Gifts in Memory and Honor

A tribute gift is a meaningful way to memorialize a loved one or to honor the impact that a special person has had on your life.

The easiest way to make tribute gifts—gifts in memory or in honor of someone—is online. Before you complete your gift to Rio, in the “Comments” section of our online form, be sure to type out who you are making your gift in memory of and provide the requested information.

Tell us the name of the person you are honoring with your gift and whether a specific fund will be used to honor this person. If you would like Rio to notify the honoree or a family member, please also indicate the name and address of the individual to be notified.

What will my gift support?

Choose any fund (including restricted and existing endowment funds) that is particularly meaningful to you or the honoree. For help determining the right fund, call the Office of Institutional Advancement at 740-245-7200 before making your gift.

Or support the Rio Scholarship Fund, a general scholarship fund that benefits undergraduate students at Rio.

May I create a named fund or endowment to honor a special person?

Yes! Through an endowment, you can honor someone and leave a permanent legacy. To establish a new fund or scholarship in memory of a family member, friend, professor, or student, please call the Office of Institutional Advancement at 740-245-7200.

How can I direct memorial gifts to Rio?

Please provide the following information:

The name of the deceased.

The name and address of any next of kin where Rio may send notifications of gifts.

If known, the fund or program that the family wishes to support. If you have not decided, an advancement officer can help you select a fund that best honors your loved one.

If you would like the obituary to include a URL to a webpage about the fund, please contact us at aknight@rio.edu.

Sample obituary language

Mailed contributions

The family has designated University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College for memorial contributions in honor of Mary Jane Smith. Please make donations payable to University of Rio Grande Office of Institutional Advancement and mail to PO Box 500, Rio Grande, OH 45674. 

Online contributions

The family has designated University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College for memorial contributions in honor of Mary Jane Smith. Please make donations online at rio.edu/giving.