Young Alumni
FAQs
What's the easiest way to give?
Why does the University need annual giving?
How are my contributions used?
Can I choose where to direct my gift?
Can I make recurring credit card gifts?
If I can only make a small contribution does that really help?
What is the University's fiscal year? How does that affect my gift?
What are the tax benefits of making a gift to Carolina?
I don't live in the United States. Do I receive any tax benefits for making a gift to Carolina?
I already give annually, what more can I do to help?
I'm already a GAA member; does that mean I've made a donation to support Carolina ?
You are a young alumnus/a if you graduated between 1999 and 2008.
What's the easiest way to give?
- Remember the school, unit, department or program that means the most to you?
- Online: visit giving.unc.edu/gift.
By Mail: Checks should be payable to The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and mailed to the Office of University Development, Post Office Box 309, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514-0309
By Phone: Call Meg Petersen, director of young alumni, at (919) 962-3966
By E-mail: meg_petersen@unc.edu
- You can double your gift with our matching gift program: http://www.matchinggifts.com/unc/.
- You can split your gift into quarterly or monthly payments, by bank draft or by credit card. For more information call (919) 962-3966 or e-mail meg_petersen@unc.edu.
Why does the University need annual giving?
Annual giving helps finance the University's yearly cost of operation. Annual gifts support current academic programs, student-life activities, athletics, and other programs. Consistent annual giving maintains the tradition of excellence at Carolina and elevates the University to new heights.
How are my contributions used?
When you make a contribution, your gift will be put to work where you choose. Annual giving helps support nearly every area of the University, from faculty salaries and research to undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships. Current initiatives include:
- attracting and retaining the best faculty;
- providing merit and need-based scholarships in order to recruit and enroll the top students in the nation;
- improving the health and quality of life of all people through research;
- and enriching the Carolina experience with promising new programs.
Merit-Based Scholarships will help Carolina win the national recruiting battle to bring the finest and most promising young minds to the University.
Need-Based Scholarships allow Carolina to continue its tradition of assuring that no student will be denied the opportunity to study at Chapel Hill because of a lack of financial resources. Each year approximately 50 percent of all students at UNC receive some type of financial assistance to help with their University expenses. About 30 percent of undergraduates receive need-based aid. Need is defined as the difference between the cost of attending the University and the amount the student and family can reasonably be expected to contribute toward that cost. Gifts of any amount may be directed to the University's General Scholarship Fund or a specific scholarship of your choice.
Research
Research conducted raises the visibility of Carolina internationally in the scholarly community.
- The Carolina Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence features interactions among physical and biological scientists in a series of projects that will work together to quickly harness innovations in nanotechnology for the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer. This center will use this breakthrough technology to develop nanoscale tools for research and detection applications. In addition to general oncology applications, this CCNE will focus on leukemia; lymphoma; myeloma; and brain, breast, colon, and lung cancers.
- The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships provide stipends of $3,000 per project for 38 undergraduates to conduct a range of research projects in the United States and around the world. Some past examples include:
- Katie Almirall of Oak Island, NC, worked with youth in Oaxaca, Mexico, studying human rights as expressed in art.
- Joshual Haislip of Williamstown, NC, studied gamma rays and their link to the early universe.
- Christa Wheeler of Westlake, OH, and Sirin Yaemsiri of Raleigh, NC, designed toys for blind children.
- Douglas Paletta of Boone, NC, studied the philosophical basis of preventive detention.
- Sarah Taylor of Greensboro, NC, explored the folk roots of country-rock music.
- Mary Keeley of Atlanta, GA researched adolescent response to stress.
University Libraries
Every time the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is ranked in a national survey, one of the most critical factors is the strength of its libraries, which are central to everything done at Carolina. Gifts to the academic libraries buy books, computers, and audio/visual equipment, as well as keep the libraries equipped with the newest technology and allow the Undergrad to remain open nearly 24 hours a day. Carolina's libraries provide the foundation for an inspired pursuit of scholarship today and tomorrow.
Programs
The newly created UNC Institute for the Environment was formed in 2007 from the Carolina Environmental Program, created in 1998. The Institute leads Carolina's world-renowned environmental community in developing solutions to critical environmental challenges such as:
- Climate change and reducing production of global warming gasses contributing to it
- Sustainable designs for communities and transportation systems
- Air and water pollution and their effect on human ecosystem health.
