You can make a single gift:

• online
• by telephone on 01223 761240. Please have your credit or debit card to hand.
• by downloading a gift form and returning it to the Development Office along with a cheque made payable to ‘Fitzwilliam College’
• by bank transfer to
  • Sort Code: 20-17-68
  • Account number: 5033 6300
• by international bank transfer to
  • Barclays Bank, St Andrew's Street, Cambridge, CB2 3PZ
  • IBAN: GB51 BARC 2017 6850 3363 00
  • SWIFTBIC: BARCGB22
  • Please include your surname and initials as a reference

You can set up a regular monthly, quarterly or annual gift online by Direct Debit. Alternatively, please download a gift form and return it to the Development Office.

Donating straight from your wages or pension
If your employer, company or personal pension provider runs a Payroll Giving scheme, you can simply tell them to make a gift to Fitzwilliam from your wages or pension before taking off any tax. For example, if you pay tax at the basic rate of 20% and make a monthly gift of £10, you save £2 tax (20% of £10), making the cost to you £8. Contact your Human Resources or Personnel department to set up Payroll Giving.

Gift matching schemes
Many companies also operate gift-matching schemes. When an employee makes a gift to a registered charity, the company matches this donation, either in full or in part. To find out if your company operates such a scheme and to obtain a copy of their matching gift form, please contact your Human Resources or Personnel department.

Gifts of listed shares, securities and real property
Gifts of listed shares, securities and real property by UK tax payers have become one of the most tax-efficient ways of giving. They attract full relief from Capital Gains Tax and, in addition, allow you to claim Income Tax relief on the full value of the gift at the time the shares, securities or real property are transferred to the College – a double tax saving. Please contact the Development Director who will be pleased to assist.

Donating via your Self Assessment tax return
If you complete a Self Assessment tax return, you can donate to Fitzwilliam all or part of any tax repayment due to you, simply by entering the College’s details in the relevant section of the tax return form. Gifts made in this way are also eligible for Gift Aid (see below).

Whether it is access to our buildings, improvements to our facilities, or through receiving a College Bursary or travel award, every Fitzwilliam Member has benefited from the generosity of previous generations. By pledging a legacy gift, not only are you continuing this proud tradition but also helping us to secure our future. 

To indicate your wish to leave a legacy gift to the College, please complete the online Legacy Pledge Form and a member of the Development Office will get back to you.

You can read more about the transformative effect that legacies can have on the College and its students on the right.

A Legacy Gift to Fitzwilliam is free of inheritance tax and may help you to reduce the overall tax liability on your estate.

A Cash Sum - which may be index linked so it doesn't lose value over time. At present a cash gift of £3,500 will cover the average shortfall in fee income for teaching one undergraduate for one year, while a gift of £25,000 will cover the fees and maintenance costs for a home MPhil student in most arts and science subjects. 

A Percentage - 1% to the College and 99% to your family and loved ones. 1% of a £350,000 estate currently covers the cost of a full Cambridge Bursary for one student for one year.

A Share of the Residue - once you have made provision for your family and loved ones you can leave the residue (or a share in the residue along with other named charities) to Fitzwilliam. 

Deed of Variation - if you are a beneficiary under a Will, you may consider passing a portion of your inheritance to Fitzwilliam College. There may be considerable tax advantages for you to do so, and the College will benefit during your lifetime.

Suggested wording

There is no need to rewrite your will, a legacy gift may be included, either when it is first drawn up, or subsequently by simply adding a codicil. We recommend taking professional legal advice.

“I give to the Master, Fellows and Scholars of Fitzwilliam College, in the University of Cambridge (Registered Charity Number 1137496), [the residue of my estate], [x% of the residue of my estate] or [the sum of £x] free of tax for the general purposes of the College. I declare that the receipt of the Bursar for the time being of the College shall be a full and sufficient discharge to my Executors.”

Unrestricted legacy gifts are of particular value to Fitzwilliam as they can be directed to the area of greatest need. If, however, you prefer your legacy gift to be used for a specific purpose please contact the Development Office (development@fitz.cam.ac.uk) to ensure that Fitzwilliam will be able to fulfil your wishes and that the money can be used to the maximum benefit of the College.

If you live outside the UK, you can make a gift to Fitzwilliam by one of the following means.
For residents of the USA, Canada or one of 18 European countries, there are mechanisms in place to allow you to make your gift tax-efficient.

Single gifts
You can make a single gift by:

• credit card, either online or by telephone on +44(0) 1223 761240
• by downloading a gift form and returning it to the Development Office along with a cheque made payable to ‘Fitzwilliam College’
• by bank transfer to
  • Sort Code: 20-17-68
  • Account number: 5033 6300
  • IBAN: GB51 BARC 2017 6850 3363 00

Regular gifts
If you have a UK bank account, you can set up a regular monthly, quarterly or annual gift online by Direct Debit. Alternatively, please download a gift form and return it to the Development Office.
If you don’t have a UK bank account, you can make an annual donation by credit or debit card. Please contact the Development Office on +44(0) 1223 761240 who will take your card details over the phone, and contact you on an annual basis to arrange collecting your gift.

