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Why Give?

Today, as for nearly two centuries, McCormick Theological Seminary remains committed to being a community of teaching and learning that prepares women and men for leadership in all aspects of the mission of the Church of Jesus Christ.

At McCormick, we believe that God has called us to become that community to work with men and women who want to deepen their faith and develop their gifts for service and leadership. As a non-profit institution, McCormick Theological Seminary relies on the generous financial support of individuals to fulfill its commitments. We are grateful for the past and continuing generosity of alumni/ae and friends. Through them, God is entrusting the Seminary with the financial resources to fulfill an important mission.

To sustain these programs, to help meet student financial need, and to keep tuition and educational loan debt at a minimum, the Seminary depends on the gifts of its alumni/ae and friends. Make a difference in the lives of future leaders of the Church – invest in McCormick Theological Seminary.

How to Give to McCormick Theological Seminary
There are many ways to make a financial gift to McCormick Theological Seminary:

• Online Giving
• Cash and Checks
• Gifts-in-Kind
• Gifts of Securities
• Matching Gifts
• Memorial and Honorary Gifts
• Planned and Deferred Gifts
• Theological Education Fund (1% Plan)
• Direct Aid
• For More Information

Online Giving

Give Online

Cash and Checks
To make gifts by cash or check, send your donation to:

Seminary Relations and Development
McCormick Theological Seminary
5460 S. University Avenue
Chicago, IL 60615

Gifts-in-Kind

A donor may desire to make an in-kind gift to the Seminary. For purposes of tax deductibility, the donor has responsibility to determine the value of the gift; the Seminary does not assign monetary values to gifts in acknowledging such gifts. Types of Gifts-in-Kind include:

• Tangible Personal Property: Gifts of tangible personal property (works of art, antiques, etc.) may be accepted by the Seminary. Such a gift is ordinarily received only when the gift directly served the educational purposes of the Seminary. The Board of Trustees has the right to receive or deny any such gift of personal property.

• Library Books: The JKM Library does not ordinarily accept gifts of personal ministerial libraries; however, in consultation with the Director of the JMK Library, such gifts may be received as in-kind gifts to the Seminary.

Gifts of Securities

Please note: With gifts of securities (stocks, bonds, notes, etc.), it is important that we know the name of your brokerage firm and the name of the security being wired. Please inform us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to facilitate the transfer and to assure prompt and accurate crediting of your gift.

To make gifts of securities via electronic transfer contact:

Dain Rauscher
500 West Madison Ave.
Suite 3000
Chicago, IL 60661

800-683-3246

Contact: Frank Niederman at 312-559-1741
Assistant Ellen Logan at 312-559-1730

DTC# 235 New Acct # 30153584 MTS Fed ID # 36-2167802

All electronic transfers must have the above DTC and Account number, and must indicate for credit to McCormick Theological Seminary.

Matching Gifts

What is a matching gift? This is a chance to double the impact of your contribution to McCormick Theological Seminary. Participating companies often match their employees’ charitable contributions to institutions and organizations. Many companies match retired employees’ gifts as well. Please check with your Department of Human Resources for matching gift opportunities.

How does it work? When you are ready to make a gift to McCormick, request a matching gift form from your company’s Human Resources Office. Send that form with your gift to McCormick Theological Seminary. The Seminary will process the matching gift form and will notify you when we receive the gift from your employer.

Want more info? Ask your Human Resources Office or contact the Office of Seminary Relations and Development at 800-228-4687 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Memorial and Honorary Gifts

Memorial and honorary gifts are welcomed and encouraged at McCormick Theological Seminary. Many people each year memorialize or honor special persons who have touched their lives with a gift to the Seminary. These gifts are recognized in our Annual Report.
Gifts of more than $50,000 may establish a fund that can be named by the donor for purposes approved by the Seminary’s Board of Trustees.

Planned and Deferred Gifts

A planned gift is a gift made or promised from your assets or estate. You may receive a current charitable tax deduction and a return on investment. Planned gifts the Seminary accepts include: bequest, charitable trust or annuity, will, life insurance and life income agreement.

Individuals establishing planned gifts with McCormick Theological Seminary become members of the Heritage Society, a donor society established to express appreciation to a special group of Seminary supporters – alumni/ae and friends who have provided for the continued well-being of the Seminary through their estate and financial plans.

