The Northwood University Annual Fund is made up of operating gifts from Northwood friends, parents, students, faculty, staff and alumni. It supports students, emergency fund scholarships, intramural athletics, academic programs and much more.

Your gift to the Northwood Fund is used for critical projects not covered by student tuition alone. Every former and current student has benefited from the generosity of alumni and friends at some point, and our aim is to grow the tradition of strong philanthropic support. Gifts to The Northwood Fund may be designated to support specific areas, and we encourage each person to make their gift as personal to their Northwood experience as possible.

This fund is the cornerstone of financial support to maximize Northwood’s ability to promote a free-enterprise and global education while providing a safe and fun setting on all of our campuses. Every gift counts! Any size gift, from $5 to $10,000, is important. We only ask that you give as you are capable. Gifts can be made online, by check and even through your mobile phone. Additional ways to make an impact include supporting Recognition Park and our Senior Gift tradition.

Corporate matching gifts are a great way for Northwood alumni, parents, and friends to maximize personal contributions to the University and increase the impact of their gift.

Thousands of companies and foundations match their employees’ gifts to non-profit organizations and higher education institutions. Corporate matching gifts provide an important source of funds to Northwood. In most cases, Northwood receives a dollar-for-dollar match. Sometimes the match is double or even triple the original donation. The amount of the match, payment schedule, employee eligibility requirements and access to forms are at the sole discretion of each employer.

How do I get my gift matched?

First, find out if your company has a matching gift program:

Each company has its own guidelines for employees, spouses, retirees and widows/widowers. Most corporate procedures are simple:

• Request a Matching Form from your company.
• Complete and submit the form to Northwood along with your gift.
• Northwood will verify the completed form and return it to the company.
• The company issues a matching gift contribution to Northwood.
• Completed forms can be sent with your personal gift to:
  • Northwood University
    Advancement
    4000 Whiting Drive
    Midland, MI 48640

Employers consider matching gifts a benefit to their employees; therefore, your human resource department or personnel office is most likely the source for matching gift information and forms.

Each employer has different requirements, so you will need to complete your company’s specific matching gift form. Once the forms are completed, please contact Advancement.

The generosity of those who support Northwood ensures the tradition of a unique free-enterprise education. Additionally, Northwood strongly believes that both the donor and the receiver should benefit from the gift. Gifts received through the following vehicles will help you benefit through tax and financial arrangements, sometimes immediately, while others may be a long-term giving plan. Since these gifts require legal documents and tax expertise, we recommend you work with an attorney and/or tax advisor to receive the maximum benefits possible.

Planned giving includes:

• Current will
• Living trust
• Bequests
• Gift annuities
• Deferred gift annuities
• Charitable remainder annuity trust
• Charitable lead trust
• Charitable gift annuity
• Closely-held stock
• Life insurance
• Retained life estate
• Retirement plan assets
• Real estate
• Memorials and tributes

We have a new estate planning tool, courtesy of FreeWill to help you get started on your plans for free. You can use this tool on your own or use it in conjunction with an attorney to save time and money.

If you have already included Northwood University in your will or trust, fill out this form so we can thank you for your contributions.

Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) are investment accounts for the sole purpose of supporting your favorite charitable organizations. If you have a DAF, you can use FreeWill’s DAF tool to recommend a grant today.

Donors can give a gift of stock to support their favorite school, program, or cause. Northwood University has partnered with a free stock-giving tool that walks you through the process of making a gift in under 5 minutes.

Supporters 70.5 or older with a traditional IRA are eligible to make a potential tax-free donation to Northwood University. These gifts are tax-free, regardless of whether or not you itemize deductions on your tax return. If you are 73 years old or older (or were subject to RMD’s before), these gifts can even count towards fulfilling your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) for the calendar year.

NHS has partnered with an IRA-giving tool that walks you through the process of making this gift.

We now accept donations of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies! This gives us one more way to fund the Northwood experience and can provide you with extra tax benefits.

Employee Giving

The success of Northwood University, and the Northwood Idea, depend upon the participation of many. As faculty and staff members, our support of students and University initiatives is paramount. Not only do our gifts provide funding for our programs and scholarships, they also endorse our commitment to educating the future business leaders of a global, free-enterprise society. They say that we choose Northwood and that we believe in our mission and in its execution.

Please take a minute to tell us a little about you, and, if you give, what inspires you to help transform student lives with your treasure. Your gift makes an impact and is part of a larger narrative that we want to share with others and inspire future support.

If you are a Northwood employee, you can make a one-time gift, or complete the Employee Giving Campaign Form to make a gift to the University through your paycheck. The form allows you to designate your gift to the fund, scholarship, or program of your choice.

Student Giving

Student Giving is an integral part of our mission at Northwood University. Though you may not think you will be able to make an impact as a college student, your gifts – no matter how big or small – make an impact on your fellow Timberwolves and show your passion for the mission of Northwood University.

If you are a Northwood student employee, complete the Student Employee Giving Campaign Form to make a gift to the University through your paycheck. The form allows you to designate your gift to the fund, scholarship, or program of your choice.