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Donations are integral to the future of graduate education.

Give to the Graduate School

Your gift to may be used to support:

  • Graduate student fellowships, scholarships, awards, and internships
  • Programming for career development and exploration, research innovation, and leadership development, as well as other resources
  • Research projects to increase student participation in conferences and exhibitions across disciplines
  • Recruiting and retaining graduate students
  • Diversity and inclusion activities
  • International travel

How To Give

Gifts to the Graduate School are centrally processed through the University of Missouri’s Development Office. Donors have several options: pledge, check, online, through Mizzou payroll deduction, or by credit card.

Check

To send Mizzou a check, fill out the one-page gift form, and mail it with a check payable to the University of Missouri. Send the form to:

Mizzou Gift Processing
109 Reynolds Alumni and Alumnae Center
Columbia, MO 65211

Credit Card

Please use one of the following options for gifts paid by Visa, MasterCard or Discover:

  • Make a gift online at the Mizzou giving site.
  • Call toll-free at 1-877-GIFT-2-MU with your credit card information.
 

Major Gifts, Endowments & Fellowship Support

Major gifts can be cash, securities (stocks or bonds), or property and can create new or support existing endowments for graduate fellowships, travel, or general development.

Major gifts may be made by contacting the Graduate School Director of Development, Mark Thomas. Call (573) 882-3645 or email at thomasme@missouri.edu.

Planned Gifts & Testamentary Gifts

Bequests are one of the easiest forms of planned giving. A bequest may be provided through a will or trust, but it must be carefully worded to ensure that the donor’s wishes are fulfilled.

Donors may name the University of Missouri as the beneficiary of their retirement account. This gift option may provide significant income tax and estate tax benefits.

Permanent life insurance policies may be donated to the University. Donors will obtain the greatest tax benefits by naming the University of Missouri as both the owner and beneficiary of the gifted policy.

The information provided on planned gifts is presented in summary form.
For an illustration of any planned gift tailored to a specific request, donors may contact the Mark Thomas at 573-882-3645, or by email at thomasme@missouri.edu. Donors should consult with their attorneys or tax advisors for legal and tax advice.

Gifts That Earn You Income

Donors and the University both receive financial rewards through the following three types of gifts:

A charitable gift annuity is a simple, contractual agreement between the University and a donor in which assets are transferred to the University in exchange for life payments. Payments can be for one or two persons with rates based on age. After the annuitant’s lifetime, the remainder is available to be used by the University as specified by the donor.

When donors transfer cash or other assets to a charitable remainder trust, these funds are invested, and quarterly income from the trust is paid to the donor or to others chosen by the donor. When the trust is terminated, the remaining funds are transferred to the University.

The University’s Pooled Income Fund is similar to a mutual fund. This fund allows gifts to be “pooled” with those from other donors, and prorated shares of the fund’s earnings are distributed to all donors. After a donor’s lifetime, the remainder of their interest in the fund is transferred to the University.

A retained life estate allows donors to contribute their homes to the University while continuing to live there. The University becomes the sole owner of the property either when donors choose to move from the home or after the donor’s lifetime.