In providing a planned gift, you help ensure McCormick Theological Seminary’s continuing leadership for collaborative theological education as we prepare women and men to be fully engaged in church and society. For assistance and information regarding planned gifts or guidance in completing your planned gift, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , Director of Annual Giving and Stewardship, at 800-228-4687.

Bequests

• General – specific sum of specific portion or percentage of a gross taxable estate;
• Designated – to be used for a particular program or project (e.g., faculty or scholarship endowment, JKM Library Trust, Global Scholarship, Center, etc.);
• Residuary – means for providing for the distribution of the residue of an estate after all other bequests have been made;
• Contingent – means of distributing a part of an estate if beneficiaries do not survive the testator.

Form of Bequests
The following or like form may be used:

"I give and bequeath unto McCormick Theological Seminary, 5460 South University Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, 60615, the sum of .… dollars (or that real estate, securities, etc. described herein) for its general purposes."

A designated bequest would specify the purpose for which the bequest was to be used, (e.g., "to establish a named memorial or scholarship fund") or for a specific program or project decided upon in advance in consultation with a qualified representative of the Seminary.

Charitable Trust or Annuity
One or more beneficiaries receive income from a trust or annuity established through the will of a donor. It is not until the death of the last surviving beneficiary that all or part of the principal passes to McCormick Theological Seminary.

Will
Have you already named McCormick Theological Seminary in your will? If so, you are already a member of the Heritage Society, a donor society established to express appreciation to a special group of Seminary supporters – alumni/ae and friends who have provided for the continued well-being of the Seminary through their estate and financial plans.

Ordinarily when questions arise as to the terms of wills, such issues are to be adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction. McCormick Theological Seminary ordinarily does not enter into any compromise settlement with anyone concerning the provisions of a will; such matters are settled by a friendly suit entered in court.

Life Insurance
McCormick Theological Seminary welcomes gifts of life insurance and encourages donors to make such gift using their own insurance agent. Using life insurance to make charitable gifts has many advantages because of the simplicity of ownership transfer for this kind of gift, the potential tax advantages, and the possibility of asset replacement in a donor’s estate. The Seminary does not endorse particular insurance plans or carriers, nor does it engage in the services of any particular company or agent in the promotion of gifts of life insurance.

Life Income Agreements/Contracts
In assisting donors with planned and deferred gifts in the form of life income agreements and contracts, McCormick Theological Seminary offers the use of the services of the Presbyterian Foundation, Jeffersonville, Indiana. A donor shall have the right to select the Presbyterian Foundation or another fiduciary agent or trustee for a life income agreement or contract. The gift guidelines of the respective foundation/agent governing minimum gifts for funding any form of life income agreement or contract shall be observed.

The following life income agreements and contracts are possible:

• Charitable Gift Annuity
• Deferred Payment Charitable Gift Annuity
• Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts
• Charitable Remainder Unitrust
• Pooled Income Fund

Theological Education Fund (1% Plan)

Many Presbyterians do not realize that the Theological Education Fund (1% Plan) also known as TEF, is now the only source of denomination-wide funding received by our Seminaries.

Encourage your congregation to give to the Presbyterian Church (USA) Theological Education Fund (1% Plan). Your contributions will help sustain the mission of our theological institutions in their service to the Church of Jesus Christ.

Thank you for supporting the seminaries of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A).

Direct Aid

An individual donor or church may desire to give direct financial support to a student enrolled at the Seminary. These contributions are received in the Office of Student Accounts. Please contact Scarlet Coleman-Dell at 773-947-6277 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to notify us of this kind of support.

Checks can be mailed directly to:

Office of Student Accounts
McCormick Theological Seminary
5460 South University Avenue
Chicago, IL 60615

Such gifts, when made by individuals to the Seminary for a specific student account, are not considered a gift to the Seminary and are not tax deductible under Internal Revenue Service codes and private letter rulings.

For More Information
McCormick Theological Seminary welcomes all inquiries. We encourage you to contact us by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , by phone at 800-228-4687 or arrange a visit to our campus.

Inquiries specifically related to giving opportunities at McCormick Theological Seminary may be directed to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , Director of Annual Giving and Stewardship.