A donation plan allowing faculty and staff to contribute to their faculties or support units is in place and ready for use.
At a recent town hall meeting on budgetary issues, several faculty and staff members asked how to make a donation to their individual departments to help ease operating budget pressures and reduce potential layoffs.
Ted Garrard, Vice President (External), says faculty and staff are encouraged to make a donation to their faculties or support units to help with the bottom line.
To qualify as a charitable gift and receive a tax credit, Garrard suggests faculty and staff direct their gift as “unrestricted” so it can be used for the highest priority need of the faculty, department or unit. Donations cannot be directed to support the donor’s own salary or benefits, or be used to provide funding for teaching and research from which he or she would derive a direct benefit.
Donations will be allocated by the university’s Department of Advancement Services to the relevant area and dispersed by the dean, chair or budget unit head.
“While donations will not likely bridge funding shortfalls related to salaries of an ongoing nature, the monies will certainly provide flexibility to save in other areas that support the university’s teaching and research mission,” Garrard says.
Faculty and staff can make a donation to a specific area or the university as a whole through the Giving to Western website. Payroll deduction is available for monthly contributions.
“We will also provide regular updates to the university community on the total donations given by faculty/staff and on the designation of these donations,” says Garrard, adding the names of those who choose to give anonymously will not be disclosed for recognition purposes.
Anyone with questions about making a personal gift or seeking clarification on whether a donation qualifies for an income tax receipt is encouraged to contact Rosemary Lawrence-Pitt, Director of Advancement Services, at 519-661-2111 ext. 85586 or rlawrenc@uwo.ca.
Details about making a donation can be found at https://www.givingtowestern.uwo.ca/makegift/online.htm