We count on the generosity of alumni and friends of the department to support students as they embark on earning a world-class education, and faculty members, as they conduct research that is changing the world. Your investment in our people makes a difference. And, your support of our facilities gives our people the tools they need to be successful.
You may choose to give to an existing fund, or create your own scholarship, fellowship or award. No matter the size or scope your gift, you will be helping students succeed.
You may choose to establish an endowed gift at one of these levels:
- Named Graduate Fellowship ($500,000)
- Named Scholarship ($100,000)
World-class faculty are critical to the success of Illinois ECE. Faculty support is crucial to maintaining the department’s stature as one of the best in the world. Attracting and retaining top faculty salaries by endowing faculty scholars, professorships, or chairs is crucial for supporting salaries and honoring top faculty in the department. We currently have more than 25 endowed faculty positions, named for legends like Kilby, Bardeen, Holonyak, Van Valkenburg, Everitt, and Lo.
You may choose to establish an endowed faculty position at one of these levels:
- Endowed faculty scholar ($500,000)
- Endowed professorship ($1 million)
- Endowed chair ($3 million)
- Endowed department head ($5 million minimum)
To establish your own fund or for more information, please contact us.
Your support of our facilities gives our students and faculty the tools they need to be successful.
The ECE Building, located at 306 N. Wright St., Urbana, is nearly twice the size of the department‘s former home, Everitt Laboratory. At 230,000 square feet, the building is full of more than 20 lab spaces intended for student instruction and learning. These labs continue the Illinois ECE tradition of hands-on learning, especially on cutting-edge topics like nanofabrication, optics, control, and robotics.
The building is meant to produce as much power as it consumes, and is expected to be one of the largest net-zero buildings of its kind in the country. It’s targeting LEED Platinum certification. The $95 million ECE Building project was paid for half by the State of Illinois, and half with the generous support of donors and corporate partners.
Naming opportunities include:
- Classroom or Student Spaces ($500,000)
- Laboratories ($1 million - $10 million)
- Instructional Optics Lab
- Robotics & Control Systems Labs
- Microwave Communications Lab
- Digital Signals & Communications Lab
- Circuits & Systems Lab
- Bio-Imaging Lab
- Electromagnetics, Optics, and Remote Sensing Labs
- Nanofabrication Lab
- Open Projects Lab
- Conference or group study room ($250,000)
The department also welcomes in-kind gifts for the ECE Building.
To name your own space in the building or for more information, please contact us.
Unique ways to support Illinois ECE:
- Named Research Fund ($250,000)
- Named Lecture Series ($250,000)
- Named Endowed Fund, Unrestricted ($50,000)
To establish your own fund or for more information, please contact us.
How to Make a Gift
When deciding to make your gift, you have many choices. You may consider these giving methods:
- payroll deduction
- outright gift (credit card, check, cash, wire, transfer, stock)
- multi-year pledge (with installments up to five years)
- bequest or estate gift
- a gift from your IRA or qualified plan
- charitable remainder trust
- gift annuity
- a gift of land or property
- family foundation
- in-kind gift of equipment, art, or other assets
If you have questions, or would like help in making sure your gift has the most impact, please contact us.
In addition, remember that you may qualify for a matching gift through your company. Learn more about matching gifts.
If you would like to make your gift to Illinois ECE by check, please send your gift, payable to the University of Illinois Foundation, with your gift designation mentioned in the memo line to:
University of Illinois Foundation (UIF)
1305 W. Green Street
Urbana, IL 61801
The University of Illinois Foundation (UIF) manages philanthropic gifts to ECE and all units on campus. UIF is a 501(c)3 charitable organization exempt from federal income tax. The Tax ID for the University of Illinois Foundation is 37-6006007.
Advancement & Alumni Contacts
Heather Vazquez
Senior Director of Advancement
1060 ECE Building
(217) 333-2517
hfv@illinois.edu
Nikki Slack
Alumni and Donor Relations
1060 ECE Building
(217) 265-4317
nslack@illinois.edu
Please reach out for more information about other giving opportunities, questions about making a gift or to discuss how you would like to make an impact with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.