perspective
“With all the academic rigor and intensity at Caltech, the Y has been a rare, refreshing gem centered around enhancing student life. The Caltech Y has been an essential and inspiring reminder for me to take a step back and realize that we have a role to play in our communities and that we all have the capacity to touch lives and be global with our outreach and impact.”- Rupa Kurinchi-Vendhan, BS ’24, Student ExComm President
what your gift supports
leadership
"The Caltech Y was my first volunteer board service, and little did I guess at the time that I was destined to be a social sector leader and sit on nonprofit boards! Like many college students, I knew I wanted to be engaged in society, and the Y offered multiple avenues for exploring that interest. . . that's why I love the Caltech Y - Jim Fruchterman, BS ’80, MacArthur Fellowship Recipient
service
"The Rise Program is why I'm going to college. It gave me confidence in how I learn. I can learn slower. In classes you get it or you fail." - Alondra Flores, 2017 Rise Program Graduate
adventure
"By the end of my freshman year, the Caltech Y recruited me to join the Backpacking Trip before an alumni event. I was from Iowa. I’d never been backpacking in my life. Thanks to the Y leaders – I was hooked! By the end of the summer, I was leading the Y-Hike, and heading up the new Caltech Y Outdoors Committee the next year. That passion led me to rock climbing – nearly 10 years later, I’m still climbing with friends I made through the Caltech Y." - Katie Homann, BS ‘04, ER Physician
perspective
“With all the academic rigor and intensity at Caltech, the Y has been a rare, refreshing gem centered around enhancing student life. The Caltech Y has been an essential and inspiring reminder for me to take a step back and realize that we have a role to play in our communities and that we all have the capacity to touch lives and be global with our outreach and impact.”- Rupa Kurinchi-Vendhan, BS ’24, Student ExComm President
![Civic Engagement 2[66].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7d7a66_8986d3f44f694b93b865263e72903bd8~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_278,y_848,w_3923,h_5872/fill/w_310,h_464,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Civic%20Engagement%202%5B66%5D.jpg)
Civic
engagement
"We’ve hosted various events, like community service trips both locally and around the world, as well as talks and discussions with local leaders. Through all these events, we hope to serve our student community by introducing complexity, richness, and purpose to the short few years we spend here in Pasadena. It’s these experiences that make the difficulty of academics at Caltech turn into a human one."- Albert Kyi, BS ’23, Former Student ExComm President
ways you can donate
New Giving options
We are so excited to announce our new process to gift non-cash options to the Caltech Y!
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Planned giving is as easy as (1) making a charitable gift, and (2) saving on taxes. We’d like to make it even easier with this introduction to some of the best ways to give and save. To make these gifts we will be using Every.org, click the button below to get started.
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For further assistance with your gift please contact Athena Castro, the Caltech Y Executive Director
(athena@caltech.edu | 626-395-6163)
or your financial advisor
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Here are some of the options to give:​
Q​​ualified Charitable Distributions (QCD): The Caltech Y encourages those eligible to make Qualified Charitable Distributions from eligible personal IRAs once Minimum Required Distributions begin. QCDs must be made directly by the trustee of the IRA to the charity and comply with all United States IRS rules.
Charitable IRA Rollover: The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act renews a temporary provision that allows donors age 70½ or older to make a direct, tax-free rollover of up to $100,000 from a traditional or Roth IRA to a qualified charitable organization such as Caltech Y; please check current IRS guidelines.
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Gifts of Stock: If a donor owns stock, it is more often tax-wise to contribute stock rather than cash.
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Gifts of Life Insurance: A gift of life insurance can provide a significant charitable deduction.
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Gifts of Real Estate: Gifts of real estate can also be tax-wise.
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Life Income Gifts: If donors own stock that is yielding low dividends (2-3%), a life-income gift may be appropriate.
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Charitable Lead Trusts: Charitable lead trusts are the reverse of the life-income gifts described above.
The income from the trust is first paid to the Caltech Y as the charity’s interest leads the way (thus the name of the trust).
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Bequests: The Caltech Y can be named as a beneficiary in donors’ wills in any number of simple ways. An outright gift, either a designated dollar amount or percentage of an estate, can be specified.
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Marketable Securities: Marketable securities can offer capital gains benefits and maximize the impact of a gift by giving the full fair market value.
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Cryptocurrency: Gifts of cryptocurrency can help lower capital gains taxes and receiving a fair market value deduction, making it a highly efficient way to give.
Other giving options
united way matching
Consider making the Caltech Y your affiliate choice during a United Way pledge drive at your workplace. If you are a Caltech employee, you may make a contribution to the annual campaign during late October and early November. The best part is that your donation will be matched 100% by the Institute. Your donation can be as simple as a monthly deduction from your paycheck.
Please visit the Caltech Human Resources Dept. or contact the Caltech Y Development Office at 626-395-6163 for more information on how you can get started. Your contributions go a long way in supporting our mission!
company matching
The idea of company matching is incredibly simple. For example, if you give $100 to the Caltech Y as your annual contribution and your employer matches it, the end result is $200 to the Caltech Y. You have basically doubled your gift with very little work on your part. If you are interested, ask the Human Resources department at your workplace how you might add the Caltech Y to the current list of non-profit affiliates for matched giving. Call the Y Development Office for our tax ID number and help to get this program underway at your workplace.
Ralphs rewards
If you have a Ralphs Rewards card, you can support us while you shop at Ralphs! Once you register and signed in at www.ralphs.com, click on “Ralphs Community Contribution Program” at the bottom of the page and select “Caltech Y” or use our Organization Number “TG312” to designate us as your preferred charitable organization. Then swipe your registered Ralphs Rewards card or use the phone number linked to your card when shopping at Ralphs to contribute to the Caltech Y!
Friend levels
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Supporter
Friend
Partner
Patron
Benefactor
Wes Hershey
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Visionary
$25 - $199
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$200 - $499
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$500 - $999
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$1,000 - $2,499
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$2,500 -$4,999
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$5,000 - $9,999
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$10,000 and up