Giving To The College


The College of Science and Mathematics at California State University Northridge is among the top universities in the nation in preparing students who go on to earn doctoral degrees in the sciences. Besides playing a critical role in ensuring the region and the nation has a pool of talented scientists capable of assuming leadership roles in a changing, knowledge-based, multicultural society, the College also prepares a number of students to attend medical, dental and pharmacy schools.

The College aspires to the highest standards of excellence in teaching, research, and service to the community. To this end, education is viewed as a fusion of classroom teaching and hands on research that actively engages students.

Student Excellence

The College of Science and Mathematics is committed to the education of its students. It attracts some of the best and brightest by providing a hands-on approach to science education. Students are also offered the latest knowledge and technical expertise that are needed in today’s job market. To continue to attract top undergraduate and graduate science students, more scholarships, fellowships and internships must be established in the College.

Scholarships have a vital impact on students’ lives by enabling them to pursue their educational goals. They also improve the quality of instruction by challenging other students to excel.

Research Fellowships enable students to participate more fully in research, such as laboratory work in all disciplines, the International Research Experiences for Student (IRES) program in Brazil for math majors, experience in computational materials science, the Marine Biology Semester, the Tropical Biology Semester in Costa Rica and field geology trips. Fellowships pay dividends to the community because they allow students to work with the faculty while they are pursuing their undergraduate and graduate work.

Internships are one of the most important ways by which we serve industry while enhancing the education of our students. Investment in the College’s internship program has valuable returns. Interns provide assistance to businesses to help solve problems or develop plans while gaining valuable experience and earning college credit.

Faculty Excellence

The educational programs in the College are led by a highly skilled and dedicated faculty that engages and challenges students to achieve their fullest intellectual potential, mastering skills such as critical thinking, communication, and numerical analysis.

The faculty are effective skilled teachers, understand how students learn, and are committed to the creation of new knowledge and its application to solving problems. Private investment is necessary to continue to nurture and maintain a faculty that is recognized regionally and nationally for innovation, commitment, and scholarly contributions to their respective disciplines.

Endowed Chairs and Professorships, in each Department in the College, will allow faculty to undertake innovative projects or achieve additional expertise. Those appointed to endowed chairs and professorships must exhibit the highest level of scholarly achievement. Investment in their research activities will raise the recognition of the College worldwide. Another valuable return on this kind of investment is excellence and innovation in classroom teaching because these individuals pass on their knowledge and passion for their disciplines to students to better prepare them for advanced study or career entry.

Service Excellence

The College prides itself on its active cross-disciplinary collaborations and partnerships with public and private organizations. The instructional programs also serve the needs of diverse people, especially those associated with metropolitan areas, including low income, non-traditional, and first generation college students.

Programs:

  • Biological Sciences
  • Chemistry and Biochemistry
  • Geological Sciences
  • Mathematics
  • Physics and Astronomy

Centers:

  • Center for Cancer and Developmental Biology
  • Center for Computational Materials Theory
  • Center for Earthquake Studies
  • Center for the Study of Biodiversity (Marine Biology Consortium and Ecology and Evolution Consortium)
  • Center for Supramolecular Studies
  • Interdisciplinary Mathematics-Based Research and Education Center
  • Pre-Health Professional Advisement Center
  • Genetic Counseling

Facilities:

  • San Fernando Observatory
  • Bianchi Planetarium
  • Botanic Garden
  • DNA Sequencing Facility

Estate Planning and Charitable Contributions

Tax laws are established to provide individuals with an incentive to support charitable causes. Depending upon your tax situation, a major gift could prove to be an advantageous element in your estate planning. You should consult your accountant or attorney or one of Cal State Northridge’s estate planning experts to explore if a major gift makes financial sense for you.

Such gifts often establish an endowment, where funds are invested and a portion of the earnings are used for the purpose of the gift. Endowments typically earn five percent annually, with the remaining earnings reinvested to protect the principal. Programs funded by an endowment may be named for the donor or someone the donor wishes to honor.

Naming Opportunities

The College of Science and Mathematics has many devoted supporters and is proud to recognize their vision and generosity. One way the College thanks its major supporters is through naming opportunities, which are available for:

  • Classrooms
  • Laboratories
  • Programs
  • Centers
  • Scholarships
  • Fellowships
  • Professorships
  • Endowed chairs


In addition, naming opportunities are available for the science buildings and the college itself.

Types of Gifts

There are a number of choices in the types of gifts that you may make to the College. Each offers a variety of tax deductibility and other benefits, depending on the type of gift.

Cash gifts are the easiest way to give. You may give funds via credit cards, money orders, cashiers check, etc…

Gifts in Kind are non-monetary items of personal property. Gifts may include books, artwork, equipment, etc…

Planned Gifts are given during the donor's lifetime, but the College does not receive the principal benefits until the donor passes away.

Wills and Bequests
Gifts of Appreciated Stock
Charitable Gift Annuities
Charitable Remainder Trusts
Gifts of Retirement Assets
Gifts of Life Insurance
Charitable Lead Trusts
Gifts of Real Estate
Deferred Charitable Gift Annuities

Matching-Gift Programs are an easy way to increase your donation to the College without added financial responsibility on your part. Many companies offer a matching-gift program to their employees. The programs generally match all or a percentage of an employee's gift to a charitable organization. Contact your employer for information regarding matching-gift programs that may be offered.

Gift Pledges are gifts made through regular payments over time. This allows you to give more generously than you originally may have considered.

How to Plan Your Gifts

Give now by clicking on this link: GIVE NOW

For more information contact:

John Pepitone
Development Office
College of Science and Mathematics

(818) 677-6308