Philanthropy

The Department of Urology is supported by funds from private philanthropy, government and institutional grants, and patient service revenue. While every source of funding is important, private philanthropic support is especially vital to the success of the Department's research activities. Over the years, the generosity of alumni, friends and patients has enabled us to attract new physicians and scientists, and to initiate a number of projects which eventually led to major developments in research and treatment.

The Feinberg School of Medicine encourages any variety of gift options, including outright gifts of cash, appreciated assets such as securities, or pledges payable over a 3- to 5-year period. Your gifts and pledges are most appreciated and will serve to greatly enhance and benefit the Department of Urology now and in years to come.

Outright Gifts

Cash
Simplicity and ease of delivery make a gift of cash (or check) the most popular type of charitable gift. A gift of cash is considered made on the date it is hand-delivered or mailed, and is deductible in the year in which it is given. Gifts may also be made by credit card using American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa.

Appreciated Property
Examples of appreciated property include stocks and other securities, real estate, and such personal items as art, antiques, rare books, coins and other collectibles.

Planned or Deferred Gifts

Charitable Gift Annuities
With this arrangement you transfer cash or marketable securities to Northwestern University in exchange for a contractually guaranteed schedule of fixed-income payments, whose annual rate is based largely on the beneficiary's age.

Charitable Remainder Trusts
With remainder trusts you transfer assets irrevocably to a trust in exchange for payments to yourself or other beneficiaries that are determined by the types of investments the trust makes. The remainder is then turned over to Northwestern after the death of the last surviving income beneficiary.

Bequests

There are several types of bequests:

a general bequest in which you simply leave a specific dollar amount to Northwestern University;
a specific bequest in which you designate certain asset items (whose value may change over time); and
a residuary bequest which allows you to assign a certain percentage of your estate's value to Northwestern University and helps ensure that each beneficiary receives a constant proportion even though changes may occur in the size of the estate.

Making a Pledge

To pledge a gift in support of the Department of Urology, you are invited to complete our online pledge form.

To learn more about special gift options or to make a pledge via telephone, please contact:

Jeff Nearhoof
Assistant Dean for Development
Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine
Rubloff Building, 9th Floor
750 N. Lakeshore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60611
P: (312) 503-3088
F: (312) 503-6743
j-nearhoof@northwestern.edu