Donor Services

Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm CST
(866) 734-4823
Email Donor Services
P.O. Box 7895 Madison, WI 53707-7895 

FAQs

ABOUT GIVING

+ What is InterVarsity?

InterVarsity is a vibrant campus ministry that starts and grows witnessing communities of students and faculty. We believe that God has called us to reach every affinity group (what we call a corner) of every campus. For over 80 years, InterVarsity has had a vital presence on hundreds of college campuses, courageously proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Savior, engaging in discipleship through Scripture, and loving people of every ethnicity and culture. To learn more, go to: https://give.intervarsity.org/about-intervarsity 

+ What is InterVarsity's Financial Accountability?

InterVarsity/USA maintains the highest standards of financial integrity in all our business dealings. It is our pledge to you to maintain the highest ethical standards of financial accountability and reporting consistent with responsible Christian faith and practice. To maintain your trust and support, an independent audit of our financial records is conducted annually. A free copy of that audit is available Here or by writing to: InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, Financial Services, P.O. Box 7895, Madison, WI 53707-7895.

+ Is InterVarsity a tax-exempt organization? 

Yes, InterVarsity is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization under 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code. InterVarsity is also classified as a public charity. InterVarsity is qualified to receive tax-deductible bequests, devises, transfers, or gifts under Section 2055, 2106, or 2522 of the Code, and all donations to InterVarsity are tax deductible under section 170 of the Code. InterVarsity has complete discretion and control over the use of donated funds.

+ How do I share a gift "In Honor" or "In Memorial"? 

A wonderful way to celebrate someone special in your life is by sharing a gift to InterVarsity in their honor or memory. Contributions can be to what is most needed in the ministry or designated for a special staff minister, chapter, region, or initiative. 

To make a gift online

• Go to "Make a Gift" page at give.intervarsity.org
• If you know the name of the Memorial, enter and select the name in the "Start Your Gift" drop down, and complete the online giving form. 
• If Memorial name is unknown, enter "Memorial" in the search bar and select "Need help finding a Memorial?" in the drop down. Please enter details in the comments box such as the name of the person you are honoring as well as the designation of your gift. 

To make a gift by phone

Call Donor Services toll free at (866) 734-4823. Our team can be reached M-F, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM CST.

To make a gift by check

Complete the InterVarsity Memorial Gift Reply Form and return with a check to InterVarsity Christian Fellowship PO Box 7895 Madison, WI 53707-7895.

Looking for assistance with creating a memorial for others to give? 

To get started, please complete and return the InterVarsity Memorial Request Form. Please allow 2-4 business days before the first date memorial is needed for publication. 

+ What is the most cost-effective method for donating to InterVarsity?

The most cost-effective method to use is an electronic check (EFT), for either a one-time gift or a reoccurring monthly gift. InterVarsity does not pay any extra fees for this service and administrative costs are very low.

+ How do I give by check?

One of the most common ways to make a gift is to write a check. 

In order to comply with IRS regulations and for donations to be eligible for tax deductibility, all donations must be made payable to InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA or simply to InterVarsity. Checks made payable to staff or students will be returned for proper completion. 

Write out a check payable to InterVarsity and mail it to: 

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA
PO Box 7895
Madison, WI 53707-7895

You can include a note in the envelope if you want your gift designated. Contact Donor Services at (866) 734-4823 with any questions or if you need a Business Reply Envelope (BRE). Mailing checks to staff members instead of InterVarsity will delay the processing of your check and may affect the month or year in which it is processed.

If you have previously given to InterVarsity and have a paper receipt, you can mail your check with the bottom of your receipt in the courtesy envelope provided (or to the address above). This receipt portion contains a code that enables your donation to be easily and accurately processed.

You may also use a business reply envelope provided by an InterVarsity staff member. Be sure to write on the envelope the campus, staff member, project or other designation to which your gift should be applied.

We use the name and address information printed on your check to send you a receipt for tax purposes. The IRS requires that we issue a receipt to the person whose name is on the check.

Download a printable form to mail in here.

+ How do I give by electronic check?

Give online from a bank account via electronic funds transfer (EFT).

The easiest way to do this is to give via your checking account at our online donate site at https://give.intervarsity.org

Or call Donor Services at (866) 734-4823 and we will help you make a one-time gift or set up a recurring gift from your bank account. 

Why give via Electronic Check?

This giving method is the least expense, so more funding is available for our campus ministry. 

How does it work?

Simply provide your bank account number and routing number as illustrated when you choose the giving method. These gifts will be withdrawn from your bank account automatically as an electronic funds transfer (EFT) - either as a one-time gift or as a recurring gift, whichever you choose. Choose any date of the month for your withdrawal. Choose any of these withdrawal frequencies: onetime, monthly, quarterly, or annual. For a truly paperless donation, we recommend using InterVarsity’s donate site rather than your bank's website or bill pay service, as those services are more expensive for InterVarsity to process.

