Your gifts to the Illinois College of Optometry make a difference and support our mission to provide excellence in optometric education.

Annual Fund
The Annual Fund consists of unrestricted donations toward operational support for clinical and classroom instruction, physical plant maintenance and patient care. The College directs Annual Fund gifts to the areas of greatest need. Money raised through the Annual Fund is spent within the year it is received.  As such, it must always be replenished.

Scholarships
One of the College’s highest priorities is to increase the amount of scholarship support available to our students so that deserving applicants can better afford their optometric education.

Gifts of any size can be directed to the general scholarship fund or toward an existing scholarship fund.  New named scholarships can be established either with an expendable gift of at least $500 for a one-time award or through a gift to endowment of at least $10,000 for gifts in perpetuity.

Charitable Services
The Illinois Eye Institute (IEI), the clinical division of the College is one of the largest providers of eye care in the state of Illinois, serving over 90,000 patient visits yearly. Through the participation of its faculty and students, as well as through the donation of materials and services, ICO provides extensive charitable services. Gifts to support the IEI’s charitable services will directly benefit people in need and will advance the College’s commitment to service for its community.

Research
The commitment of faculty to contribute to the body of knowledge through scholarly activity and/or patient care excellence is a core value for the College. With a patent population that is typified by people with complex health issues, the Illinois Eye Institute has a strong base for supporting excellence in clinical education and research.

Philanthropic support is sought to defray research-related capital and equipment costs as well as other associated expenses.

Faculty
The cornerstone of the ICO’s preeminent academic program is its outstanding faculty. ICO’s strategic plan, Focus on our Future, calls for reinvestment in its intellectual capital – including its faculty – to protect and enhance this critical resource.

Gift opportunities in support of faculty include:

• Faculty Development Fund to support faculty development activities including travel, meeting registration, sabbatical related expenses and speaker honorariums and fees.
• Research Funding to provide critical resources for the pursuit of ongoing or new studies.
• Named Professorships to endow a professorship to provide salary and research funds in perpetuity.

Named Facilities
A gift to name a facility within the Illinois College of Optometry or Illinois Eye Institute provides the donor with recognition for their gift or an opportunity to memorialize a family member. Titles for the naming opportunities will be determined based upon the donor’s preference and College policy.