Giving
Your Contributions Matter
As a small private, non-profit university, University of the West relies heavily on the support of our community in realizing our mission to provide a quality whole-person education.
UWest is a registered 501(c)(3), so your donation is 100% tax deductible.
Your donations provide crucial funds that touch the lives of countless students in a variety of ways, ranging from scholarships that expand access to higher education, general operation donations that improve the quality of student life at UWest, and endowments that keep the university going for years to come.
Lewis R. Lancaster Endowment Fund
Ensuring a legacy of Buddhist understanding, wisdom, and insight
We invite you to honor Professor Lewis Lancaster and help carry forward his incredible legacy of research, teaching, and service. University of the West, in cooperation with Dr. Lancaster, has established the Lewis R. Lancaster Endowment Fund. Your gift to the fund will help preserve Dr. Lancaster’s foundational work in Buddhist studies, provide continuing support for innovative research, and ensure the study of Buddhism for generations to come.
Your support directly ensures Dr. Lancaster’s ongoing vision and work. Please join us in honoring a great scholar and humanitarian for his lifetime achievement and contributions to the university, the field of Buddhist studies, and the international Buddhist sangha.
General Operations
The general fund is financed by what are defined as “general purpose” and “restricted revenues.”
Restricted revenues are those resources that, by constitution, statute, contract or agreement, are reserved to specific purposes, and expenditures that are limited by the amount of revenue realized.
Scholarships
A donor scholarship is a form of financial aid for students at University of the West. Scholarship applicants are awarded based on a demonstration of academic aptitude, merit, personal character, and financial need. For more information on scholarships, visit the Office of Financial Aid read more about the Golden Benefactor Awards scholarship program.
UWest Endowment
Funds are invested to earn annual interest rather than made available for immediate use.
A portion of the annual earnings is used to award student scholarships or support specific programs.
The minimum endowment contribution amount is $10,000.
Institute for the Study of Humanistic Buddhism
The Institute for the Study of Humanistic Buddhism (ISHB) at University of the West is devoted to the multi-faceted study of Buddhism and its ongoing application within the human realm. Inspired by Master Hsing Yun’s vision of Humanistic Buddhism and its emphasis on education, ethics, art, and culture, the Institute serves as a home for a wide range of research projects and scholarly work that enhances our understanding of Buddhism historically and in the contemporary moment.
Digital Sanskrit Buddhist Canon Project
The Digital Sanskrit Buddhist Canon (DSBC) is an ambitious project to preserve the original intellectual and spiritual heritage of Buddhism through digitization and organization of these texts into a complete and comprehensive Sanskrit Buddhist Canon that may be freely accessed online. The University of the West is engaged in a ground-breaking project to gather, digitize and distribute the original Sanskrit scriptures of the Buddhist faith.
Team UWest
The UWest Foundation is grateful for all the generous donations from individuals, organizations, and from Team UWest members over the years. The foundation is fully funded by these donations and without them, we would not exist.
We would like to acknowledge the donors, past and present by listing their names. Please contact us so that we may add you or your organization to our Team UWest list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to commonly asked questions about donating to University of the West are provided below. However, if you find that your question was not addressed in this section, we warmly welcome you to contact us at (626) 571-8811 and email us directly at joeyc@uwest.edu.
- Does 100% of my gift go to my designation?
Yes, 100% of your gift will go directly to the area of your choice. - Can I pay in installments?
Yes, you can pay in monthly installments. Please contact us if you would prefer installment payments. We can automatically charge your credit card to your specifications, or send out reminders as you prefer. - Is my gift tax deductible?
Yes. 100% of your gift is tax deductible. As soon as we process your check or online gift, we will send you a receipt in the mail or via email. - Will I get a receipt?
Yes. Whether you send a check or use the online form, as soon as we process your check or online gift, we will send you a receipt in the mail or via email. - How can I change my address?
You can update your profile by sending us an email with your new address and we will update your address in our system.
Other Ways to Donate
Giving in Person
Giving in person is as simple as coming in to our campus and speaking with a UWest Foundation staff.
- Follow the directions to UWest or get our address and map out your route.
- Stop by the AD building front desk and ask to speak with a UWest Foundation staff.
- We will work with you to define your contribution type and method of giving.
Giving by Mail
We make it easy for you to give to the University of the West by following these three simple steps.
- Choose either check or money order to make out your contribution.
- Mail your contribution to us to the following address below.
- Once we receive your gift, we will contact you right away to confirm receipt and work with you in establishing the terms of your donation.
Accounting Office
Attn: UWest Donations
1409 Walnut Grove Ave.
Rosemead, CA 91770
About Your Gift
Named programs may be funded through several kinds of gifts, and giving opportunities can be tailored to meet the wishes of the donor. Gift options include ways of increasing income, reducing or eliminating capital gains tax, reducing estate or gift taxes, and allowing for charitable income tax deductions.
We promptly and accurately process each and every gift. Thank you for your interest in making a gift to University of the West.