+ How do I give by credit card? Are there extra fees? 

Give online or by phone using a credit card. If you need help call Donor Services at (866) 734-4823 and we can help you give a one-time gift or set up a recurring gift with your credit card. 

Credit card and debit card processing results in a charge to InterVarsity of approximately 2.5% for each donation processed. This fee is deducted from the account you designate. You can choose to cover this fee when giving a donation. 

To give online with a credit card:

Simply click the donate button in the top right corner, select one or more designations and enter your credit card information. This website and InterVarsity comply with Payment Card Industry (PCI) security standards.

In either case:

A gift will be charged to your credit card as you choose, either once or as a recurring gift. For recurring gifts, you can choose any date of the month, and select a withdrawal frequency of one time, monthly, quarterly, or annual. We accept all major credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. Debit cards are also accepted, though electronic check accomplishes the same at a lower cost. Credit card and debit card companies charge InterVarsity approximately 2.5% for each donation they process. This fee is deducted from the amount received for the account you designate. You can choose to cover this fee or to avoid this fee, donate using an electronic check, which withdraws from a bank account (similar to a debit card, but with a smaller fee).

• If you get through to voice mail, please leave your name and a callback number. Do not leave your credit card information, as we will collect and verify that when we return your call.
• Never email your credit card information. Email is insecure.

If you cannot or prefer not to give online:

You may call Donor Services toll-free at (866) 734-4823. Calls are answered or returned on weekdays from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM CST.

+ Can I mail in a donation?

Yes, you can mail in a donation at any time. Please include this printable form so that all necessary information is included. InterVarsity's address is P.O. Box 7895, Madison, WI 53707-7895.

+ Are there other payment methods available?

Apple Pay

InterVarsity accepts Apple Pay to make one-time gifts.

Once you reach the "Choose your Payment Method," if available, choose "Apple Pay" (note that Apple pay will only be shown on devices where this payment method has been switched on).

Cryptocurrency

You can transfer cryptocurrency to InterVarsity to support the ministry.

Call us at (866) 734-4823 and we will help you make the arrangements.

+ How do I donate anonymously?

After selecting the fund to which you want to donate, a Make this gift anonymous checkbox appears below the amount. Checking this box prevents your name and contact information from being given to the staff responsible for the designation or to any other InterVarsity personnel. Your donation remains tax deductible and a receipt will be sent to you.

ESTATE & GIFT PLANNING

+ How do I transfer shares of stock to InterVarsity?

Click here for more information on giving appreciated stocks and securities.

+ Gifts-in-Kind

Many types of personal property can be given to InterVarsity when it can be used for ministry purposes. 

You can give several types of in-kind-gifts to InterVarsity

Gifts of personal property such as electronics, furniture, sports equipment, household items, tools, art, antiques, and other items are of value when they can be used by InterVarsity for its ministry purposes. If you are considering giving a gift-in-kind, please email our Gift-in-Kind Coordinator to receive more information on how to do this.

+ Estate giving

Giving through your will or trust may allow you to bless InterVarsity in a more significant way that may not be possible during your lifetime.

To learn more about a gift through your will or trust see click here.

+ Gifts of livestock through STEER, Inc

As a rancher or farmer, learn how to give livestock to benefit InterVarsity. 

Your only responsibility is to donate your feed and care for the cow. STEER Inc, provides the funds to purchase a young cow from you. You sign an Agreement of Stewardship that you will provide the daily care and feed of the animal and who you wish to support within InterVarsity. This allows you to be personally involved in seeing the profits from your project go toward Gospel outreach to students and faculty on campuses across the country! When the calf is ready to be sold, you do it in the name of STEER, Inc, then STEER Inc, sends a check to InterVarsity. To learn more, visit the STEER, Inc website at https://www.steerinc.com. 

+ Crops & gifts of agriculture

As a crop farmer, learn how to gift your crops to benefit InterVarsity.

In lieu of gifting cash to InterVarsity, consider contacting your local coop or grain handler and transferring bushels of grain, corn, or beans from your name to InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. The coop or grain handler provides a warehouse receipt for Donor Services with your name and the type of crop given and the amount.

Call or email Donor Services that you have gifted the crop, and which staff or school account in InterVarsity you prefer to give the gift toward. Email Donor Services with the warehouse receipt from your grain elevator or co-op. Include in your email the staff or school account in InterVarsity you prefer to give the gift toward. Donor Services will contact the co-op to order the sale of the grain. InterVarsity will acknowledge your gift following the sale. Donor Services can be reached Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM CST at (866) 734-4823 or donorservices@intervarsity.org. 

RECEIPTS

+ Will I get a receipt?

