Ways to Support Meadville Lombard

There are many ways to support Meadville Lombard’s mission of nurturing and cultivating the transformation of those from diverse traditions who are called to learn and grow into socially engaged, intercultural, and spiritually grounded faith leaders. Your generosity will change lives to change the world!

Make a Pledge or Set Up Recurring Gifts

• A pledge is a promise to pay a specified amount over a set period of time. A recurring donation is a series of gifts given repeatedly on an open-ended schedule without specific commitment. Even a small amount each month can add up to help our students. Please contact the Development Office for more information.
• Become a Partner in Ministry: Partners in Ministry is a three-year promise to support Meadville Lombard Theological School. Your support will enable us to continue our work of promoting liberation and justice during these times by training future ministers and leaders grounded in liberal religious values. We welcome one time gifts, but would like to encourage you to partner with us through a multi-year commitment.
   

  Our giving levels are named after the yearly design of our Contextual Learning Model:
  • Social Engagement Partner: $1,000 per year for three years
  • Vocational Partner: $5,000 per year for three years
  • Leadership Partner: $10,000 per year for three years 

Please contact the Development Office for more information.

Make a One-Time Cash Gift

• Give online
• Give by mail 
  Attn: Development Office
  Meadville Lombard Theological School
  180 N. Wabash Ave., Suite 700, Chicago, IL 60601
  *Please indicate any specific program you wish to support.

• Give by phone
  Barbara Baldwin, Development Assistant
  (312) 212-0676

Matching Gifts

Many companies offer to match donations made by employees as part of a corporate philanthropy program. This often doubles an individual’s donation.

Check whether your company participates in this program. If so, request a matching gift form from your employer and mail the signed form in with your donation. Meadville Lombard staff will take care of the rest.

Gifts of Appreciated Securities (Stock or Mutual Funds)

You can gift appreciated stock or mutual funds held over one year and receive a charitable deduction for tax purposes. Meadville Lombard is an exempt institution and pays no tax or gains.

What is the procedure to gift stock or mutual funds?

You need to transfer your stock or mutual fund shares in writing. The date the stock is transferred is the date used for Meadville Lombard Theological School’s calculation of your charitable contribution.  For stocks, the average of the High and Low Trading Price for the day is used; for mutual funds, NAV (Net Asset Value) is used.

One brokerage account we use for gifts is at the investment firm RBC Wealth Management.  Please contact Bob Chernow or Linda Cowan at RBC Wealth Management and inform them that you will be transferring stock to Meadville Lombard Theological School. They can be reached at:

Bob: (414) 347-7089 or Toll-Free 800-933-3246
Linda: (414) 347-7088
Email: bob.chernow@rbc.com
Fax: (414) 347-7670 

If your broker holds your stock certificates

Contact your broker about transferring your stock to Meadville Lombard Theological School with a letter in writing stating the following:

To [Name of Your Broker]:

Transfer [number] shares of [name of stock] to Meadville Lombard Theological School Account #305-69773 RBC’s DTC # is 235.

Your name and signature (both signatures if this is a joint account)  

Please disclose our name to Meadville Lombard Theological School.

This letter will make it easy for your broker to transfer your stock to our RBC Wealth Management Account through a back-office transfer. Your broker will need to include two items referenced in your letter:

• RBC Wealth Management DTC #235
• Meadville Lombard Theological School # 305-69773

If you hold your own stock certificates

Mail or bring the securities to:

Bob Chernow
RBC Wealth Management Suite 1500
1000 North Water Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202

You will need a stock power (or your signature on the back of the certificates) and a signed letter of authorization as follows:

To RBC Wealth Management,

Transfer [number] shares of [name of stock] to Meadville Lombard Theological School (305-69773) Your name and signature (both signatures if joint account)

Please disclose our name to Meadville Lombard Theological School.

If you are gifting mutual fund shares

Decide which mutual fund shares you want to give as a gift. Contact the mutual fund company and inform them of your intent. Ask the Fund Company to fax the forms to Bob Chernow at (414) 347-7670. Bob or Linda will prepare the paperwork for you. Please call Bob at (414) 347-7089 or Linda Cowan at (414) 347-7088 to let them know that you will be transferring mutual fund shares.

It is our policy to sell all securities when they are received.

Bob or Linda will prepare a letter for you and Meadville Lombard Theological School that shows the amount of your charitable contribution for tax purposes.

Planned Gifts

A Planned Gift is the intention to contribute a future gift to a charity beyond a donor’s lifetime. Planned Gifts can take the form of cash, equity, or property.

This type of gift costs nothing now, yet it may give you a great deal of satisfaction to know that your legacy will live on in the form of your future gift.

3 Simple ways to make a difference:

• Leave a percentage of your retirement assets
• Make a gift that pays you back
• Donate a life insurance policy you won’t need

Examples of ways you can make a planned gift

• Cash
• Appreciated Securities
• Real Estate
• Personal Property
• Business Interests
• IRAs/ Retirement Plans
• Life Insurance
• Other Assets

How to make a planned gift

1. Share this language with your lawyer or financial planner: “I bequeath $____ or ____ % of my estate to Meadville Theological School of Lombard College, 180 N. Wabash Ave., Suite 700, Chicago, IL 60601. Tax ID#: 36-6078270.”
2. Complete and return this planned giving form to developmentoffice@meadville.edu so that we can document your wishes and honor your request.

Other Ways of Giving

Please consult your financial or tax advisor on these giving options:

Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)

Donor-advised funds allow donors to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and recommend grants from the fund over time.

IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD)

Qualified Charitable Distributions are funds taken directly out of your individual retirement account (IRA) and given to an eligible charity.

If you have any questions about ways to support Meadville Lombard, please contact us.