Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Office of Development?

What is annual giving?

What is an unrestricted gift, and why is it important?

Why should I participate in the Class Gift?  Why does BU need alumni support?

What does my contribution to the Class Gift support?

I paid tuition in full.  Why should I give back when I never received financial aid?

How do I make a gift to my Class Gift?

What is an installment gift?

How much should I contribute to my Class Gift?

With some alumni giving thousands and even millions of dollars, my $20.09 gift can’t make a difference.  How could my gift have an impact?

Why should I give my money to BU when so many other causes need my money for more pressing needs?

What is the Office of Development?
The Office of Development raises additional funding for BU through outside private sources. Development Officers develop relationships with alumni, parents, students, faculty and staff, corporations and foundations, and friends of BU. Through those relationships, the individuals and groups remain involved with BU and are able to determine ways and means of supporting BU philanthropically. Back to top

What is annual giving?
Annual giving is a term referring to gifts made each year in support of on-going university operations. These gifts provide resources for financial aid, student services, lab and classroom equipment, academic programs, building renovations, and other immediate needs. Back to top

What is an unrestricted gift, and why is it important?
Unrestricted gifts to the Annual Fund are those given without any limitations on their use, thereby allowing BU and/or a particular school or college to place resources where they are immediately needed.  In this way, unrestricted gifts provide vital funds that impact every area of BU, especially during periods of increased financial pressure and restraints. Back to top

Why should I participate in the Class Gift?  Why does BU need alumni support?
There are as many reasons to give to BU as there are alumni!  The BU campus didn’t just appear; it exists in its present form – in actual physical buildings and equipment, in spirit, and in name – because of the generous support of countless individuals and groups. Back to top

What does my contribution to the Class Gift support?
Your gift to the Class Gift supports BU’s areas of greatest need, including scholarships, student services, and facility improvements.  When you make a contribution to the Class Gift, you’re helping to enrich and enhance the experience of current students. Back to top

I paid tuition in full.  Why should I give back when I never received financial aid?
Tuition does not cover the full cost of a BU education; it covers only about 59 percent of the full cost.  Thus, even when you pay full tuition, BU significantly subsidizes your education and can offer this subsidy only through the generosity of past and present donors. Back to top

How do I make a gift to my Class Gift?

• Give Online Go to BU’s giving page at www.bu.edu/alumni/classgift/give.html where you can make a one-time gift, a five-year pledge, or set up installments.  American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa are accepted.
• Give by Phone
  Call the Office of Annual Giving at (617) 353-1069 with your credit card information.
• Mail a check
  2009 Class Gift Campaign
  Boston University
  595 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 700
  West Entrance
  Boston, MA 02215

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What is an installment gift?
Installment giving enables you to give to the Annual Fund on your schedule.  Go online to set up monthly, quarterly, or yearly installments for a few months, the entire fiscal year, or indefinitely!  This is a great option for donors who would like to schedule a one-time gift for a future date, spread out their gift for the year, or give each year without having to resubmit their payment information. Back to top

How much should I contribute to my Class Gift?

We are asking all seniors to make a donation of $20.09 to the annual fund of their choosing in honor of a professor, administrator, friend, or parent who has had a positive effect on their college career. Back to top

With some alumni giving thousands and even millions of dollars, my $20.09 gift can’t make a difference.  How could my gift have an impact?
Do not underestimate the impact of your gift!  At BU, every gift counts. Gifts that may seem small to you will combine with smaller gifts from tens of thousands of other students, alumni, parents, and friends of the University to create impact.  At its essence, the Annual Fund is a collection of many gifts. Last year, 23,000 alumni contributed more than 7.5 million dollars to the Annual Fund. This exceptional level of support would not have been possible without each and every gift.

Giving is about participation, and participation is an important measure of alumni satisfaction and confidence in BU.  Prospective students, faculty, and the media view participation as a vote of confidence in the institution.  For this reason, high participation helps attract the best faculty and students to BU.  Your gift, no matter the size, shows gratitude for the education you received, and support for the students and faculty who follow you. Back to top

Why should I give my money to BU when so many other causes need my support too?
Many organizations need and deserve ongoing support.  A gift to BU will not feed the hungry, house the homeless, or find a cure for AIDS.  But it will graduate men and women who, with the strength of skill and character and a belief in individual and civic action, make a difference in families, communities, organizations, and throughout the world.