Thank you for the many ways you support WashU every day.

Washington University’s faculty and staff share a strong commitment to serve the greater good. They prepare the leaders of tomorrow and advance ideas and discoveries that have an impact in St. Louis and around the world. Many also help strengthen the university in an additional way—with a gift to the Annual Fund. Their generosity provides vital resources for scholarships and fellowships, research, academic programs, career counseling and job placement, patient care, and more.

Support the area of WashU that means the most to you.

Each year, hundreds of you make gifts large and small to an area of the university that matters most to you. Whether you give a lot or a little, your gift supports the school or program of your choice—scholarships and fellowships, academic programs, libraries and technology, athletics, the arts, and more—and helps make WashU an exceptional place to learn.

Make your gift today!

You may set up your gift through payroll deduction or choose another option convenient for you.

I regularly give to the College of Art scholarship fund. I have seen firsthand the combined power of individual scholarship contributions and the impact those scholarships have on the lives of students and their families. Jeff Pike, professor of art,
Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts

How to give

We have a variety of options to help you make your gift.

Common questions

Who is included in the Faculty and Staff Campaign?

We welcome participation by all employees of Washington University.

Why should I support Washington University?

Your gift will provide important new resources for your school or program, or for any area that is important to you. Your participation will help inspire others to join this effort—potential donors, such as alumni, corporations, and foundations, want to know that the university has the support of its faculty and staff. 

What level of support is needed? 

Gifts of any amount are welcome. Large or small, many gifts add up to make a big impact.

Where should my gift be directed?

You may direct your gift to any school, department, or non-academic program of your choice at Washington University. For a list of options, visit Areas to Support.

Can I make my gift through payroll deduction?

Yes. Please review our instructions for how make a gift through payroll deduction.

I am paid bi-weekly. Will a gift made through payroll deduction affect every paycheck?

No, the deduction will be made from only the first paycheck of each month.

How will my gift be used?

Your gift will be used for the university priority you designate. Unrestricted gifts to the Annual Fund support student scholarships and fellowships, faculty recruitment and retention, upgrades to facilities and technology, new academic programs and initiatives, and student and faculty research. Endowment gifts provide permanent support for a specific purpose of your choice, such as a scholarship or professorship.

What is the difference between an unrestricted gift and a restricted gift?

An unrestricted gift is one that is designated for a school or department and can be used for its most important priorities. These unrestricted gifts can also be designated for undergraduate and graduate scholarships in any school. A restricted gift is one that has been designated for a specific purpose, such as a research project, facilities, endowment, etc. Annual unrestricted gifts of $1,000 or more qualify you for membership in one of WashU’s giving clubs. If you have additional questions, please call 314-935-3812. 

What happens to my pledge or payroll deduction if I retire or leave the university?

Depending upon the circumstances, modifications can be made to your commitment (extension of payment periods, change in payment amount, etc.). It is our hope that faculty and staff will honor their commitment to the university. If your gift is made through payroll deduction, arrangements can be made to transfer this to an alternate payment method.

If I make a gift through payroll deduction, will I qualify for membership in the William Greenleaf Eliot Society?

You will qualify for membership in the William Greenleaf Eliot Society if your total Annual Fund contribution reaches $1,000 by June 30, the end of the university’s fiscal year. If you have questions about accelerating your payments to reach a minimum gift level, call 314-935-4646.

I am already a donor to the university. Do I need to make an additional gift to participate?

The university’s fiscal year runs from July 1–June 30. Any gift made to the university during that time period will count for the current fiscal year. We hope, however, that faculty and staff will consider making a multi-year commitment and participate each fiscal year.

If I make a bequest commitment or a planned gift, will it count toward the campaign?

Yes. Bequests and planned gifts committed by June 30 will count toward the current faculty and staff campaign.