Ways to give
Will you join us now?
Your generosity underscores a deep appreciation for music and a recognition of its ability to transform lives. As Eastman marks its centennial, please consider providing support in these ways:
How to make a gift
Make your gift by mail
Please send a check, payable to the Eastman School of Music. On the memo line of your check, please indicate the fund to which you would like to direct your gift. Mail your check to:
Office of Advancement
Eastman School of Music
26 Gibbs Street
Rochester, NY 14604
Gifts of securities and stocks
By donating appreciated stocks, bonds, and mutual fund shares that have been owned for more than one year, donors can avoid capital gains tax. They also receive an income tax deduction for the fair market value of the gift.
A security’s gift value is determined by its fair market value on the day you make the gift. In the case of certificates mailed to us, the date of gift is the date of mailing; if the shares are transferred to the University on the books of a broker or agent, then the gift date is the date of transfer.
To make a gift of securities or stock, please contact Debbie Rossi at (585) 275-3903 for specific instructions.
Give by wiring funds
To wire funds to the Eastman School of Music, please contact Debbie Rossi, at (585) 275-3903 for specific instructions.
IRA charitable rollover: Tax-free gifts from retirement accounts
Normally, a distribution from your IRA is taxed as ordinary income. However, if you are 70 ½ years or older, you are eligible to make a direct gift to Eastman tax-free through a charitable rollover. This is known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD).
- You must be 70 ½ and transfer funds directly from your IRA to the University of Rochester
- If you are subject to a required minimum distribution (RMD) this year, a qualified charitable distribution “counts” toward your RMD
- Gifts are limited to $100,000 annually per person (a married couple with separate IRAs could give up to $200,000 a year)
- Distributions can be made only from a traditional or Roth IRA; retirement plans such as pensions and 401(k) or 403(b) plans must first be transferred to an IRA
- A transfer is tax-free and is not included in your adjusted gross income and no charitable income tax deduction is allowed
- Gifts must be outright—transfers to donor-advised funds, supporting organizations, private foundations, charitable remainder trusts, or charitable gift annuities do not qualify
- Additional details about rolling tax-free gifts from retirement accounts can be found here.
You should consult your tax advisor about the applicability to your own situation of the legal principles contained herein.
The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015, which was passed by Congress and signed into law by the president on December 18, 2015, made permanent what is popularly known as the IRA charitable rollover.