Support AAUW Programs: FAQ
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How can I continue to support the work that was managed by the AAUW Educational Foundation?
What funds are included in AAUW Funds (#9110)?
How can I learn more about these programs?
Are my contributions tax deductible?
How can I make a contribution?
How can I make a gift that will accomplish the most good?
I have a particular program, fellowship, or grant that I want to support. How can I restrict my gift?
What if the check is not made payable to AAUW Funds or to the AAUW Action Fund?
Our officers have always included an Educational Foundation chair and an LAF chair. What should these officers' titles be under the new structure?
How do we send in branch gifts?
In the past, the states and branches most generous to the Educational Foundation and LAF were recognized publicly as Top Ten Branches and States. How will such branches and states be recognized now?
Q: How can I continue to support the work that was managed by the AAUW Educational Foundation?
A: All the programs of the AAUW Educational Foundation are now a part of the restructured AAUW, which is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and houses the AAUW membership and charitable programs. These programs include all our former Educational Foundation and Leadership and Training Institute programs in addition to the newly added public policy programs. Contributions to all of these programs are fully tax deductible on your personal federal tax returns. Learn more about AAUW programs or see a diagram of AAUW funds.
Although AAUW has restructured, our philanthropic purpose, goals, processes, and activities remain exactly the same—and so do our fellowship and grants funds, the Legal Advocacy Fund, the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders, Campus Action Projects, research, and all the other programs that help us advance equity for women and girls. And you will still be able to make contributions to support these programs in the same ways. The only thing that has changed is the terminology we use to refer to the destination for our charitable giving, which is now called AAUW Funds (#9110).
As before, you can designate your gifts to one or more of the funds of AAUW, and you can use the same fund names and identification numbers that you have always used. Undesignated (unrestricted) giving will continue to be especially appreciated, because this type of donation makes it possible for AAUW to use your contribution where it is most needed. Wherever your philanthropy is directed, your gifts will be acknowledged and recognized according to your intent and designation — and they will be immensely appreciated.
Q: What funds are included in AAUW Funds (#9110)?
A: AAUW Funds (#9110) is the name of our general fund, which supports all our charitable work. The programs and funds that you have always known are aggregated into this general fund. The five most commonly supported funds within the general AAUW funds are
- The Legal Advocacy Fund (#3999), which supports the protection of the legal rights of those who are facing discrimination. LAF programs include legal case support, LAF Case Support Travel Grants, and Campus Outreach Programs.
- The Educational Opportunities Fund (#4336), which supports educational and learning opportunities that give women a chance for a lifetime of success. Our programs include fellowships and grants, the Fellows Alumni Initiative, and the Undergraduate Scholarship Clearinghouse.
- The Public Policy Fund (#4337), which supports advocacy for public policies and laws that are fair to women. Public policy programs include government relations, civic engagement, and field organizing.
- The Eleanor Roosevelt Fund (#9170), which supports AAUW research to provide analysis, data, and accurate information about issues that are important to women and girls. Past reports include Behind the Pay Gap (2007) and Where the Girls Are (2008). Upcoming reports will cover women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and math and sexual harassment in the workplace.
- The Leadership Programs Fund (#4339), which supports programs that develop women’s potential to lead in their schools, workplaces, communities, and country. Leadership programs include the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders, Campus Action Projects, and Elect Her.
Q: How can I learn more about these programs?
A: On the AAUW website you can click on each of the fund names above, which are linked to web pages with information specific to that fund. Information can also be found in the printed AAUW Annual Report, which is mailed to every member at the end of each calendar year.
Q: Are my contributions tax deductible?
A: All contributions to AAUW Funds or to any of the specific funds that are included within AAUW Funds (LAF, Educational Opportunities, Public Policy, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Leadership Programs) are fully tax deductible as a charitable gift on your personal federal tax return.
The only contributions not eligible for a tax deduction as a charitable gift are those to the AAUW Action Fund, our small 501(c)(4) entity, which operates our Lobby Corps and voter education activities. To make a gift to support these activities, you should make your check payable to AAUW Action Fund.
Q: How can I make a contribution?
A: Generally, contributions can be made the same ways you have always made them. By check: Tax-deductible contributions that support our charitable 501(c)(3) work should be made payable to AAUW Funds. If you want to restrict your giving to a specific program or fund, just write the name or number of the program or fund in the memo section of the check or on any accompanying document.
By credit card: You can also make contributions online using our secure website. By doing so, you will immediately get e-mail confirmation of your gift, in addition to hard-copy confirmation. When you make a donation online, you will be presented with options to help you designate your gift.
To make a gift of stock or securities or to obtain information about how to remember AAUW in your will, e-mail Carol Rognrud, senior development officer, or call at 202/728-7627.
Q: How can I make a gift that will accomplish the most good?
A: Your gifts to AAUW Funds (#9110) provide general support where it is most needed to support our programs in a coordinated and strategic way. This is the most effective way to help women and girls break through educational and economic barriers, because you make it possible to respond to the most urgent needs and to take advantage of our greatest opportunities so that all women and girls have a fair chance. Gifts to AAUW Funds are fully tax deductible.