- The institute also seeks to help our society make better environmental policy decisions.
All of these program areas provide cases and field projects for the three
undergraduate degrees administered by the institute: Environmental Science and Environmental Studies (both in partnership with the College of Arts and Sciences) and Environmental Health Science (in partnership with the School of Public Health). Undergraduates undertake field research and public service projects during a semester or summer at one of the institute's six environmental field sites (Cambridge, England; Thailand; Highlands, Manteo and Morehead City, N.C.; and a non-residential site in the Research Triangle Park, N.C., area).
The Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History is both a research site for developing intellectual capital on the African diaspora experience and a forum to introduce and advocate African-American culture and history to the broader community. At the same time, the center acts as a place of active engagement by promoting community outreach programs. Private gifts support the center's ongoing programs including:
- the Cross Cultural Communications Institute, which has received national recognition for its work in developing a communications model for training groups to build harmonious race and cultural relations;
- Communiversity, which establishes mentor relationships between Carolina students and local youth through a Saturday school for 8 to 12 year old children, a teen outreach program, a literacy project, and a community homework assistance program.
- African Diaspora Lecture Series, presents lectures, roundtables and debates on a variety of subjects from the African diaspora cultures.
- The Diaspora Festival of Black and Independent Film, a twice a year (fall and spring) series that features primarily independent film from all corners of the African diaspora and beyond with commentary by the directors of the films and scholars.
Can I choose where to direct my gift?
Yes, you can direct your gift to whatever school, unit, or program you're passionate about. For some examples of areas that need your annual support, click here.
Can I make recurring credit card gifts?
Yes. Carolina accepts recurring credit card gifts in any amount on a monthly or quarterly schedule. Recurring credit card gifts can enable you to make a larger gift than you might otherwise be able to afford at one time. You can set up your recurring gift using the online giving application by selecting "Monthly Draft" and then selecting the gift schedule that is most convenient for you.
If I can only make a small contribution does that really help?
Absolutely. There are 63,000+ Carolina young alumni. It is not how much you give, but that you give. Alumni participation, especially loyal participation from year to year, not only aids the University financially, but also factors into Carolina's national ranking.
Many companies encourage their employees to make charitable contributions by matching their philanthropic support. At the University, donors receive credit for their employers' matching gifts, meaning the match will also count towards your gift totals. The impact of corporate matching support can be enormous. Hundreds of companies have matching-gift programs. To find out if you work for one of them, use this online search (http://www.matchinggifts.com/unc/ ) or consult your human resources office, which will also provide you with a matching gift form.
What is the University's fiscal year? How does that affect my gift?
Carolina's fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. Giving numbers and participation data are calculated based on gifts processed between those dates.
What are the tax benefits of making a gift to Carolina?
All gifts to Carolina are tax deductible in the United States.
I don't live in the United States. Do I receive any tax benefits for making a gift to Carolina?
International donors may be able to realize tax benefits through gifts. We recommend that you check with a local tax professional for details.
I already give annually, what more can I do to help?
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Giving annually is the most important thing you can do for Carolina. Thank you!
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Increasing the amount that you give annually is the second most important thing that you can do for Carolina, as costs associated with running the University go up every year. Have you considered joining the 1793 Society? Alumni who have graduated within five years can join for $500; those who graduated in the past 6-10 years can join for $1,000.
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Join a Young Alumni Council in your area.
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Encourage your fellow alumni to give back to Carolina.
Contact:
Meg Petersen '07
Annual Fund Officer
Office of University Development
meg_petersen@unc.edu
(919) 962-3966
What's the difference between giving to the University, giving to the Rams Club, and joining the General Alumni Association?
The University, the Rams Club and General Alumni Association are all separate entities.
Giving to the University supports any of the academic schools, units and programs at Carolina. Please click here for a sampling of areas at Carolina you can support.
Rams Club members support athletes on 26 varsity sports and athletic facilities through scholarships, facilities and endowments. For more information, please visit: http://www.ramsclub.com/
The General Alumni Association (GAA) is an independent, nonprofit membership organization that collects dues to support alumni activities and publications. For more information, please visit: www.alumni.unc.edu.
I'm already a GAA member; does that mean I've made a donation to support Carolina?
No. Membership dues for the General Alumni Association are not contributions to Carolina's annual fund. Giving to the Annual Fund is about supporting the schools, units and programs that you care about most at Carolina.





