Frequently asked questions

Questions and Answers

What are we fundraising for? How do I get involved? How do I donate? Get all your questions answered below

What is BinsonGives?

BinsonGives is a thirty-six-hour Campaign involving our whole community - students, alumni, fellows, staff, and wider friends from across the world – inviting them to come together, take a moment to remember Robinson, and give back towards vital funds for both the present and future of the College.

What makes a Giving Day like BinsonGives different from any other day?

For this Campaign, several alumni have generously provided ‘Challenge Gifts’ to be unlocked – meaning that donations made during BinsonGives will have an even greater impact than if they were given at any other time.

What are we fundraising for?

This year’s BinsonGives will be themed around place – building on the generosity of previous years where our supporters claimed parts of the College, we are encouraging our community to give back to support these spaces for future generations. For this reason we are fundraising for three important causes that each reflect this central message:

  • Maintaining our Heritage – our beautiful red brick buildings are approaching fifty-years old, and require an ongoing programme of restoration and renewal. This is particularly important as we work to solve the long-term water proofing issues, through work on the infrastructure, the plumbing, and even the fabric itself. This comes alongside wider work to make Robinson more accessible, and well-equipped for the challenges of the coming years.
  • A Sustainable College – nature is central to Robinson, with the gardens a major feature of the original architects' designs, and we hope to continue to invest in them from a sustainability and environmental perspective. They are the first step towards a wider move towards Zero Carbon, and placing biodiversity at the heart of our work – but also giving students space to reflect and relax at the heart of their learning experience.
  • Make Student Memories – our Wellbeing Campaign has been one of the cornerstones of our fundraising work in recent past, and with your support we have been able to offer support to members of the community that need it most. ‘More Students, More Active, More Often’ is our guiding mantra, and every gift helps reach more of our undergraduate and postgraduate body, to help them make the most of their time at Cambridge.

Uniting all three is the way they each contribute to the College’s inspirational and forward-thinking community. This is the time to define Robinson for a lifetime to come, and we hope that you will take part in it.

For more information on any of these funds, see our individual fund pages.

What is a Challenge Fund?

Some of our generous Members have already offered funding to help incentivise others to give if certain challenges are met during BinsonGives – such as overall participation, number of fund donations, and amount of gifts made in a specific period. By giving even a small gift, you could unlock a much larger amount of support for Robinson.

The full list will be published here in advance of the day.

Can anyone give to this Campaign?

Yes! We want to encourage donations from as many people as possible – if Robinson has made a difference to your life, in whatever way, please do consider contributing on this special day.

Is my payment secure?

Yes. All payments through the BinsonGives website will be securely processed by Stripe – www.stripe.com/gb/privacy.

Why is my payment not going through?

Please check that you have included your postcode in both the address field and the card details field of the gift form. If there is still a problem you may have to contact your card provider and inform them that the payment is valid. For any queries please contact us at development-office@robinson.cam.ac.uk

Is there another way to donate to you other than online?

Yes, you can contact us at development-office@robinson.cam.ac.uk or call +44 (0) 1223 339037 and we’ll be delighted to help you make your gift.

I'm a US resident, can I give tax effectively?

Yes! Cambridge in America is a registered 501(C)3 organisation, which enables American donors (Residents and taxpayers of the USA) to give tax efficiently for the benefit of the University and the colleges using their secure website.

Can I setup a Direct Debit for a regular gift?

Yes, if you have a UK bank account click here.

If I set up a recurring payment, what will show in the totaliser?

The total of your direct debit payments for the duration of time selected will show up in the total raised on the website.

What if I can’t give on the day itself?

If you already know you will be busy on December 4th and 5th you can give in advance to ensure your gift still has maximum impact. If you want to make a donation now you can do so via the links here.

Can I see my gift on this website?

Yes! If you’ve chosen not to make your gift anonymous, you can take a look at the donor wall to see your name, and any message that you have been thoughtful enough to leave. The online donor wall can be accessed here, whether or not you have donated yet.

I’ve made a gift – what else can I do to get involved?

First of all – thank you! Our work wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of supporters such as yourself.

One of the best ways to maximise your support is by connecting with your friends, and inspiring them to get involved as well. For example, you can even share our BinsonGives posts on your social media, we will be using #BinsonGives2024 throughout the Giving Day on the following platforms:

Even just letting your friends know that you have taken part can make a real difference.

What if I still have a question?

Please do contact the Development Office on development-office@robinson.cam.ac.uk or give us a call on +44 (0)1223 768894 and we will be happy to help.

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