Giving to CU Denver
Thank you for considering support of a scholarship at the University of Colorado Denver. The generosity of donors like you can prove life-changing to students who rely on scholarship awards to pursue their passions at CU Denver and earn their degrees. As a donor to CU Denver, you ignite a partnership in which you provide the resources that help students fulfill their potential while we ensure that your gift is managed responsibly and effectively.
Gifts made to the University of Colorado Denver are managed by the nonprofit University of Colorado Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that works collaboratively with the university to manage and invest private support on behalf of CU Denver.
To make a gift online using your credit card, please visit our giving website.
To make a gift by mail, you will need to download and complete the mail-in pledge form, making sure to specify the purpose of your gift. Please make your check(s) for the donation amount payable to the University of Colorado Foundation.
Please mail the form along with your check(s) to:
University of Colorado Foundation
P.O. Box 17126
Denver, CO 80217-9155
Please mail the form along with your check(s) to:
University of Colorado Foundation
P.O. Box 17126
Denver, CO 80217-9155
To make a gift over the phone using your credit card, please call the number below, and a CU Foundation representative will be happy to accept and process your gift.
(303) 541-1290
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. MT
(303) 541-1290
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. MT
Donating cryptocurrency is easier than ever. A donation of cryptocurrency is a non-taxable event, meaning you do not owe capital gains tax on the appreciated amount and can deduct it from your taxes. This makes Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency donations one of the most tax-efficient ways to support your favorite cause.
Types of Gifts
Outright Gifts
Outright gifts make up the majority of contributions to CU, and encompass the following gift types: cash, stocks and bonds, real estate, tangible personal property, matching gifts or gifts-in-kind. In general, outright gifts qualify for an immediate income tax deduction.
Endowments
Endowments are gifts that keep on giving and serve as a reliable long-term funding source that supports a designated purpose at CU in perpetuity. The principle amount of an endowed fund is permanently invested by the University of Colorado Foundation in its Long Term Investment Pool (LTIP), generating interest income that is then used to fund the purpose designated by the donor. You may establish a scholarship endowment with a minimum commitment of $25,000, which can be paid over time, up to five years.
Planned Gifts
A planned gift refers to a wide array of customizable giving mechanisms that may blend current and future commitments, maximize tax and estate factors, and optimize your current cash flow or finances. Common planned gift types include:
Bequests
Charitable gift annuities
Charitable remainder trusts
Real estate
Retirement accounts
Learn more at our Gift Planning website.
Blended Gifts
A blended gift refers to a gift that includes a current gift combined with any of the planned giving instruments noted above. Blended gifts are attractive to those who wish to make a significant impact on future students through their estate plans while providing near-term support to today’s students.
Giving Societies
CU Denver Loyal
CU Denver Loyal is a recognition program that honors individuals who give consistently over time to the university. Donors who make consecutive annual gifts receive special recognition at milestones ranging from 3 to 30 years.
Donors who reach lifetime giving milestones of $500 and $1,000 also receive special recognition. To express our gratitude, we are very proud to acknowledge Loyal donors with tokens of appreciation specially designed by CU Denver’s creative and talented students and alumni.
Heritage Society
CU welcomes those who have informed the university of their plans for future estate gifts to become members of the CU Heritage Society, a prestigious group of supporters who engage in meaningful ways across the CU campuses. The university is both inspired by and grateful for the legacy gifts that Heritage Society members provide to support CU.
The Heritage Society hosts a luncheon each spring.
Benson Society
The Benson Society recognizes individuals and private/family foundations that donate $1 million or more to the university. The society is named for Bruce Benson, who served as CU president from 2008 to 2017. He and his wife, Marcy, chaired two comprehensive fundraising campaigns for CU, Creating Futures (which exceeded its $1.5 billion goal in 2013) and Beyond Boundaries (which exceeded its $1 billion goal in 2003). The university set fundraising records in each year of Benson’s presidency. Bruce Benson is an alumnus of CU, having earned his geology degree in 1964.
The Benson Society’s signature event is an annual awards and induction ceremony held each spring.
CU Foundation Performance
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the University of Colorado Foundation’s Long Term Investment Pool (LTIP) returned 7.81% net of fees, which compares to 12.97% for its policy benchmark. The LTIP includes endowments the Foundation holds for the benefit of the University of Colorado. The LTIP’s longer-term results show a consistent track record of investment growth, in line with the Foundation’s goal of maximizing returns over an extended time period while effectively managing risk. Achieving this objective is critical given CU’s long-term educational mission. Faculty, students, and programs on all four university campuses rely on consistent funding streams from the LTIP for years to come.As of June 30, 2023, the LTIP’s 3-year annualized investment performance was +11.39%, its 7-year performance was +10.08%, its 10-year performance was +8.93%, and its 15-year performance was +7.26%. All performance is net of fees. The 10- and 15-year returns were achieved with over 32% less risk than the policy benchmark.
As of June 30, 2023, the LTIP was valued at $2.6 billion. The value of endowments invested for the benefit of CU is a subset of the LTIP, totaling $2.1 billion.
For complete financial statements from the CU Foundation, please see the Foundation's website.