Ways to give

UCL can accept donations via Transnational Giving Europe (TGE). 

The TGE network covers 19 countries, allowing donors resident in participating countries to offer financial support to non-profit organisations in other member countries. It allows donors to benefit from the tax advantages provided for in the legislation of their country of residence.

Special tax exemptions on donations to UCL are available to our US donors. UCL Friends & Alumni Association Inc. (UCLFAA) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (recognised by the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS), EIN: 13-3634775), which funds grants that benefit UCL. In compliance with IRS regulations, the Board of Directors of UCLFAA Inc. maintains complete discretion over the allocation of gifts to UCL, to ensure donations are used effectively to support UCL.

Gifts to UCLFAA Inc. qualify for an Income Tax deduction to the limits allowed by law. All gifts made to UCLFAA are subject to a 5% administrative fee (capped at $500 per gift), which helps cover the costs of processing donations, financial oversight, and ensuring gifts are used as intended. This is standard practice for 501(c)(3) organisations. 

How to donate 
You can give securely online via the UCLFAA website. Alternatively, you can download a gift form, then return it along with your cheque, made payable to “UCLFAA Inc.” to:  

UCL Friends & Alumni Association Inc. 
1350 Avenue of the Americas
Floor 2, Suite 266  
New York, NY 10019 

For more information about UCLFAA and giving from the US please visit their website here: https://uclfaa.org

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) allows Canadian taxpayers to make tax deductible donations directly to UCL. The CRA recognises UCL as a ‘qualified donee’ by virtue of being a university outside Canada prescribed under Schedule VIII (s.3503) of the Income Tax Act. This means donations from Canadian individuals or corporations are tax-deductible as permitted by law.  

To make a gift, please use UCL’s secure online donation form. We will issue you an official gift receipt to enable you to complete your tax return. Further information can be is available on the CRA website. 

Hong Kong taxpayers can donate to UCL in a tax-efficient way thanks to our partnership with the Chapel & York Hong Kong Foundation, a registered Section 88 charity. UCL has established a Named Fund within the Foundation, allowing gifts to be directed to UCL while qualifying for local tax relief. 

This partnership simplifies the process of giving from Hong Kong and ensures donations are managed securely and cost-effectively, without the need for UCL to operate its own local entity.

If you are a UK taxpayer, you may qualify for Gift Aid, which adds 25% to the value of your donation at no extra cost to you. For example, a £100 donation with Gift Aid is effectively worth £125 to UCL. 
 
In order for UCL to reclaim the tax you have paid on your donation(s), you must have paid, or expect to pay, enough UK Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax in each tax year (6 April to 5 April) to cover the amount of tax that all the charities you donate to will reclaim on your gifts for that year (currently 25p for every £1 you give). Other taxes, such as VAT and Council Tax, do not qualify. 

To make a tax efficient donation, simply sign the Gift Aid Declaration (PDF). It is also possible to make a verbal Gift Aid declaration if you are donating over the phone. 
 
Gift Aid applies to donations of any amount, including those made by cash, cheque, direct debit, standing order, debit or credit card, or even in foreign currency (including Euro). 

If you pay tax at a higher or additional rate, you can claim the difference between the higher rates of tax (40% and/or 45%) and the basic rate of tax (20%), on the total of your donation plus the Gift Aid UCL that UCL can claim on your behalf. 
 
For example, if you donate £100, the total value of your donation to the charity is £125 - so you can claim back: 

£25 if you pay tax at 40% (£125 at 20%)
£31.25 if you pay tax at 45% (the difference between 45% and 20% on £125) 

You can make this claim on your Self-Assessment tax return. If you don’t normally submit a tax return you can contact HMRC to request a P810 tax review form, which must be submitted by 31 January following the end of the previous tax year. 

Please visit the UK Government website for more information about Gift Aid. UCL is an exempt charity with HMRC No: X6243 

ayroll giving is a scheme available through your UK employer, which enables you to make a charitable donation straight from your gross salary. It is the most tax-efficient method of making charitable donations. 
 
Your employer must have a payroll giving scheme in place for you to donate this way,  your employer may use a payroll agency such as ‘Give As You Earn’ to manage the scheme 
 
To make a payroll gift, ask your employer whether your organisation offers a payroll giving scheme. If it does, your employer will arrange for your payroll administrator to transfer the gift to UCL from your gross pay. 
 
If you are a UCL member of staff, you can use UCL’s payroll giving scheme to donate to UCL. Simply contact the Payroll & Pension Services Office in UCL Human Resources or visit the CAF Give as you Earn website. 

You receive immediate tax relief on the value of your donation, so a monthly gift of £20 will cost a basic rate taxpayer just £16 from their net pay. Anyone paid through Pay As You Earn (PAYE) can use payroll giving to donate to UCL. 
 
Example: Monthly payroll gift of £20  

Costs: 

To basic rate taxpayer (20%): £16
Higher rate taxpayer (40%): £12
To additional rate taxpayer (45%): £11

Corporate gift matching schemes enable you to increase the value of your gift to UCL thanks to your employer matching it by a percentage, which varies by employer. 
 
To find out if your company operates such a scheme please contact your Human Resources department who should be able to provide you with further information. If your company does have a matching scheme, they should be able to advise you how to take part and make the value of your gift to UCL even greater.

Giving shares to UCL is a simple and tax-efficient way to support the university. UCL can accept gifts of any size from UK or overseas stock exchanges, as well as units in UK unit trusts or shares in UK open-ended investment companies (OEICs). 

Donors can usually claim Income Tax relief equal to the market value of the shares on the day the gift is made, plus any associated costs such as broker fees. Any Capital Gains Tax on increases in value is not charged. 

Eligibility for tax relief depends on your individual circumstances. Donors should keep appropriate records and may wish to speak to their broker, accountant, or tax adviser, or refer to HMRC guidance on giving shares and securities to charity.

Donating land or property to UCL during your lifetime is a valuable and tax-efficient way to support the university. UCL can accept gifts of any size, provided the entire interest is donated and the university has agreed to accept the gift. 

UK taxpayers may be eligible for Income Tax relief based on the market value of the property at the time of donation, including any associated costs such as legal or broker fees. Any Capital Gains Tax that would otherwise be due on an increase in value is not charged. 

Income Tax relief must be claimed in the tax year in which the gift is made. Donors should keep appropriate records and may wish to speak to their broker, accountant, or tax adviser for guidance. 

For further information, see HMRC’s guidance on giving land, property, shares, and securities to charity.  

Please contact UCL in advance to discuss any potential property gift, as acceptance is subject to review by emailing advancement@ucl.ac.uk

A gift in your will to UCL can shape lives for generations and may be one of the most meaningful gifts you ever make. Gifts in wills have supported groundbreaking research, expanded access to education for students from all backgrounds, and helped nurture the leaders and innovators of tomorrow. Together, these legacies have transformed lives and the world around us. 

If your estate is liable for Inheritance Tax, including a charitable gift to UCL can reduce the amount of tax due. In some cases, leaving 10% or more of your estate to charity can reduce the overall rate of Inheritance Tax from 40% to 36%. 

Legacy giving allows you to support UCL in a way that may not be possible during your lifetime, and it costs nothing now. 

To find out more, visit our Legacy giving page or contact the Legacies team on (+44) 0203 108 3891 or email legacygiving@ucl.ac.uk