Dec. 4, 2012

Philanthropic support through Cal Bear Backers provides Golden Bear student-athletes with the resources and tools to achieve success athletically and academically. Please consider Cal Athletics in your giving plans during this holiday season!

Contributions to the Cal Athletics Fund have a direct impact by providing flexible resources to support student-athletes. Gifts allocated to Bear Backers Grants-In-Aid support Cal student-athletes by funding scholarships across sports. You can also designate your annual gift to your favorite Cal sports program.

Listed below are several ways you can make your year-end gift and take advantage of a 2012 tax benefit:

Make a gift online: Make a secure gift to Cal Athletics through this link.

Gifts must be entered online by 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2012, to count for the 2012 calendar year.

Make a gift by check: Checks for all annual contributions (non-ESP), can be made out to "UC Regents." Please mail checks to: Athletic Development Office, Univ. of California, 195 Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, CA 94720.

Gifts made by check must be postmarked by Dec. 31, 2012, in order to count for the 2012 calendar year.

*Please note, in order for contributions made by credit card to count for the 2012 calendar year, your card must be charged by 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2012. In other words, credit card gifts sent by mail may not reach our office in time. If you are near the deadline, we encourage you to make your gift online or make your gift by check.

Make a gift of stock: All gifts of stock are handled by Delores Nunnally in University Relations. Her phone number is (510) 642-6791 or you can contact her via email at danunnally@berkeley.edu.

Matching Gifts: If you are interested in making a matching gift to Cal, please consult our employer matching gift search here for more information.

Tax Receipt Information: All gifts are receipted directly from University Relations. If you have any questions about your gift receipt, please call UC Berkeley Gift Administration at (510) 643-9789.

Endowment Seating Program (ESP) Gifts: Although ESP pledge payments are not due until April 1, 2013, it may be beneficial for you to make your payment this calendar year for tax purposes. If you would like to make an early payment, please read the following directions carefully.

Check payments: As long as the remit envelope is POSTMARKED by Dec. 31, 2012, your payment is applicable to the 2012 tax year. Please note that due to campus-wide holiday work curtailment, payments received in our office by Dec. 17, 2012, will likely be deposited prior to the holidays; payments received thereafter will be deposited in January.

Credit card payments: The postmark date does NOT apply to credit cards (IRS Rev. Rul. 78-38): therefore, to ensure your card is charged prior to Dec. 31, 2012, please make your payment online at: CalBears.com/esp.

Securities, stock or wire transfer payments: Please contact Delores Nunnally at (510) 642-6791.

Please note that all ESP payments made in full (lump sum pay off) and received by Dec. 31, 2012, are exempt from the 6% annual administrative fee. Please contact Justin Panarese at (510) 643-6524 prior to Dec. 21, 2012, if you would like your payoff amount - or if you have any ESP-related questions.

Thank you for your continued support of Cal student-athletes. For more information on football ticket renewals for the 2013 season, please click here.

Go Bears!