Q: I have a particular program, fellowship, or grant that I want to support. How can I restrict my gift?
A: To make contributions that are eligible for a tax deduction, make all checks payable to AAUW Funds (our charitable 501(c)(3) entity). If you prefer to restrict your gift to a specific fund, please indicate the name or number of the fund in the memo section of your check, on your contribution report form, or on any accompanying document, and mail it to AAUW, P.O. Box 98045, Washington, DC 20090-8045. Or you can contribute online by visiting our secure website.
Remember that program, fellowship, and grant names and numbers have not changed. Continue to use the same names and numbers you always have.
To support member activism through Lobby Corps and voter education activities, make your gift to the AAUW Action Fund. The AAUW Action Fund is our 501(c)(4) organization, and these gifts are not eligible for a charitable tax deduction.
Q: What if the check is not made payable to AAUW Funds or to the AAUW Action Fund?
A. Ideally, the check should be written to AAUW Funds or to the AAUW Action Fund. However, AAUW often receives checks that do not have those exact words in the “Pay to the order of” line. In such cases, staff examines the check and any supporting documentation to ensure that the donor’s intent is honored. This is very important! Staff examines what is written on the memo line, envelope, letter, contribution report form, etc., to gain a clear understanding of how the donor intended to use her or his gift. If the donor’s intent is not clear, staff phones, e-mails, or writes the donor to clarify.
This problem is certainly not new. In the past AAUW has received checks payable to AAUW EF, the Legal Advocacy Fund, LAF, or the Eleanor Roosevelt Fund, rather than to the official name of the AAUW Educational Foundation; therefore, a check made payable to LAF was seen as a gift to AAUW Educational Foundation to be restricted to use for LAF programs.
As in the past, your receipt will indicate the restriction you intended. You can also review your giving history over the past 24 months by visiting the online Member Services Database through the Member Center on the AAUW website. If you find any inaccuracies, please contact us at 202/728-3307 or development@aauw.org, so the appropriate change can be made.
If AAUW should receive a gift payable to the AAUW Educational Foundation with no restriction mentioned on the check or any additional documentation, it is assumed to be an unrestricted contribution to AAUW Funds. If any particular fund name or number is referenced on the check or supporting documentation, that gift will only be used to support the referenced program. If there is any reason to question this assumption, staff will contact the donor. If the assumption is incorrect, the donor will see this on the receipt and should call 202/728-3307 or e-mail development@aauw.org so the appropriate change can be made.
Remember, all gifts to AAUW Funds or any of the specific funds/programs within the AAUW Funds are tax deductible because they are donations to our 501(c)(3) charitable entity; donations to the 501(c)(4) Action Fund in support of our Lobby Corps and election-related activities are not tax deductible.
Q: Our officers have always included an Educational Foundation chair and an LAF chair. What should these officers’ titles be under the new structure?
A: Under the new structure, states and branches have flexibility in naming their officers. None of the work or programs of the Legal Advocacy Fund or those formerly operated under the name of Educational Foundation have changed, and, of course, those programs still need our support. Keeping the LAF chair title makes sense and provides continuity, because the fund is still identified by the same name. We now have an Educational Opportunities Fund, which needs support, just as we have the Leadership Programs Fund, the Eleanor Roosevelt Fund, and the Public Policy Fund. Branches and states may want to use these fund names to determine their officers’ titles.
Some branches and states are using the titles development chair, philanthropy chair, or AAUW charitable funds chair. Such titles make it clear that member philanthropy can reach every aspect of AAUW, not just LAF or the Educational Foundation. Many EF and LAF chairs already know this and oversaw all types of giving in the past. Ultimately, the officer structure is left to the discretion of the branch and state and what works best for them. The goal is to make things as easy as possible for the branch and state leaders.
Q: How do we send in branch gifts?
A: The basic process for making branch gifts has not changed, but it should now be a little easier. You are still encouraged to use the new, easier-to-use Contribution Report Form, but now there is no need to have multiple forms to accommodate different entities. All donations can be included on one form. Contributions should still be mailed to AAUW, P.O. Box 98045, Washington, DC 20090-8045.
Some officers prefer to complete the process online by logging into the Member Services Database through the online Member Center, and they will continue to be able to do so. All donations will be acknowledged for tax purposes.
Remember, all gifts to AAUW Funds or any of the specific funds/programs within the AAUW Funds are tax deductible because they are donations to our 501(c)(3) charitable entity; donations to the 501(c)(4) Action Fund in support of our Lobby Corps and election-related activities are not tax deductible.
Q: In the past, the states and branches most generous to the Educational Foundation and LAF were recognized publicly as Top Ten Branches and States. How will such branches and states be recognized now?
A: Recognition has been expanded. Branches and states that are most generous to LAF and the Educational Opportunities Fund will continue to be recognized nationally. In addition, we will now recognize the branches and states most generous to the Eleanor Roosevelt Fund, to the Public Policy Fund, and to the Leadership Programs Fund. You can see an example of this recognition in our most recent convention literature and in the 2009 AAUW Annual Report.
If you have any additional questions or comments, please contact us at 202/728-3307 or development@aauw.org.
