Ways to give

Cash Contributions

Cash gifts are tax-deductible up to 50% of the donor’s adjusted gross income. Gifts in excess of the 50% limit can be carried forward and deducted for up to five subsequent years. In most states the income tax code also allows for a charitable deduction for such cash gifts. The Carroll Center takes individual donations of cash in the following ways:

Online

Network for Good

The Carroll Center is listed with Network for Good, an online network that links charitable organizations with volunteers, donors and businesses nationwide. Donations may be made online following this link to their website.

Facebook

If you are a user of the social networking site Facebook, you can support the Carroll Center’s cause.

GoodSearch

The easiest way to give money to the Carroll Center online is to use the Yahoo! powered search site GoodSearch. Specify the Carroll Center for the Blind as your favorite charity and each search you make results in a small donation to the Carroll Center by the good folks at GoodSearch. It costs you absolutely nothing. If you search the Internet often, you could raise a lot of money and make a big difference for the Carroll Center and the clients we serve.

Checks

To make a donation by check, please print this donation form and send your gift to Development Office, Carroll Center for the Blind, 770 Centre Street, Newton, MA 02458 or stop by our offices at the same address and make your donation in person. We would love to give you a tour and let you see the great things your money is helping to fund.

Credit card

Gifts paid by credit card can be mailed as above using this printable donation form or called into the Development Office at 617-969-6200 ext. 245 or 1-800-852-3131. The Carroll Center can only accept Visa and Mastercard.

Honors and Memorials

Many supporters of The Carroll Center for the Blind send donations as a tribute to a friend or relative on a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary or as a memorial remembrance. These thoughtful gifts are acknowledged to the person or family, but no amount is shown. You may send your donation directly to The Carroll Center. Be sure to indicate the name of the person that your gift is in honor or in memory of and please include your address as well as the address of your honoree or their family. Click here for the online form.

Donate a Vehicle

If you have a vehicle that you would like to donate to support The Carroll Center, visit http://www.v-dac.com/ and choose the Carroll Center as the charity you would like to support.

Planned Gifts

Now there are several ways to achieve your financial goals while helping The Carroll Center.

Bequests

Donors do not have to part with any money during their lifetime. Bequests are gifts of cash or property that are made through a donor’s will. The following are wording samples you may use in revising your will:

• “I give to the Carroll Center for the Blind, Inc, the sum of $__.”
• “I give to the Carroll Center for the Blind, Inc, _% of my estate after paying my just debts and specific bequests.”
• “I give to the Carroll Center for the Blind, Inc, the remainder of my estate after paying my just debts and specific bequests.”

When drawing up your will, seek the advice of an attorney.

Life Insurance

When you have provided for your family’s financial security and the need for coverage you felt was important earlier in your life no longer exists, you may consider listing The Carroll Center as a beneficiary on one or more of your life insurance policies. This is one of the most common forms of planned giving.

Charitable Gift Annuity

Creating a charitable gift annuity is a way to contribute to the future of The Carroll Center vital programs, receive a generous, guaranteed income, and benefit from tax savings. A charitable gift annuity is a simple contract between a donor and The Carroll Center. In exchange for an irrevocable gift of cash, property or securities The Carroll Center agrees to pay one or two annuitants a fixed sum monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually for life. Charitable gift annuities may be created with a gift of $20,000 or more.

Charitable Remainder UniTrusts

Arranging a charitable remainder trust is a way to provide income for yourself, a spouse, or others, while reaping benefits from your generous donation. The Carroll Center, in turn, receives much-needed support to continue its programs for the blind and visually impaired.
A Charitable Remainder UniTrust is a separately managed trust that pay an income beneficiary (you your spouse, children, etc.) a return based on the annual market value of the trust assets, as revalued each year. To create a CRT you irrevocably transfer assets, such as cash, securities, or real estate, to a trustee of your choice. The trustee will then invest the assets and manage the UniTrust as a separate account. Depending on your goals, the UniTrust will pay your beneficiaries a fixed or variable income either throughout their lifetime, for a fixed term of 20 years or less, or a combination of the two. Upon establishing the UniTrust, you may claim an income tax deduction for a portion of the value of the gift. Additional contributions to a Unitrust are permitted without having to create a new trust each time an additional gift is made.

Charitable Lead Trusts

This gift is the reverse of a Charitable Remainder UniTrust. In this option, The Carroll Center receives an annual income based on the annual market value of the trust assets for a specified time, after which the asset is transferred back to the donor or to the donor’s heirs. A charitable lead trust can reduce gift and estate taxes and provide an income benefit to the donor. Just like the Remainder Trust, Charitable Lead Trusts also receive the same preferential tax treatment.

Corporate Gifts

Your company may match charitable gifts made to The Carroll Center by its employees or retirees. This type of gift doubles the Center’s receipts and is very much appreciated. For your convenience we provide a list of common companies with employee matching gift programs. A corporate gift is received directly from a corporation’s charitable giving department and is not dependent upon an employee gift.

For more information please contact:

Joe Quintanilla, Development Director

Carroll Center for the Blind
770 Centre Street
Newton, MA 02458
617.969.6200 or 1.800.852.3131 ext. 245
Email: joe.quintanilla@carroll.org