Pledge and Gift Processing

Advancement Services is responsible for pledge & gift processing at Lehigh University.

Donor Advised Funds

Donor Advised funds are becoming a more popular vehicle for donors to support Lehigh University. There are certain tax benefits to the donor in providing their support through a donor advised fund like Fidelity, Vanguard, Charles Schwab and community foundations. Donor advised fund gifts can NOT pay on a person's pledge and so certain policies are put into place to manage these expectations. Click here for the current policies on managing donations and expected donations from donor advised funds.

End of Year Gifts

Each year, about 25% of our gifts are given in December for tax purposes. Click here for our end of year gift processing reminders . . .

End of fiscal year (June 30th) has it's own set of reminders . . . click here to view.

Gift Transmittal Form

If your deparment accepts/receives gifts, a Gift Transmittal Form should be filled out and sent along with the gift/check. Click here for a Gift Transmittal Form . . .

Gift in Kind Form

A Gift-In-Kind is a voluntary contribution of goods that can be used to advance the
mission of Lehigh University or can be readily converted to cash and may qualify as a charitable
deduction for the person(s) making the gift.

Note: Contributed services cannot be counted as a gift and do not qualify as a
charitable tax deduction to the donor. However, a donor of services may be able
to deduct expenses incurred while performing said services. In such cases, the
donor should be advised to consult with a tax accountant.

Click here for a copy of a Gift in Kind form to be filled out when a gift in kind is to be contributed.

Gifts of Checks, Cash, and Credit Card

Gifts of checks, cash, and credit card are the most common methods of gifts. Checks should be made out to Lehigh University with any restriction of purpose entered in the 'Memo' portion.

Click her for information about accepting gifts via credit card . . . We no longer collect security codes from anyone when processing credit cards. 

All information about making gifts can be found at by clicking here . . .

Gifts - Wiring to Lehigh

Gifts that are to be wired to Lehigh can be done by following the directions found by clicking here . . .

Gifts of Securities

Gifts of securities can be made to Lehigh. To find out how, please click here.

Gifts of Tangible Personal Property and Real Estate (Processing Non-Cash Gifts)

Gifts of real estate can be donated to the University in the form of undeveloped property, a personal residence, rental property, or commercial property. The owner of the property is entitled to an income tax deduction based on the appraised value of the property. The donor must submit a copy of a qualified appraisal with his/her income tax return for the year of the gift. Also, IRS Form 8283 must be submitted and signed by Lehigh acknowledging the gift.

There are several ways of making a gift of real estate to Lehigh. You may make an outright gift of your property or give Lehigh a part interest; sell your property to Lehigh at a price below market value, making a gift of the difference; or give your home to Lehigh, yet continue to live in it for life.

Lehigh carefully examines each piece of real estate prior to its acceptance as a gift in order to reduce the possibility of liability issues related to Lehigh owing the property.

Matching Gifts

Matching gifts are an important source of income for Lehigh each year. Matching gifts are given by employers to Lehigh based on their employees that give to Lehigh. Click here to see if a company matches gifts from their employees. Although there are rules about what and who can be matched, the matching gift revenue at Lehigh contributes about $1 million each year. Below are some statistics of Lehigh's matching gift revenue over the past fiscal years. According to our records, about 15% of our alumni work for a matching gift company and about half of those give and take advantage of their company's matching gift program each year.

Although the match sometimes comes in the year after the person makes a gift, the '% of people gifts matched' is calculated by looking at gifts made in the fiscal year by people that are eligible to be matched.

Online Giving

Lehigh provides the convenience of donors contributing online via credit card. This method has become more popular over the last few years with over 15% of donors contributing this manner. Online gifts to Lehigh can be made at by clicking here

Payroll Deduction

Faculty & staff who wish to donate via payroll deduction can fill out the form found here and sent to Advancement Services at 622 Brodhead Avenue.

Pledges - non Lehigh Fund

All pledges that are non Lehigh Fund must have a reminder schedule identified in order to be entered and counted. A reminder schedule includes the expected dates of payments. All pledges will be reminded UNLESS a written justification is submitted as to why it shouldn't be reminded as part of the current reminder program. Part of the justification needs to include how the donor will be notified of expected payments.

Pledges - Lehigh Fund

All Lehigh Fund pledges (unrestricted & restricted) are one year pledges. If someone wishes to make a multi year Lehigh Fund pledge, multiple pledges are entered - one for each year. For example, if a donor in September of 2009 (i.e. in fiscal year 2010) wishes to make a 5 year Lehigh Fund pledge, five pledges are entered - one for Lehigh Fund 2010, Lehigh Fund 2011, Lehigh Fund 2012, Lehigh Fund 2013, and Lehigh Fund 2014.

Pledges & Donor Advised Funds

Donor advised funds (DAFs) cannot pay against a person's pledge. This is due to the fact that a donor advised fund's gift is not the 'asset' of the person who made the pledge. However, the original donor wll receive recognition credit for the amount of the donor advised fund gift.

Pledges & Matching Gifts

Matching gifts can NOT be considered part of someone's pledge amount. This is due to the fact that a person can only 'pledge' what they have direct control over. However, it is important to know that a person will receive recognition credit for a matching gift amount when it is received to qualify them for an appropriate ASA Packer membership level. For example, if a donor pledges $25,000 and an additional $25,000 is to be recieved as a matching gift, a pledge of $25,000 is entered into the system but as the matching gift amounts are received, will raise the donor's recognition level.