Why we need your support

Unrestricted gifts help to ensure that resources are allocated effectively where they can make the most impact. Giving to where the need is greatest provides us with the flexibility to respond to changing circumstances and opportunities to ensure that the we can continue to attract students of the highest academic ability, regardless of background, and enable them to reach their potential by providing world-class teaching and facilities.

Click here to make a gift to support the area of greatest need.

The tutorial system is at the heart of St John’s.  It is what distinguishes Oxford and Cambridge from all other universities and for many undergraduates it is the core of their university experience.  St John’s world-class tutors are central to the College’s reputation for academic excellence but the system is expensive to maintain and certain subjects face funding challenges.  The support of alumni and friends helps to guarantee that St John’s will be able to maintain its exceptional tutorial provision in all the subjects it offers for the long term. 

Click here to make a gift to the Tutorial System.

‘As a new undergraduate from a small state grammar school in rural Norfolk, I felt extremely fortunate to be coming to Oxford to study Chemistry and have a place at St John’s. I soon realised that St John’s is a very special place – because of the facilities, the architecture, the gardens, and above all the quality of the tutorial teaching I received.’ The Late Dr Michael Prior (1974, Chemistry) 

St John’s has a number of measures in place to ensure that no student is prevented from making the most of their time in College because of financial constraints.  All students have access to a range of grants to support their academic activities, and the College provides both hardship funding and means-tested bursaries for undergraduate students, and around 70 scholarships for graduate students.  These measures are essential to ensure that the College can continue to attract the very best students regardless of their financial circumstances. 

Click here to make a gift to Student Support.

‘It is a real privilege to study for a Geography DPhil at Oxford and it would not be possible without your support...I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to be a student in this special place.’ Alice Watson, (2018, Geography and the Environment) 

St John’s is committed to ensuring that the best and brightest young people, from all backgrounds, are able to access the world-class education for which the College is renowned.  St John’s has a range of access and outreach activities including the Inspire Programme, which works with pupils in schools across our linked regions of Ealing, Harrow, East and West Sussex and Brighton & Hove to raise aspirations, improve confidence, and support applications to leading universities like Oxford.  Through this programme the College aims to make a St John’s education open and accessible to all high-achieving pupils. 

Click here to make a gift to Access and Outreach.

‘I feel this programme really helps to give us all that extra push so that we can extend to the best of our abilities because we are all capable. This just gives us more knowledge which helps to make us understand a variety of subjects.’ Pupil participant from Ealing  

College life is a unique and integral part of the student experience at St John's. Besides student support and the tutorial system, many alumni choose to support other areas of College life: buildings and facilities as well as our libraries, the chapel and choir, and the boat club. Gifts towards College life contribute to the strong community spirit felt at St John's, ensuring students have a full and well-rounded experience and enhances their day-to-day life.

Click here to make a gift to the Library and Study Centre.

Click here to make a gift to the Boat Club.

Click here to make a gift to the Buildings and Environment.

Click here to make a gift towards the Chapel and Choir.

‘The Library & Study Centre has been universally popular among the students; many appreciate the great natural light, peaceful atmosphere for studying and the beautiful design of the interior spaces.  The stunning view across the garden from the Upper Reading Room and the Mark Bedingham Seminar Room are often particularly appreciated.’ Dr Petra Hofmann, College Librarian  

UK Gift Aid Scheme 

Gift Aid is a UK government scheme that enables charities, including universities and colleges, to claim tax relief on donations from individual UK taxpayers.  We would encourage all eligible donors to take up this scheme to maximise the value of their donation.  For every £1 a UK taxpayer donates, St John’s can reclaim a further 25p. This means that a £100 gift with Gift Aid is worth £125 to St John’s. 

Additionally, higher-rate and additional-rate tax payers can claim back the difference between basic rate tax and the higher rate of 40% or 45% on the gross value of their gift through Self Assessment. A gift of £100 (£125 including Gift Aid) would therefore be eligible for a rebate of £25 for a 40% taxpayer or £31.25 for a 45% taxpayer. 

Please note that we will share relevant and necessary data with HM Revenue and Customs to enable us to reclaim the Gift Aid on your donation.  Further information on the Gift Aid Scheme can be found here. 

USA 

The University of Oxford has a registered 501(c)(3) organisation, Americans for Oxford (AFO).  US taxpayers may make gifts to St John’s tax effectively through AFO. You can find more information about giving through Americans for Oxford (AFO) here.

Canada 

The University of Oxford is a recognised Charity in Canada and Canadian taxpayers can therefore make tax effective donations to St John’s.  Please indicate that you would like a Canadian tax receipt when completing our Canadian donation form or get in touch with the Alumni Office. 

Hong Kong 

The University of Oxford China Office Limited is a registered charity under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance.  Donors giving more than HK$100 may do so tax effectively if they complete the Hong Kong donation form. On receipt of your donation, the University will ensure that you are sent a receipt for Hong Kong tax purposes. 

Switzerland 

Residents of Switzerland can make tax-efficient donations via Swiss Friends of Oxford University (SFOU).

Set up as an association (Verein) under Swiss law, SFOU has a tax ruling from the canton of Zug recognising its tax-exempt status.

Donations can be made via the SFOU website: http://oxfordfriends.ch/ For more information, please email info@swissfriends.ch

Germany 

Residents of Germany can also make tax-efficient donations via the German Friends of Oxford University without incurring any fees.

The German Friends of Oxford University is a registered charity run by Dr Jan Willisch. It is authorised to issue donation receipts to German donors, entitling them to offset charitable gifts from their taxable income in Germany. Legacies are treated in the same way as lifetime donations for the purposes of inheritance and gift tax in Germany, so you can also talk to Dr Willisch about leaving a gift in your will.

For more information, please email germtax@gmail.com

Europe 

Transnational Giving Europe accepts tax effective donations from a number of other European countries on behalf of St John’s. The countries include: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland. 

You can find out more about Transnational Giving Europe here. When making a donation, please ensure you specify St John’s as the recipient of your gift.