A tax-deductible receipt is sent for each donation we receive. If you give online you will receive your receipt by email, unless you request otherwise from InterVarsity's Donor Services. If you receive a paper receipt, you may use the bottom portion to send in another gift.  

+ How can I get a receipt for my last gift, including my year-to-date total?

Receipts are issued within a few business days of the donation. You may view and print your giving summary for the current year or the previous year by logging in and visiting your Donation History page. If you need a previous receipt re-issued, you may request it from Donation Services.

+ Why did I stop receiving receipts?

Receipts are issued for each donation. If no further donations are made, no further receipts are issued. We do not send reminders. If you give online and receive receipts via email, please check your junk mail or deleted mail folder.

To increase the deliverability of confirmations, receipts and related correspondence via email, please add receipts@intervarsity.org and noreply@intervarsity.org to your spam or junk mail safe senders list.

If you receive paper receipts, please let us know if one appears to have been lost in the mail. You may contact Donation Services by email or toll free at and request the re-issue of a duplicate receipt.

+ Can my donation be refunded?

According to IRS guidelines, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA must maintain sole control and discretion over the use of the funds once a tax-deductible receipt is issued. Tax deductible gifts are non-refundable. In the event that changes occur in InterVarsity, with our ministry staff, ministries or projects, all tax-deductible gifts remain non-refundable and will be used for similar ministry purposes.  

LOGIN & ACCOUNT

+ How do I update my contact info, username, or password?

You can change your password, username and/or the email address associated with your account by clicking this edit username/password/email link.

+ How do I set up an account after donating as a guest without an account/not being logged in?

To set up an account select the “Log In” button in the upper right corner of the page. You should receive a popup box to prompt you to login. Enter the email address you used to give your donation. Select the "Forgot Password" link under the password box. Select  “Continue” and check your email for instructions on setting up your password. Select the link in the email to confirm you want to set reset your password. This will take you to the page to set your password. If you need assistance, please contact Donor Services at (866) 734-4823 M-F 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM CST. 

STAFF FUNDING

+ How do I find out how much the staff member I support needs to raise?

Each staff’s ministry budget is set by the team in which they work. The staff or their director can provide you with this information.

+ If more is received than budgeted, what happens to funding I gave?

Each staff director has control over the funds that are received for their teams. If a staff account has a surplus, their supervisor is responsible to decide how best to use those funds, typically it is reserved for future ministry expenses.

+ What happens to my donations when a staff leaves employment with InterVarsity?

You should receive a note from the staff you support informing you of their plans to leave employment with InterVarsity and provide you future giving options. The staff member may also inform you of other staff or ministries that would benefit from your continued support. You can adjust your giving, once logged in, on your partnership page. InterVarsity will contact you with further information and/or giving options as well.

MANAGING RECURRING GIFTS

+ How can I change my recurring gifts?

You can adjust your giving designations, amounts, and schedules by logging in and visiting My Partnership.

+ When will my donation be withdrawn from my bank account?

One-time gifts from bank accounts (electronic check, EFT) are transferred within a couple of business days. For recurring gifts from bank accounts, you can choose from a variety of withdrawal schedules. When the selected date falls on a weekend or a US Federal holiday, the withdrawal occurs on the next business day. Please note, all ACH donations are uploaded to your bank two business days before your selected withdrawal date. 

+ How do I update the credit card or bank account information on file?

You can update your giving methods by logging in and visiting Payment Methods.

How do I update a donation that uses online banking or bill pay?

You should make the changes on your bank’s website or contact them directly to make changes.

If you want to lower InterVarsity's administrative effort to process your gifts, we recommend changing your giving method to electronic checks via our website. To discontinue scheduled bill pay that you've set up through your own bank, please contact your bank.

Please note, all ACH donations are uploaded to your bank two business days before your selected withdrawal date. 

+ Can I view the donations I have made previously?

Login and select Donation History page to view a list of your gifts this year and the three previous years.

PRIVACY & SECURITY

+ Do you give, rent or sell my information to other organizations?

InterVarsity will not sell, rent, lease, give or lend mailing lists to other organizations for them to use for any fund-raising purpose. For more details, see our Privacy Policy linked from the bottom of every page.

+ How do I remove my name from your mailing list, but continue donating?

Donors may ask to be flagged in our national system with a "no mail" or "limited mail" code by contacting Donation Services by email or toll free at . "No mail" means you will receive only receipts along with a letter of thanks. A "limited mail" code indicates you will receive informational mailings but no solicitations for funds. Staff are not able to change a mail code request for a donor. Mail code requests must come from the donor directly.

+ Are my payment method and other personal information secure?

In keeping with InterVarsity’s Privacy Policy and Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards, we are committed to ensuring the security of your personal information. To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the proper use of information, we have a relationship with an established merchant services provider and implement appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure personal information. For example, your information is encrypted and transmitted using a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol.