Ways to Give

If you would like to support HMC's research and education in engineering, science and mathematics, many opportunities are available. It's always a good idea to review plans with your tax adviser to be sure your gift plan generates the best tax advantage.

Gifts by credit card

Monthly Recurring Gifts

Relying on sustained giving is critical to maintaining the excellent curriculum standard that makes Harvey Mudd College one of the premier math, science and engineering colleges in the nation. The button at the bottom of the online gift form — "Switch: set up a Recurring Gift" — allows donors to select a monthly, bi-monthly, every other month, quarterly, bi-annual and annual gift frequency.

One Time Gifts

Use our secure server to make a gift by credit card. As soon as we receive the information, your gift will be processed in a timely fashion. You will receive an immediate email confirmation of your gift, and a formal gift receipt and a credit card receipt will follow by mail.

You may also make a credit card gift over the phone by calling the Annual Giving Office at 909.621.8560. In addition, all solicitation reply envelopes include a space to contribute by credit card.

Gifts by mail

A common way gifts are made to HMC is by personal check. For gifts by check made at the end-of-tax-year (Dec. 31) and end-of-fiscal-year (June 30), we recommend sending your gift using the U.S. Postal Service, as opposed to commercial carriers such as FedEx. The U.S. Postal Service acts as an "agent of the recipient", therefore, your gift date becomes the postmark date (which should be supported by an appropriate date on your check). A commercial carrier acts as an "agent of the sender", and therefore the gift date is the date the parcel is received by HMC.

If you prefer to mail in your credit card number and gift amount, please be aware that your gift date will be the date the gift is received and processed by HMC, not the postmark date. This may be important for end-of-tax-year and end-of-fiscal-year donors.

Please mail your check or credit card information to:

Harvey Mudd College
Office of College Advancement
301 Platt Blvd
Claremont, California 91711-5990

Gifts by wire transfer

For cash wire transfers, please contact Elizabeth Baughman, Director of Advancement Services at elizabeth_baughman@hmc.edu or (909) 607-3469.

Give stock

Giving stock that has appreciated and you have held for at least one year can be one of the smartest ways to make a gift. You not only obtain a deduction for the full-fair market value of the stock (typically calculated as the average of the high and the low on the day the stock leaves your control), you also avoid paying tax on the capital gain.

(Where a stock has depreciated in value, selling the stock and contributing the proceeds may be more advisable, particularly if you can use the loss to offset other gains.)

The objective is to transfer the shares to Harvey Mudd College rather than sell the shares and forward us the proceeds. The transfer process varies slightly depending on whether or not the stock certificates are in your possession.

Give real estate

Your property opens the door to a creative and beneficial giving opportunity. From homes to farmland, many types of real estate assets can be donated to qualified charitable organizations like Harvey Mudd College. You'll be helping a good cause, enjoying tax benefits and, in some cases, potentially setting up a lifetime stream of income.

With an outright gift of appreciated real estate, you may qualify to receive a charitable income tax deduction based on the fair market value of the property with no capital gains liability on the transfer. In most cases, HMC will sell the property and apply the proceeds to the department or program you specify.

Some gift planning options:

Your gift of real estate may also provide income to you in return, to aid in your estate and retirement planning. Learn more about creative, flexible charitable remainder trusts (unitrusts and annuity trusts).
You can donate your home or vacation property to HMC, but reserve the right to use it during your lifetime and receive an income tax deduction. Learn more about retained life estates.

Important considerations:

Because of the variable nature of the real estate market, you will want to work closely a member of our staff to ensure that your philanthropic goals can be fully met.
HMC must review and approve in advance all gifts of real estate. Working with our staff will allow you to maximize the benefit and impact of you gift while also, among other issues, providing us with information to assess the property's marketability and environmental status.
HMC asks that all donors secure an independent appraisal to establish the property's value for the charitable deduction.
Transferring property that carries a mortgage or other debt can result in income tax liability. We can discuss this with you and your advisors as you are considering your gift.

In-kind gifts

In addition to gifts and pledges of cash or other appreciated assets, there may be opportunities to contribute in-kind gifts to the college, such as a piece of research or machining equipment directly helpful to the college's mission of hands-on education and research.

All in-kind gifts must be given unconditionally and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The College does not generally accept gifts of art or vehicles, and gifts of property valued at more than $5000 must be supported by a formal appraisal to qualify for a tax deduction. HMC does not provide nor pay for such appraisals.

Corporations interested in contributing scientific research or engineering equipment should contact Barry Olsan, Director of Corporate Relations at barry_olsan@hmc.edu or (909) 607-7015.

Individuals should contact Liz Baughman, Director of Advancement Services, at elizabeth_baughman@hmc.edu or (909) 607-3469.

Employer matching gifts

You can make an even greater impact with your gift to Harvey Mudd College through your employer's matching gift program. Learn more here.

Employee gift payroll deduction form

Mudd employees can give their gift through payroll deduction using this form. (pdf)

Investing in Mudd