Official response from a member of the University of Edinburgh USA Development Trust team. Work is also being done to get this information up on the Uni of Edinburgh's website, so there will be an even more official source in time, and I'll post an update here once that is done.
"Workplace matching: Yes, absolutely. Donors can use their employer’s matching scheme for gifts to the Trust, and we already have donors who do this for monthly gifts. Donors can also set up a recurring donation if they’d like to.
Directing gifts to the project: Donors don’t need to contact us to make a gift. If they’d like it to support the Sequence ME & Long Covid project, we just need a short email from them that says:
“It is my request but not my requirement that my gift be used to support the Sequence ME & Long Covid project.”
That wording is important. The gift is legally made to the USA Development Trust, which is an independent US charity (a 501(c)(3)), not to the University. Under US tax rules the Trust’s Board has to keep the final say over how funds are used. In practice the donor’s wishes are honoured, but the “request, not requirement” phrasing protects the Trust’s independence and the donor’s tax deduction.
Here are the details on how to give in case they’re helpful to have on hand.
The Trust’s legal name is The University of Edinburgh USA Development Trust, Inc. Its EIN (US tax ID) is 52-1802057, which donors may need for workplace matching or donor-advised fund requests.
- Online (including recurring gifts): development-alumni.ed.ac.uk/edinburgh-trust/make-gift. Click “Give today” to donate via PayPal.
- Check: made payable to the University of Edinburgh USA Development Trust and mailed to:
University of Edinburgh USA Development Trust
1350 Avenue of the Americas, Floor 2, Suite 266
New York, NY 10019
- Bank transfer (ACH or wire):
- Account name: University of Edinburgh USA Development
- Bank: JP Morgan Chase, 26 Astor Place, New York, NY 10003
- Account number: 817662221
- Routing/ABA number: 021000021
- SWIFT/BIC (for wires): CHASUS33
- Stock, retirement accounts or donor-advised funds: please get in touch and we’ll help coordinate the transfer.
All gifts to the Trust carry a 3% administrative fee, which covers the Trust’s legal, audit and banking costs. Online gifts through PayPal also carry a 2.5% processing fee.
We’re always here to help, and donors are welcome to get in touch if they’d like to give another way, have questions about how their gift will be used, or run into any issues. I’m always happy to have a quick call with anyone who’d like to talk things through. But donors certainly don’t need to reach out if they’re happy to give on their own."
