Gift Opportunities

Ways to Give

Starr King Sustainers

The Starr King Sustainers are a group of loyal supporters who recognize that in order for Starr King to achieve this mission it is necessary to build a reliable foundation of unrestricted funding. Starr King Sustainers have each set up a monthly recurring gift to the Annual Fund. Sustainers are committed to helping Starr King counter oppression in the world and call forth the gifts each student brings to their religious leadership.

A recurring gift is an ongoing, specific gift amount determined by you that is charged monthly to your credit or debit card with no specific end date. Your recurring gifts will be a dependable source of support that Starr King can count on throughout the year. Learn more about the Sustainers.

Endowments

An endowment is a fund created by gifts totaling at least $25,000 that are permanently set aside by Starr King School for the Ministry to provide benefits to students, faculty or programs, year after year, generation after generation. It is the most lasting way to give to make a gift to the school. Endowments may be funded by cash, securities, pledged over five years or created through a planned gift. Learn more about Endowments.

Stock Gifts

Do you own appreciated stocks? Stock gifts present a great opportunity to support Starr King’s counter-oppressive mission, because your gift is mutually beneficial — we receive the full value of the stock, while you avoid paying capital gains tax. Learn more about Giving Securities.

Legacy Giving

When it comes to making a long-term impact on progressive theological education at Starr King, there are many giving options to choose from besides simply writing a check. Two of the simplest options to set up are bequests and beneficiary designations. Learn more about Legacy Giving.

Charitable IRA Rollovers

Qualified Charitable Distributions from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) are an advantageous option for some donors. Find out more about how you can meet your Required Minimum Distribution while helping Starr King educate the next wave of progressive religious leaders. Learn more about IRA Rollover Gifts.

Host an Event

Want to support the work of Starr King, but are unable to make a monetary gift? Host an event with us! Email us at give@sksm.edu to set it up.

Funds

Annual Fund

Invest in the mission of the school by contributing to our Annual Fund, the fund that supports the ongoing education of religious leaders grounded in multi-religious, counter-oppressive ministries in Unitarian Universalism and in the wider world. The Annual Fund is a primary source of support for the school, and allows us maximum flexibility to meet our highest-priority needs, including:

  • reducing the burden of debt on our hardworking students through scholarships,
  • sustaining our faculty’s transformative teaching and scholarship,
  • investing in leading-edge educational technologies,
  • attracting talented and creative future religious leaders, and
  • amplifying our voice for justice in the wider world.

Contribute to our Annual Fund by joining the Starr King Sustainers or make a one-time gift.

Student Aid

A great way to make a direct impact in the life of our students is by contributing to our student aid fund. The cost of higher education is rising and our dedicated students make enormous financial sacrifices to follow their callings. With a gift to our student aid fund, you will help our students graduate with less debt and allow them to devote themselves more fully to their educations.

Contribute to Student Aid by joining the Starr King Sustainers or make a one-time gift.

The Dr. Ibrahim Farajaje Immersion Scholarship Fund

Named in memory of the beloved longtime Provost of Starr King School for the Ministry, this fund provides scholarships for Starr King’s innovative immersion courses. These courses take place here in the United States and abroad and they give students unique opportunities for experiential learning. For some students, however, the cost to participate in these rich opportunities can be a significant barrier. This fund helps to bridge that gap between what the student can afford and the cost of these transformative educational experiences.

Contribute to Immersion Scholarships by joining the Starr King Sustainers or make a one-time gift.

Balázs Fund

Named in honor of Francis Balázs, a Transylvanian writer, social reformer and Unitarian minister who attended the school in the 1920s, the Balázs Scholars Fund brings a Unitarian minister from Transylvania to study at Starr King every year. The Balázs Scholar infuses the education of each Starr King students with the deep faith, commitment and endurance of our Transylvanian Unitarian brothers and sisters, who live with the daily threat of religious and ethnic persecution. Learn more about the Balázs Scholar program.

Contribute to the Balázs Scholar program by joining the Starr King Sustainers or make a one-time gift.