Giving Opportunities
Introduction
Support for Divinity School students, faculty, and research is greatly appreciated. You may contribute to a fund that supports a specific program or activity, such as the Chicago Forum Dissertation Seminar, the Langdon Gilkey Scholarship, the Martin E. Marty Center, the Benjamin E. Mays Scholarship, the Nathan and Charlotte Scott Dissertation Scholarship, or a host of other essential funds that are dedicated to scholarships, lectureships, book funds, etc. Or, you may make a gift to our annual fund.
The Divinity School Annual Fund provides unrestricted support that may be used in supplement to the School's operating budget. Annual Fund income may be applied where the School's needs and opportunities are greatest. In recent years, it has been dedicated to student financial assistance. Unrestricted income has a particularly great importance at the Divinity School because our endowment is relatively small.
As of Fall 2004, our endowment was $97 million compared to Princeton Theological Seminary's $766 million, Harvard University Divinity School's $400 million, Yale University Divinity School $178 million, Perkins School of Theology’s $160 million, and Candler School of Theology at Emory University’s $144 million.
Donations to the Annual Fund signal allegiance to the School's commitment to educate and shape first-rate teachers, scholars, and religious leaders whose work will contribute to the greater good of society. Some alumni contribute to it as a way of "giving back" to the School for the exceptional education that they received at Swift Hall. Others want to help to support the current generation of students. Still others, recognizing the correlation between alumni support and institutional ranking, give to the Fund to help the School maintain its reputation as the nation's preeminent locus for the study of religion.
Other alumni contribute to the Annual Fund and another fund because of a particular interest or affiliation. Every gift, no matter what the amount, makes a difference.
Funds, in addition to the Annual Fund, that need your support include:
- Benjamin E. Mays Scholarship
- Brian Gerrish Lectureship
- Chicago Forum Dissertation Seminar
- Frank E. Reynolds Scholarship
- Intensive Language Program
- Joseph M. Kitagawa Scholarship
- Langdon Gilkey Scholarship Fund
- Martin Marty Center
- Ministry Program Field Placement Stipends
- Nathan and Charlotte Scott Dissertation Scholarship
Please contact Mary Jean Kraybill, Director of Development by phone (773) 702-8248 or email (mjkraybill@uchicago.edu) for information on these funds and others that would benefit from your support.
