Challenge Update as of April 17, 2026
- Donations to Date: $40,525
- Goal: $200,000
About the Matching Challenge
The OLLI Sustaining Excellence Fund was established as a quasi-endowment to secure the future of OLLI at Illinois. The establishment of this fund in January 2026 coincides with the 20th anniversary of the founding of OLLI at Illinois. Throughout these years, we have grown and strengthened. And we are grateful for every source of support. As we celebrate what our member-driven organization has achieved, we are also looking towards the future to expand lifelong learning opportunities for the community over the coming decades. The Sustaining Excellence Fund is a crucial part of this strategy.
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, we have undertaken a matching gift challenge for the OLLI Sustaining Excellence Fund that enables every donation to be matched with an additional 50% donation, up to $100,000, during calendar year 2026. Pledges made to this fund (minimum of $1000) in 2026 for up to 3 years will also qualify for the matching funds.
To maximize this opportunity, OLLI needs to raise $200,000 for the Sustaining Excellence Fund between now and December 31, 2026. We respectfully ask that members consider donating to the matching challenge in addition to any regular donations they make to OLLI, since the latter play a vital role in OLLI's day-to-day operations. We recognize that this is a big ask, but it is one dedicated towards the long-term vitality of this wonderful organization.
Ways to Give
Your tax-deductible gift to OLLI will enrich the experiences of our members and partners now and into the future.
Online
To make a gift to OLLI through the UI Foundation’s secure site.
- Enter the amount of your gift (with an option to make it recurring)
- For the "Gift Designation" click drop-down box and select the “OLLI Sustaining Excellence Fund"
- Enter your personal information
- Select your payment information
By check
Make the check payable to ‘University of Illinois Foundation’ with a note indicating it is to be directed to the OLLI Sustaining Excellence Fund (#778271).
The check may be mailed to University of Illinois Foundation, P.O. Box 734500, Chicago, IL 60673-4500 or delivered (by hand or mail) to OLLI at Illinois, 301 North Neil Street, Suite 201, Champaign, IL 61820.
IRA Qualified Charitable Contributions ("QCDs")
If you would prefer to complete a Qualified Charitable Distribution (“QCD”) from your IRA to the University of Illinois Foundation (“UIF”), there is a simple three-step process. The Foundation recommends you use your financial institution’s paperwork, as most firms will send a secure DocuSign form to avoid sending account information through email.
Please share the information below with your IRA custodian to help prepare the paperwork for your distribution to UIF:
- Initiate the Transfer
- Make the distribution payable to: “University of Illinois Foundation” (Tax ID 37-6006007)
- Include on the Check’s Memo Line and accompanying stub:
- OLLI Sustaining Excellence Fund #778271
- IRA Account Holder’s Name
Mail the distribution directly to the UIF lockbox*: University of Illinois Foundation, P.O. Box 734500, Chicago, IL 60673-4500
(*regulations mandate that you cannot receive a check from your IRA, deposit it, then gift that amount and still qualify for the QCD’s benefits.)
Or, if mailing using FedEx or UPS, please use this address: JPMorgan Chase, Attn: University of Illinois Foundation, Lbx 734500, 131 S Dearborn, 6th Floor, Chicago, IL 60603
If a phone number is required for mailing, please use (312) 732-5365.
If your custodian wishes to send the QCD by wire transfer, please contact UIF’s cash Desk (217) 244-0352 for up-to-date transfer instructions.
Questions?
If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Kathryn Williams, OLLI Director (kfw@illinois.edu) or Meg Cline, VP for Gift Planning & Trust Services (mcline@uif.uillinois.edu).