How to Give to Doane University

You can choose to make a one-time gift by giving now or set up a recurring donation using cash, card, Venmo, PayPal, Crypto or through a Bank Transfer. Use this link to complete your gift.

By Phone
Call Doane's Advancement Office at 402.826.8258. A staff member will speak with you about making your gift over the phone.

By Mail
Print and complete the Doane University Giving Form and send it or bring it to the address listed below along with your gift.

Doane University
Advancement Office
1014 Boswell Avenue
Crete, NE 68333

Charitable giving through an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) (up to $100,000), offers a meaningful opportunity to make a difference while maximizing tax advantages. By leveraging an IRA charitable rollover, individuals aged 70½ or older can directly transfer funds from their IRA to Doane Unviersity. This strategy allows donors to fulfill their philanthropic goals by supporting the University's mission while potentially reducing their taxable income. 

IRA charitable giving not only provides immediate benefits by supporting charitable initiatives, but it also offers a practical way to align personal values with financial planning, creating a lasting impact on Doane students. 

Consult with your tax advisor or counsel for advice as you consider and make your philanthropic and financial plans.

Doane University welcomes gifts of stocks, bonds or other securities. Gifts of this type allow you to make a substantial gift to Doane University at a minimal cost and may have significant tax advantages.

Make a Gift of Stock, Bonds, or other securities
To ensure a secure transfer, please contact Thomas R. Reeves, Director of Planned Giving at 402-826-8284.

Charitable giving through a DAF presents a flexible and strategic approach to philanthropy. By establishing a Donor Advised Fund, you can receive an immediate tax deduction and make a charitable contribution to Doane Univeristy.

With a Donor Advised Fund, you can take the time to carefully consider your giving strategy, contribute appreciated assets and support the University's initiatives over time. DAFs offer a centralized platform for managing charitable giving, allowing you to engage your family members in philanthropy and create a lasting legacy. By leveraging the benefits of a DAF, you can maximize the impact of their charitable contributions while enjoying the convenience and flexibility of ongoing giving.

Build Your Legacy

A planned gift may enable you to make a more substantial gift than you thought you could while satisfying your personal, financial, and philanthropic goals. Unlike cash donations, planned gifts are typically made from assets in your estate, rather than disposable income.

How to Make a Planned Gift

There are four ways to make a planned gift:

1. Giving a bequest through your will or trust offers a way to support Doane’s mission for generations while meeting your current financial needs.
2. Life income gifts allow you to make a gift and receive income back for life or a term of years—for you or a loved one.
3. Whether you have been saving for years or are just starting to build your nest egg, you may name Doane as a beneficiary of a specific amount or percentage of your retirement account or insurance policy.
4. IRA Charitable Rollover Gifts are a tax-smart way to make a gift to charity while meeting your RMD and realizing income tax benefits. If you are 70 ½ or older, you can direct up to $100,000 to charity each calendar year from an IRA.

Learn More

Memorial Trees

Memorial trees may commemorate an individual or an event and will enhance the campus and arboretum, through a donation of $500.   Memorial trees are often done in conjunction with a Memorial rock and plaque.  

Memorial Benches

The campus offers many beautiful locations for memorial benches, which become wonderful places to visit and study. A memorial bench may be purchased starting at $2,500.

Memorial Rocks & Plaques

Memorial rocks provide a lasting tribute nestled among the gorgeous landscape of the college. Rocks may be purchased for $500 which includes a standard affixed engraved plaque.   Memorial rocks are often done in conjunction with a Memorial tree.   There may be additional costs for changes to the standard rock or plaque.  

Cody Fanning Memorial & Doane Athletic Recognition Wall

Located inside Memorial Stadium just southeast of the field, the memorial wall is named after the late Cody Fanning '2012, a former Doane football player who passed away while still a student.  The wall is to recognize and honor Doane athletes who have passed.  To have a name added to the wall the cost is $250.  This donation supports the athletic program at Doane.   

Cassel Theatre Pathway - Bricks & Pavers

Personalized bricks may be purchased for $150 to be placed along the perimeter of Cassel Theatre. Pavers (larger square tiles) can also be purchased for $500 and may include a logo/graphic. Use the link above to order.  

