What Counts?

The explanations on this page can help you answer questions about the crediting and counting of gifts. Please do not hesitate to contact your class liaison if you need additional information.

Gifts to the Alumni Fund are unrestricted and provide the university with immediately expendable core support for basic operations and new programs. To receive credit in the Alumni Fund, gifts must be designated to one of twelve areas of support: unrestricted, financial aid, humanities, the arts, the sciences, athletics, library resources, student support, faculty support, campus facilities, Mental Health and Wellness, and New Haven support.

Gifts to any purpose other than those listed above do not count within the Alumni Fund or toward your Alumni Fund class goal.

The reunion gift recognizes nearly all new gifts and pledges made since your last reunion. This includes annual contributions to the Alumni Fund, capital gifts, and planned gifts. For the classes of 1996 and prior, Quarter Century Fund gifts and the invested returns will be added in aggregate to the totals for the 25th reunion only.

In a reunion year, all alumni are asked to make a gift to the Alumni Fund and, if appropriate, consider a gift to a restricted, capital purpose such as an endowed scholarship. For many, a larger‐than‐usual Alumni Fund gift will mark their reunion milestone.

Class dues are considered gifts to the class and not to Yale. They do not count within the Alumni Fund or for the reunion gift.

Gifts to athletic team associations do not count within the Alumni Fund but are counted for the reunion gift.

Gifts made to separate 501(c)(3) organizations affiliated with Yale do not receive university gift credit.