General Questions
At Portland State, there's no one-size-fits all way to make a gift. We offer numerous ways to make a charitable donation to PSU, schools or colleges, students and more.
State funding no longer provides the support necessary for PSU to serve Oregon well; it now represents less than 15 percent of the University’s budget. Portland State relies on tuition, fees, competitive grants and private support for the remainder. Philanthropic investments, in particular, provide funding for PSU to keep pace with the growing needs of our community.
The PSU Foundation was established specifically to provide accounting, data management, correspondence and donor services to support charitable contributions. Funds received by the Foundation on behalf of PSU are efficiently channeled to the use specified by donors.
The Foundation is an independent, tax-exempt organization, whose mission is to enhance the development of PSU through our relationships, resources and guidance. The partnership between the Foundation and university represents a creative force dedicated to the most efficient and beneficial use of private contributions.
Below is an approximate breakdown of full-time tuition and fees for the 2024-25 academic year. For the most up-to-date information, please visit pdx.edu/student-finance/cost-attendance
- $12,420 resident undergraduate (15 hrs/term)
- $33,012 nonresident undergraduate (15 hrs/term)
At Portland State, there are numerous ways to support the causes you care most about. We suggest visiting our online giving form, where you can search for a fund based on the college, program or cause of choice. You may also want to check out the Guide to Giving section of our website, which highlights giving opportunities that are a priority for PSU right now. If you’re still having trouble finding the fund that’s right for you, get in touch with our team. We’ll make sure you find exactly what you’re looking for!
An endowed gift is typically a large dollar donation to create or support an endowed fund, with the intent that the original value will grow over time. The funds are invested and appreciation of the gift can be paid out to support the fund's purpose. Any additional earnings are then used to build the fund's market value.
A spendable gift (sometimes referred to as "payout" or "current use") is a donation meant to be used in its entirety right away. These gifts make an immediate impact at Portland State.
The majority of funds you can donate to online are current-use funds. Funds with "(Endowment)" at the end of their name are endowed funds.
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You can easily update your information by filling out this form.
Questions about my gift
Yes! The Foundation is recognized under section 501(c)3 of the IRS Code, and your contribution in support of Portland State is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. A tax consultant can advise about ways of giving most advantageous to your financial situation.
Any gift can be made in honor or memory. Please just send a note along with your check, or fill out the box on our online giving form and we will notify the person/ family of your gift.
Please note that to name a scholarship or fund after somebody, certain financial minimums are required. Please speak to one of our development officers for more information.
You will be provided with a gift receipt from Portland State University Foundation, which will substantiate your gift for US tax purposes.
Different levels of giving may qualify you for one or more of our donor recognition
societies.
Many schools and programs at the university publish annual reports that include honor rolls. Unless you have designated your gift as anonymous, your name may appear in one of these reports at
the appropriate gift level.
Donors who have established named funds at PSU—typically endowed funds or larger expendable funds—will receive reports from the university. Reporting may include contact from
faculty or students, depending on the nature of the gift. In addition, annual financial reports are sent to all donors of endowed funds.
For online donations, we will honor your refund request within 15 days of your donation.
To request a refund, please call 503-725-4478. Refunds are returned within 30 days of the date of the request using the original payment method.
If you did not make your donation online, please contact the PSU Foundation team to learn about applicable refund policies.
Matching gifts boost your overall contribution to PSU. Check to see if your company will match your donation and increase your impact at Portland State.
A 5% administrative fee ensures your gift is effectively managed and awarded while supporting PSU’s long-term fundraising efforts.