percent of our student body, depended on $9M in support.
Donors who contribute at the Law Fellows level, an annual minimum of $1,000, become members of this select giving society. The generosity of these donors helps to provide funding for Pitt Law’s 56 scholarships, over 40 percent of which are donor-funded.
The Public Interest Fund supports student summer fellowships for those students aspiring to pursue a career in the Public Interest field.
Started by Brian Cuban, (JD ’86), the Wellness Fund supports the advancement of students' mental and physical health during Law School, and prepares them for wellness in the legal profession.
The Unrestricted Fund supports general needs of the Law School. It provides the school with the means necessary to achieve its primary goals and priorities.
Outright Support
Maximize your charitable deduction and deliver immediate benefits to the Law School. Outright support can be a one-time gift or payable over five years. For example, a commitment of $50,000 can be pledged by committing $10,000 per year over five years.
The IRS allows one of its most significant tax breaks for gifts of appreciated securities. Appreciated securities can be used to make a one-time gift or to fulfill a pledge (as illustrated above). Securities can be electronically transferred to the University of Pittsburgh. Gifts of appreciated stock are stock help avoid capital gains tax.
You can make a substantial gift to the Law School through a transfer of residential, commercial, or undeveloped real estate. Special approval by the University of Pittsburgh is required in advance.
Planned and Life-Income Gifts
Many Pitt Law alumni have provided for the Law School in their estate planning. By simply documenting your revocable bequest intentions, the Law School can include a percentage of your planned gift in our campaign totals—a great way to give without affecting your cash flow during your lifetime.
Create a significant endowment for the Law School without dipping into your capital assets. We recommend speaking with a development staff member before establishing a life insurance policy.
Receive a fixed payout and significant tax benefits. This option is recommended for donors aged 65 and older.
Freeze the taxable value of your appreciating assets by using them to make gifts today and pass them back to family members later—a great way to transfer wealth to your family members and avoid future gift or estate taxes.
Combine a charitable gift with a predictable fixed-income payout by placing your donation into an individually managed trust. Choose from several options that best meet your financial situation and our needs.
You can give any amount (up to a maximum of $100,000) per year from your IRA directly to a qualified charity, such as the University of Pittsburgh, without paying income taxes. Gifts of $100,000 or less are eligible for this benefit, and you can feel good knowing that you are making a difference at the University of Pittsburgh. This popular gift option is commonly called the IRA charitable rollover, but you may also see it referred to as a qualified charitable distribution, or QCD for short.
A donor advised fund (DAF), similar to a charitable savings account, allows you to recommend how much and how often money is granted to the University of Pittsburgh and other qualified charities.
A gift to create an endowed fund at the University of Pittsburgh provides a dedicated and permanent source of funding that helps maintain the mission of the University. It provides a stable and continuing resource for the student scholarships, faculty positions, and innovative research most important to you. For more information, contact Philanthropic & Alumni Engagement.
Not everyone wants to commit to making a gift in their wills or estates. Some prefer the increased flexibility a beneficiary designation provides by using IRAs and retirement plans, life insurance policies, donor-advised funds, or commercial annuities.
Your treasures, such as valuable antiques, stamp and coin collections, works of art, cars, boats, and other personal property, can make suitable charitable gifts today or after your lifetime. The financial benefits of the gift depend on whether the University of Pittsburgh can use the property in a way that is related to our mission.