The Aston Annual Fund
The Aston Annual Fund (AAF) is a fundraising initiative designed to inspire and direct the support of our alumni, staff and friends. Through the AAF, our supporters are able to make a real difference to today’s generation of students, ensuring that those who have followed in their footsteps reap the rewards of a high quality education.
We believe that by working together we can ensure that Aston continues to attract the best and brightest and that we are able to provide our students with an outstanding university experience that will serve them throughout their lives.
Gifts to the AAF help us improve teaching facilities and invest in new technologies, fund scholarships for our most talented students and bursaries for those in need. The AAF is also able to offer much needed investment to the Students’ Union, helping them construct new study areas and provide students with extracurricular outlets, such as sport and entrepreneurial initiatives.
DO SOMETHING ASTONISHING!
Your gift can support an area of the University to which you feel most attached or an area which you feel is a priority.
Aston has an impressive record in both the quality of its teaching and research, and particularly in graduate employment. This has been achieved by a distinctive academic experience that leverages pioneering teaching methods and facilities and gives students the opportunity to participate in work placements and volunteering initiatives that provide invaluable insight into life after graduation.
Your support will help us to further develop and improve the Aston experience and widen such opportunities for our students. Your gift can help provide cutting edge facilities and technologies and pump prime initiatives that encourage entrepreneurship, volunteering, work experience and professional development.
Aston is keen to continue our tradition of offering high quality education to the brightest and most talented students, regardless of social background. 90% of our students come from state schools and 37% of our students come from the four lowest socio-economic groups. We are committed to easing the financial pressures that may adversely affect their academic study.
The Aston Scholarship Fund allows you to help support a student who has an exceptional skill or ability, or who would be unable to complete their studies without financial support by establishing new scholarships and bursaries.
Aston’s students are actively involved in a wide range of sports, societies and volunteer work. From archery to wine tasting, debating to break dancing, our students are eager to get the most out of Aston and everything it has to offer.
The Annual Fund has already supported numerous projects within the Union, including new sporting equipment and coaching and the renovation of study areas. Your gift can provide valuable funding for student sport clubs and societies, and other student focused initiatives. Your gift can also help to expand our excellent and vital student support services, such as the Student Advice Centre.
The Vice Chancellor’s Fund has been established to help support projects right across the University, from teaching and research to capital building projects. This fund has the greatest flexibility, meaning funds can be directed to respond quickly to areas of greatest need or institutional priorities. Funding from the Vice Chancellor’s Fund may also be directed to the aforementioned funds, to supplement initiatives that would not have received funding from any other source.
Every penny of every donation is used for the purpose intended by the donor. No donation is ever used to cover operational costs or overheads.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE ANNUAL FUND
You can choose to support the Annual Fund in a number of different ways. Giving by Direct Debit is particularly helpful, as it provides us with a regular monthly income that allows us to plan effectively for the future, and allows a donor to spread their gift over the course of a year. This is of particular importance when establishing scholarship awards. Of course, gifts of any size are welcomed and are greatly appreciated by everyone at the University.
Online
The easiest way to make a gift it to visit our website at www.aston.ac.uk/donate and use our secure, online giving service to set up a Direct Debit, or make a gift using your credit or debit card. We also accept gifts made by PayPal.
By phone
You can make a donation using your credit or debit card, or set up a Direct Debit, by telephone. Simply call 0121 204 3021.
By post
You can send your donation to us by post. Complete a donation form and send it to Development and Alumni Relations Office, Aston University, FREEPOST BM2599/13, Birmingham, B4 7ET, or simply send a cheque!
Gift Aid
You can increase the value of your donation by submitting a Gift Aid declaration. If you are a UK tax payer, Gift Aid increases the size of your donation by 25% at no extra expense or inconvenience to yourself. The effect of Gift Aid is referenced on the reverse of the donation form.
