FAQs

What is St John’s College Giving Day?

This is our second Giving Day and it will take place over a 36-hour period on 24 and 25 April 2024. 

It is a time for the whole Johnian community, including alumni, Fellows, staff, students and friends, to come together and support the College’s fundraising priority, the Dobson Free Places Fund. The primarily digital nature of the Giving Day allows our whole community to feel connected, wherever they are in the world. 

What is the Dobson Free Places Fund?

St John’s has always offered support to students from low-income households, but the Dobson Free Places Fund is the College’s most ambitious step yet towards offering genuinely world-class, means-tested support. UK undergraduates with household incomes below £17,628 will be eligible for a free place at St John’s. These students will have both their maintenance and tuition fees covered by the College in their entirety. The Dobson Free Places Fund will be endowed, supporting the 40 free places in perpetuity. 

Read more about the Dobson Free Places fund here. 

What is different about Giving Day?

It’s a special moment in time when we ask our whole community to unite behind the Dobson Free Places Fund, giving us a narrow window in which to try and raise as much support and funding as we can. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous charitable foundation, all gifts to the Dobson Free Places Fund will be matched pound for pound, immediately doubling the impact of your gift. Each and every donation counts, regardless of the size.

Thanks to the generosity of a number of individuals, we will have ‘Challenge’ funds that will be unlocked once particular goals have been achieved. Take a look at the Challenges page on 24 and 25 April to see if your gift is eligible to unlock funds. Please note that any early gifts will still count towards unlocking Challenge funds on the day.

NB: For tax purposes, donors who participate in the giving challenges will be credited for their individual contribution only.

How can I make my gift?

Between 9am (BST) on 24 April and 9pm (BST) on 25 April you can donate online through our Giving Day website (the site you’re currently on). If you’re unable to give online, you can call the Development Office on +44 (0)1223 760989 and donate; just make sure you let us know it’s for the Giving Day!

Can I make a gift before the day?

Absolutely! Early support is essential in creating momentum and encouraging others to get involved. If you would like to make an early gift to Giving Day, the best way to do so is online through this website, just head back to the home page and click the Donate Early button.

If you cannot give online, you can still give early by post or give us a call on the number above. If posting, please send your gift (cheques should be made payable to ‘St John’s College Cambridge') to:

The Development Office
St John’s College
Cambridge
CB2 1TP

If you would like your postal gift to be counted in the Giving Day total, please ensure we receive it no later than Monday 22 April 2024. 

I’m having trouble making my gift on the site. What should I do?

We’re sorry that you’re having problems making your gift. Please check that you have included the correct postcode and that it matches the address linked to your card; additionally, check that you have input the correct card details.

Please double-check the above before you contact us. If you continue to have problems making your gift please email us at development@joh.cam.ac.uk. You can also call us during office hours on +44 (0)1223 760989. 

If the issue cannot be resolved, you can donate through the Johnian website. Please email us to let us know if you have donated this way so we can count it in our Giving Day total!

How can I help spread the word?

Giving Day is powered by community spirit, and spreading the word as far as possible will give more alumni and friends of St John’s a chance to get involved, regardless of their location. Please tell your network about our Giving Day and encourage them to get involved! You can do this quickly and easily by sharing our posts on social media (Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn) in the lead up to the day and on Giving Day itself. 

Alternatively, you can share the link to the Giving Day website (johnsgives.joh.cam.ac.uk) or share your own post encouraging others to get involved and pledge their support. Make sure you use the hashtag #JohnsGives and tag us in your posts to spread the message as far as possible.

Can I claim Gift Aid on this donation?

Yes! As long as you are a UK taxpayer and have paid as much Income Tax and/or Capital Gains tax as the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all of your donations in that tax year, the College can reclaim the basic tax rate (25%) on your gift, with no extra cost to you. For example, a donation of £100 will actually be worth £125. For more information on Gift Aid please visit HM Revenue & Customs website.  

US & Canadian donations: will my gift be tax-deductible?

US: Gifts given via Cambridge in America are tax efficient.

CANADA: We can provide a receipt from the University for tax payers in Canada.

Is there a minimum donation I can make?

The minimum donation you can make is £1. On the donation page we have a number of suggested donations but you are free to make your gift at any level that you feel comfortable with – it’s your participation that counts!

How do I know my payment is secure?

We are using the College’s PayPal account to process all transactions. PayPal is secure and fully PCI compliant.