As the end of 2025 approaches, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) Development Office has outlined several options and guidelines for those planning to make year-end charitable contributions. The office aims to help donors meet IRS deadlines and ensure that their gifts are processed in a timely manner.
For online donations, contributors are encouraged to visit giving.cu.edu and select the UCCS tile before 11:59 p.m. MST on December 31 if they wish to receive a charitable gift receipt for 2025.
In-person processing by development staff will be available through December 23, which is the last day the UCCS campus is open this year. After that date, donors can email [email protected] to arrange for check pick-up by a member of the development team.
Those wishing to donate by phone should call the CU Foundation Gifts and Records Hotline at (303) 541-1290 before 5 p.m. MST on December 31. However, online or mail options are recommended for gifts intended to qualify for an IRS charitable deduction.
Donors sending checks by mail must ensure that their envelopes bear a legible United States Postal Service postmark dated in 2025. The CU Foundation advises mailing checks no later than December 26. Only USPS postmarks will be accepted; shipping dates from other carriers such as FedEx do not meet IRS requirements.
Additional information about making gifts through IRAs or transferring stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other securities is available at giving.cu.edu/making-your-end-year-gift. Due to limited holiday hours at many financial institutions, those planning transfers should contact their institution no later than December 12 if they intend to complete transactions before year-end.
Campus employees who receive mailed checks between December and February 1, 2026 are instructed to forward all materials—including envelopes—to UCCS Development in Main Hall Suite 301 by December 23. “Gift Management must retain these envelopes to help address any questions or concerns on the receipt date.” Employees receiving donor gifts between December 19 and December 31 should email [email protected] for special handling instructions.
After January begins, employees should continue providing all accompanying materials with received checks through February 1, ensuring accurate processing dates.
The guidelines also remind all employees: “At all times, employees should forward gifts to UCCS Development or Student Financial Services on the same day or the next business day to ensure timely processing.” Employees are advised not to offer tax advice and instead direct donors to consult their own financial advisors regarding deductions. Outgoing voicemail messages and out-of-office replies should guide donors toward online giving at giving.cu.edu by the deadline.
According to Board of Regents Policy 13.f., nearly all charitable donations supporting CU and UCCS must be deposited through the CU Foundation—even if checks are made out directly to a UCCS entity—except in rare cases.
Questions about these procedures can be directed to the UCCS Development Office at (719) 255-5101 or via email at [email protected].
