Become A Donor
As a donor you automatically become a member of the Friends of the Institute for Astronomy and have exciting opportunities to explore our Universe. We invite you to support our core missions of education, research and public outreach with a tax-deductible donation.
How to Become a Donor
To become a donor, use either one of the following methods. In either case, you decide on the amount of your donation. We encourage you to help the IfA as much as you can. Your gift is fully tax-deductible to the extent provided by law.
- Print and fill out a donation form and mail or fax it, as indicated on the form. OR
- Use the University of Hawaii Foundation secure Web site. UHF processes all donations to the IfA.
For more information about making gifts and bequests to the Institute for Astronomy, please see More Information About Giving below. If you have any questions please contact us.
Donor Benefits
Friends touring the Subaru Telescope at the summit of Mauna Kea.
Donors receive the following benefits:
- E-mail or printed invitations to public events, including the quarterly Frontiers of Astronomy lectures, the annual IfA Open House, and more.
- E-mail or printed subscription to the IfA quarterly newsletter, Na Kilo Hoku.
Donors may also receive these benefits:
- Invitations and advanced notice to special events, such as lectures by internationally known scientists.
- Invitations to receptions to meet scientists, laboratory tours, star parties, and astronomy workshops.
- To meet IfA's prominent astronomers, who observe on the world's premier telescopes on Mauna Kea and Haleakala.
More Information About Giving
Donated SteadyPix camera mounts.
Gifts and bequests to benefit the Institute for Astronomy are an important means of enhancing educational and research programs. They are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law and may be made in the form of securities or through estate gifts. Opportunities to support the IfA's education, research, and outreach goals include the following:
- Sponsoring student or post-doctoral fellows.
- Providing gifts of laboratory or computer equipment. Please view our Wish List.
- Endowing a named faculty position or research group within the IfA.
Donations go to an IfA fund used for such activities as public outreach and graduate student support, at the discretion of the IfA Director. Donors of more than $500 may direct their donations to specific programs, such as graduate student support, research support, or undergraduate teaching. Please contact the Friends at friends@ifa.hawaii.edu or (808) 956-8566 if you wish to designate your gift for a specific program. The Friends governing council tracks the use of all donations.