Campus Projects - Buildings 

New buildings, renovations, additions and updates are a need and always a part of the future plans for Doane.  There are naming opportunities to leave a legacy and have your name or a name on a building, classrooms, offices, etc.   These may still be just wishes and thoughts, but some are being planned.   Contact the Advancement Office at Doane for more information.   

Scholarships 

Leaving a legacy with a named endowed scholarship starts at $25,000.  This amount can be given over the course of up to five years.   The scholarship agreement includes the selection criteria along with a biography and picture of the person (or people) donated or being honored so recipients of the scholarship know who the person is or was along with their story.    A dinner is held each Spring on campus to bring the donor or representative of the donor to campus to meet the student recipient.  

For more information on memorial gifts, please contact Thomas Reeves, (402) 826-8284.

Doane Champions Club
Champions Club members maximize the value of their gifts to Doane while minimizing the impact on their personal lives. By setting up a monthly recurring gift, our impact is on-going, which means your to-do list never includes a reminder to support students, you’ll receive fewer phone calls and mailings, and your pocketbook won’t feel the pinch from a lump sum donation. Click here for more information and to set up your monthly recurring gift. 

Employee Matching Gift
Many employers sponsor matching gift programs for their employees and spouses or retirees which can double and even triple the impact of your gift. Click here to see if your employer has a matching gift program. 

Wire Transfer
Doane can also accept gifts via wire transfer. Contact the Advancement Office at 402.826.8258 for details on how to initiate this type of gift. 

Thank you for including Doane University in your end-of-year giving. A gift to Doane University invigorates our legacy of excellence, provides for engaging student experiences, and strengthens our community. 

For any questions, please contact the Office of Advancement at [email protected] or by calling 402.826.8258.

Please Note: Doane University will be closed on Wednesday, December 24th, and remain closed during the holidays.  We will reopen on Monday, January 5th, 2026. 

Have an IRA?

Charitable distributions directly from your IRA (up to $100,000), allow it to avoid being taxable income. You avoid paying taxes on the withdrawal and support a charity. Many alumni do this every year, some starting an endowed scholarship. Also, consider making Doane or a charity the beneficiary of your IRA. Funds in your IRA will be taxable income to a person or persons receiving the funds as a beneficiary. By making a charity the beneficiary, the full value of your funds go to support your charity, which of course makes a bigger impact. This is the reason your IRA should be a source of charitable giving in your estate, and it's simple to do!         

Consult with your tax advisor or counsel for advice as you consider and make your philanthropic and financial plans.

Ways to Give by the End of the Year

Online

Credit card gifts may be made online through December 31st, 2025 by midnight by visiting our Giving Page.

Telephone 

To give by phone, please call 402.826.8258 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Central Standard Time. Remember, our office is closed between Christmas Eve and New Years. Please note, the end of the year sees an increased call volume, if you are unable to reach us, please leave a message and we will return the call promptly. 

Check 

Checks must be dated and postmarked no later than December 31st, 2025.  Checks sent via the USPS must have a 2025 postmark. 

Mail your check to:

Doane University 
Advancement Office
1014 Boswell Ave 
Crete, NE 68333

Hand Delivery 

Please deliver your checks to Doane University's Office of Advancement prior to 4:00 p.m. (CST) on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, gifts received by December 23nd will count as a calendar 2025 gift.

The Office of Advancement is located at:

Our Crete campus in the Padour Walker Administration Building.

Gift of Securities 

Gifts of securities must arrive to one of our existing brokerage accounts by the end of the trading day prior to, or on December 31st - the last trading day of the calendar year. 

Please be aware that this is the deadline for the funds to be in our brokerage account, and will require lead time for your broker to transfer the funds, which can be 3-5 business days. For more information, please visit our Securities Transfer Information page. 

PLEASE NOTE - Due to the PATRIOT Act, transfers don't include the name of who initiated the transfer, so we ask for all gifts of securities, please let us know by completing this form or call 402.826.8258.