Cambridge in America (CAm) and the British Schools and Universities Foundation (BSUF) are registered 501(C)3 organisations approved by the US Internal Revenue Service, which enable American donors to give tax efficiently for the benefit of St John’s College.
There are a variety of ways to make your gift to St John’s tax efficiently:
One-time, monthly and multi-year gifts can be made online via Cambridge in America’s secure website or via the British Schools and Universities Foundation secure portal.
CAm accepts all major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. BSUF accept all major credit cards and PayPal.
Please make your check payable to Cambridge in America and send it to the CAm office:
Cambridge in America
P.O. Box 9123 JAF BLG
New York, NY 10087-9123
Alternatively, make your check payable to British Schools and Universities Foundation, Inc and send it to the BSUF office:
British Schools and Universities Foundation
641 Lexington Avenue, 15th Fl.
New York, NY, 10022-4503
Please be sure to indicate the purpose of the gift on the reverse of the check or in an accompanying letter (for example ‘for the St John’s College Free Places Fund’).
Gifts can be transferred directly and electronically to Cambridge in America’s account. If you would like to make a gift via wire transfer, please follow the instructions below:
Bank Name: JPMorgan Chase
Bank Address: 270 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
SWIFT/BIC: CHASUS33
Account Name: Cambridge in America
ABA Routing #: 021000021
Account Number: 857505932
Please advise your bank to include information in the reference field regarding the purpose of the gift. It is recommended that you email Cambridge in America at giving@cantab.org to advise them of the transfer of the funds. This will help ensure prompt processing and acknowledgment of your gift.
If you are wiring donations of $5,000 or more, please contact our British Schools and Universities Foundation agent at UBS, Anita Hairston, who will be happy to advise you. Anita can be contacted by phone (800) 522-5782 or (757) 624-3381; by email anita.hairston@ubs.com; or by mailing address at 440 Monticello Avenue, 20th Floor, Norfolk, VA 23510.
Gifts of appreciated stocks, bonds and mutual fund shares can be transferred and may provide significant benefits to you as a donor. It allows for you to claim a charitable income tax deduction for the fair market value of the securities and eliminate capital gains. For full details and information on how to make a gift of securities, please visit the CAm website or the BSUF website.
There are two kinds of Charitable Remainder Trusts: a Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust and a Charitable Remainder Unitrust. Designating British Schools and Universities Foundation (on behalf of St John’s College) as remainder beneficiary, for either of these trusts, affords the donor an immediate charitable tax deduction in the year the trust is created. The trustee then pays the donor income during his/her lifetime or that of any other living non-charitable beneficiary the donor may designate.
In the case of a Charitable Remainder Annuity, the payment is a fixed monthly sum (determined by the beneficiaries’ ages and gender, and the original principal amount of the trust). With a Charitable Remainder Unitrust, the payment will fluctuate up or down depending on investment performance. At the death of the income recipient, the trust passes on to the BSUF as charitable remainder beneficiary; donors may express a preference for an Approved Institution.
Donors who are contemplating creating a Charitable Remainder Trust should consult with a professional advisor for guidance (usually their lawyer and banker) prior to making decisions. To contact BSUF regarding a Charitable Remainder Unitrust please email treasurer@bsuf.org.
Did you know you can multiply the impact of your donation if your employer has a matching gift programme in place? Many companies offer employees, and even retirees and/or spouses, a matching gift benefit that in effect doubles (or in some cases, triples) the individual contribution.
To see if your company offers matched gifts, please visit the online directory.
Tax benefits
For US residents, a planned gift can offer significant tax benefits, substantially reducing capital gains and estate taxes, and providing immediate income to you or a beneficiary.
US taxpayers wishing to support St John’s through an estate plan can do so through Cambridge in America (CAm). An outright bequest to CAm is not subject to federal or state inheritance or estate taxes, and the value of your bequest is deductible in determining the value of the estate for estate tax purposes.
Wording your will
If you would like to leave a specific bequest to Cambridge in America in your will, we suggest the following wording:
I bequeath to Cambridge in America, a 501 (c )(3) nonprofit corporation organized and existing under the laws of the District of Columbia with the business address of 1120 Avenue of the Americas, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10036, the sum of __ [dollars or percentage of estate], to be used exclusively for its charitable purposes. It is my hope that these funds will be utilized for the support of St John’s College, Cambridge.
Under its charter and in accordance with US tax law, Cambridge in America may not receive restricted gifts. However, the CAm Board gives every consideration to donors’ requests when allocating gifts to Cambridge and its colleges.
The Beaufort Society and The 1209 Society
Everyone who lets the College know they have made a gift to St John’s in their will is made a member of the Beaufort Society. Those living in the US are also eligible to become members of The 1209 Society.
The 1209 Society honours and acknowledges the many generous donors living in the US, who recognise the importance of the University of Cambridge and its 31 colleges through their estate planning. Members enjoy invitations to special events, a recognition certificate, a biannual newsletter and enewsletter, and a listing in The 1209 Society Roll of Honour (a bound book listing honorees kept by the University).
Next steps
To notify Cambridge in America of an estate provision, or to obtain more information about your giving options, please visit the Cambridge in America website or contact the Cambridge in America Planned Giving Office by post:
Maria Alonso – Assistant Director, Planned Gifts, Cambridge in America, 1120 Avenue of the Americas, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
Or by phone: 212.984.0962 or email: maria@cantab.org
If you are subject to tax in both the UK and the USA, you have the opportunity to increase your support to the College by giving to Cambridge in America (UK) Ltd, a registered charity in the UK, and be simultaneously eligible for tax benefits in both countries.
Gifts of cash and securities made to CAm UK are tax-deductible for US taxpayers to the full extent allowed by US tax law and may also provide tax benefits to UK taxpayers, including participation in the UK Gift Aid Scheme for gifts of cash, and income tax and capital gains tax benefits for gifts of securities. Currently, CAm UK can claim an additional 25 pence from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) for every £1 donated.
For more information, please visit the CAm (UK) website.
More information on other ways to make a gift can be found on the Cambridge in America website, as well as details of forthcoming events, lectures and activities.