USA residents
As a resident of the USA, you can make a tax-deductible gift to Cambridge in America (CAm). You can donate online, or send your check, made payable to 'Cambridge in America', to:
Cambridge in America, PO Box 9123 JAF BLG, New York, NY 10087-2123
Please suggest that the Directors of Cambridge in America exercise their discretion and allocate your gift to support Fitzwilliam College, along with an indication of the purpose of the gift. Visit the Cambridge in America website for more information.

Canada residents
Once you have made your gift by credit card, cheque or bank transfer, the University will be able to issue a receipt for Canadian tax purposes for gifts made directly to Fitzwilliam. Please request a receipt from the Development Office when making your gift.

European residents
Transnational Giving Europe (TGE) is a network of philanthropic institutions across 18 countries that foster charitable giving. If you are a resident and paying tax in Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain or Switzerland, you can choose to make a gift tax-efficiently through Transnational Giving Europe (TGE). Details of the partner organisation in your home country can be found on the TGE website.

We already receive gifts from a number of European countries by this mechanism, and please contact the Development Office to ensure the correct process is in place for your home country. 

While gifts can be made through any of the partner organisations, the process is particularly straightforward from Germany, where you can make a gift directly to Fitzwilliam online on the Maecenata Stiftung website. Please be aware that administration and banking charges may be applied.

If you are a UK taxpayer, you can increase the value of your donation by choosing to donate through Gift Aid. 

Gift Aid adds an extra 25% to your donation, at no extra cost to you. Fitzwilliam will make the basic rate tax claim, all you need to do is make a Gift Aid declaration when you make your gift. You need to make sure you have paid at least the amount of tax that Fitzwilliam will claim back, and please make sure you inform us if, for any reason, you stop being a UK tax payer.  

If you pay tax above the basic rate, you can claim the difference between the rate you pay and basic rate on your donation. You can do this either, through your Self Assessment tax return or by asking HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to amend your tax code.

Example: you make a cash gift (with gift aid) of £1,000 to Fitzwilliam College  

A Basic Rate Taxpayer: £1000 (gift amount) | £250 (gift aid) | No tax reclaim

Final cost to donor = £1000 | Benefit to Fitzwilliam = £1250

A Higher Rate Taxpayer: £1000 (gift amount) | £250 (gift aid) | £250 (tax reclaim)

Final cost to donor = £750 | Benefit to Fitzwilliam = £1250

Additional Rate Taxpayer: £1000 (gift amount) | £250 (gift aid) | £312.50 (tax reclaim)

Final cost to donor = £687.50 | Benefit to Fitzwilliam = £1250

For more information please contact development@fitz.cam.ac.uk

Our thanks to you 

Fitzwilliam College expresses its thanks to donors via publications and through a range of groups, societies and giving circles. Donors may remain anonymous if they wish.

The names of all donors are included in the College List of Donors in the year of the gift.

For a Gift Made in the Previous Financial Year:

• Donors who give £1,500 or more in a financial year are invited to join the College’s Foundation Circle, which recognises our most generous regular donors. Each donor’s name is highlighted in our List of Donors, receives a Donor Report and bespoke correspondence in the year regarding their support.

Cumulative Recognition

The Master's Circle

Donors whose cumulative lifetime giving exceeds £50,000 (including Gift Aid) are invited to join the Master’s Circle. Members have their names included in a special section of the List of Donors, receive a copy of our Donor Report, and are invited to special events in recognition of their support.

Benefactors of the College

Donors whose cumulative lifetime giving exceeds £150,000 are made Benefactors of the College. Benefactors of the College are invited to have their name listed on the Benefactor’s board in the College reception, are presented with a Benefactors gown to be worn on College occasions and receive an annual invitations to significant College events – for example, the annual Commemoration Dinner.

1869 Fellow Benefactors

Those who support the College with a £1,000,000 or more of cumulative lifetime giving are proposed to be elected 1869 Fellow Benefactors, subject to GB approval. 1869 Fellow Benefactors of the College with the benefits of an Honorary Fellow. These donors will also be put forward to join the University’s Guild of Cambridge Benefactors. 1869 Fellow Benefactors receive a special gown, are invited to all major College events, and are members of the Senior Common Room and High Table.

The 1869 Foundation

The College’s 1869 Foundation recognises the generosity and commitment of those who have pledged a legacy to the College, and who have informed us in writing of their intention to leave a gift in their will. The 1869 Foundation ensures alumni who have pledged a legacy can enjoy a relationship with both the College, and its current members, during their lifetime. Members are invited to a special event in college each year. They are included in the College List of Donors as members of the Foundation, unless they wish to remain anonymous.