For over 172 years, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary has been preparing bold, faithful, and imaginative leaders who embody God’s love and justice in the world. This vital mission is made possible through the generosity of alumni, friends, churches, foundations, and partners.
Your gifts—whether annual or planned, restricted or unrestricted—sustain scholarships, strengthen our faculty, support innovative programs, and ensure our facilities remain places of learning and transformation. Together, we can ensure Garrett continues forming leaders who embody God’s love and justice in a world in need.
Your annual gift each fiscal year shows your pride in Garrett-Evangelical, and it gives the next generation of religious leaders the same opportunity. Such gifts can be made by check, by credit card, or by electronic transfer from your bank to ours.
Monthly gifts provide a steady stream of income and allow the donor to make smaller gifts that add up to a larger gift over the course of a year. Such gifts can be made by check, by credit card, or by electronic transfer from your bank to ours.
Gifts of stock are a powerful and tax-efficient way for you to support the Seminary while maximizing the impact of your generosity. Gifts of stock include appreciated securities such as stocks, bonds, or mutual funds.
A donor can transfer stock electronically to Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. The following information may be needed to make the transfer:
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Address: 2121 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60201
Phone: 847.866.3923
Attention: Shane Nichols
Tax identification number for seminary: 36-2167085
Contact Information for the seminary’s broker/advisor:
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc
598 Green Bay Rd.
Winnetka, IL 60093
Branch Number: 847.441.2200
Fax Number: 847.441.1930
Electronic transfer instructions to Garrett-Evangelical’s donated securities custodian account:
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
2423 East Lincoln Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85016
DTC #: 0164
Beneficiary Account #: 2484-0290
Beneficiary Account Name: Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Donors will be credited with the average between the high and low of the stock on the day the transfer is completed.
If you have questions, please contact Shane A. Nichols (G-ETS 2002), Assistant Vice President for Development, by email or or 847.866.3866.
If you would like to support Garrett-Evangelical through a wire transfer, our Development Office would be glad to assist you. Please contact our gift processor at 847.866.3890 or by email to receive the wire transfer instructions.
To ensure we can promptly and accurately acknowledge your generosity, we kindly ask that you share the amount of your transfer, the purpose of your gift, and your name when you reach out.
A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a charitable giving account that allows you to make a contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants from the fund to qualified nonprofits over time. It’s a flexible, convenient, and tax-efficient way to manage your philanthropy while supporting the causes you care about most.
How to Make a Gift to Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Through Your DAF:
Contact Your DAF Sponsor
Log in to your Donor Advised Fund account (such as Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, or another sponsor).
Recommend a Grant
Enter our legal name: Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Federal Tax ID (EIN): 36-2167085
Address: 2121 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60201
Specify the Purpose
You may designate your gift to the Annual Fund, scholarships, or another area of support. If left undesignated, your gift will be applied where it is needed most.
Submit Your Recommendation
Once your sponsor approves, the grant will be sent directly to the seminary.
Let Us Know
To ensure we can properly acknowledge your generosity, please notify our gift processor in the Development Office at 847.866.3890 or by email.
If you are age 70½ or older, you can make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) directly from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) to Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. A QCD allows you to give to charitable organizations without increasing your taxable income—an especially effective way to make a meaningful impact while potentially reducing your tax burden.
How to make your IRA gift:
If you or your financial advisor have any questions about completing an IRA gift or QCD, please contact Shane A. Nichols (G-ETS 2002), Assistant Vice President for Development, at shane.nichols@garrett.edu or 847.866.3866.
If you own bitcoin or other cryptocurrency, you can now use it to help the Seminary’s mission. It’s fast and secure to donate crypto, and many people are surprised to learn how much it can save them in taxes.
Many employers offer matching gift programs that can double—or even triple—the impact of your contribution to Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Check with your company’s human resources or philanthropy office to see if your gift qualifies. Once your match is approved, your employer will send the matching funds directly to the seminary, extending your support for our students and our mission.
Garrett-Evangelical’s planned giving program encourages giving through bequests, gift annuities, trusts, pension plans, IRAs, and insurance policies.
Have questions? Need more information? Visit our planned giving website or contact Shane A. Nichols (G-ETS 2002), Assistant Vice President for Development by email or by phone at 847.866.3866
A bequest is one of the easiest gifts to make. With the help of an advisor, you can include language in your will or trust specifying a gift be made to family, friends, and Garrett-Evangelical as part of your estate plan.
Have questions? Need more information? Visit our planned giving website or contact Shane A. Nichols (G-ETS 2002), Assistant Vice President for Development by email or by phone at 847.866.3866
A Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) is a simple and rewarding way to support Garrett while also receiving income for life. With a CGA, you make a gift of cash or securities to the seminary, and in return, you receive fixed annual payments for the rest of your lifetime (and/or the lifetime of another beneficiary). After your lifetime, the remaining funds support the seminary’s mission and future.
Benefits of a CGA include:
How to Establish a Charitable Gift Annuity with Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Consider Your Gift
Decide whether you would like to fund your CGA with cash, stocks, or other appreciated assets.
Determine Your Beneficiaries
You may set up the annuity to provide income for yourself or for you and another loved one.
Review an Illustration
We can prepare a personalized illustration for you—at no cost and with no commitment—to show how a CGA could work for you, including your potential payment rate and tax benefits.
Set Up Your CGA
If you choose to proceed, we will work with you to finalize the simple agreement and begin your payments.
Get Started Today
To explore whether a Charitable Gift Annuity is right for you, contact Shane A. Nichols (G-ETS 2002), Assistant Vice President for Development, at 847.866.3866 or by email.
Gifts-in-Kind–such as artwork, stoles, or other tangible items—are welcomed and considered based on the seminary’s current needs, available space, and alignment with our mission. For more information contact Dr. Lucy Chung, director of the Styberg Library at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
“We never took our education or scholarships for granted. Someone donated to the school because they believed that was one way to serve God and help others. We want to do the same thing.”
Rev. Ran Yoo (G-ETS 2016) and Rev. Kook Ho Kim (G-ETS 2015)
“I think it is critical to create scholarships because it allows you to make your mark on someone’s life permanently. If you’ve been effective, successful, and faithful, you ought to give back. It’s a way to leave a legacy beyond your work.”
Rev. Dr. Charley Hames, Jr. (G-ETS 2000)
“This is how you can make a difference. This is how you can make sure that the next generation is prepared in a way that they can be effective leaders and that they can help heal the church.”
Rev. Steven Poole (G-ETS 1986)
“Seminary was everything I wanted it to be. I was the first in my family to go to college, and then to go to graduate school, people couldn’t believe it … I know that other Black women have dreams, just like I had, and I want to help make them come true.”
Rev. Harlene Harden (G-ETS 1994)
Explore the stories of donors whose commitment sustains Garrett’s students, faculty, and mission.
