WAYS TO HELP:
More ways to Give
Gifts in Honor
Sponsorship
Wills and Bequests
Workplace Giving
Matching Gifts
Airline Miles
Wish List
Shopping
Donate and make a difference
Volunteer
MORE WAYS TO GIVE: There are many ways to help Guide Dogs of America provide these extraordinary guide dogs to blind individuals who wish to live more independently.
PLANNED GIVING: Providing Life Income Gifts and Bequests lets your gift continue working beyond your lifetime to help others achieve their goals with increased mobility and independence through a partnership with a loyal and loving guide dog.
We developed the Partners in Trust Society as a way to recognize and honor the generosity of those who have included Guide Dogs of America in their planned giving. When you join our Partners In Trust Society, you receive our special "Partners In Trust" crystal jar (shown above) as a way of thanking you for your thoughtful and dedicated support. This special gift is perfect for candy, cookies, or treats for your favorite furry friend, and you can display it proudly, knowing the difference you are making in the lives of others through supporting Guide Dogs of America.
OPTIONS FOR PLANNED GIVING
WILLS AND BEQUESTS: Bequeathing a portion or amount of your will is a great way to make your gift last a lifetime and beyond. Guide Dogs of America offers different brochures and information to help you get started on planning your will. It is an important step in making sure the people and causes that are special to you are provided for in the future. Make your gift last a lifetime and beyond. Providing Life Income Gifts and Bequests lets your gift continue working beyond your lifetime to help others achieve their goals with increased mobility and independence through a partnership with a loyal and loving guide dog. Charitable organizations are not subject to gift or estate taxes so your gift continues to support the causes close to your heart, like Guide Dogs of America, without being diminished by the IRS.
CHARITABLE REMAINDER TRUSTS A Charitable Remainder trust can provide you and your beneficiaries with steady income, create a capital gains tax break, and help provide guide dogs to blind individuals.
Typically, highly appreciated assets, such as stocks or real estate is sold and the proceeds are deposited into a Charitable Remainder Trust. Due to the Trust's tax exempt status, no capital gains tax is paid at the time of sale. The trust is then set up to provide and income or life insurance to you and your beneficiaries, and the balance (or remainder) is transferred to Guide Dogs of America upon the death of the final beneficiary.
There are many ways to set up a Charitable Remainder Trust, and you will want to consult your tax attorney or C.P.A. If you need assistance, feel free to send an
email or call 818-833-6432 for more information.
GIFTS IN MEMORY AND HONOR: You can make a donation in honor or in memory of a special person, pet or occasion. These donations not only show how much you care about your special someone or pet, but they also show how much you care about the important work we do here at Guide Dogs of America. Plus, an acknowledgment card is sent to the person that you specify showing your thoughtfulness.
It has become a tradition for many G.D.A. supporters to make gifts In Memory or In Honor of loved ones, beloved pets, and special occasions. They find that helping provide a guide dog that gives companionship and a better life to a blind man or woman perfectly fits the warm, loving feelings they wish to express in congratulating, celebrating, honoring or comforting the special individuals in their lives.
You can make a donation in honor or in memory of a special person, pet, or occasion. These donations not only show how much you care about your special someone or pet, but they also show how much you care about the important work we do here at Guide Dogs of America.
When you give $25 or more we will send a handwritten card, with a special message about your thoughtfulness to the person of your choice. For gifts of $50 or more, we will send a handwritten message in a color photo card of a Guide Dogs of America dog or puppy. They are perfect for display, too!
Think of giving a gift that also gives a blind individual a loving, intelligent guide dog by using G.D.A.'s Memorial/Honor program to honor the special people, pets and occasions in your life!
Sponsorship: Sponsorship is a wonderful way to support the Guide Dogs of America program and get involved in the process. Our sponsors are given special updates and acknowledgment during the Graduation & Awards Ceremony.
There are four different Sponsorship Opportunities:
Puppy Sponsorship: Sponsoring a puppy is $4,000 and takes the puppy up until it goes into formal training. You will be given the opportunity to name the puppy and receive updates on how your puppy is doing.
Guide Dog Sponsorship: You can sponsor a guide dog completely from beginning to start, all the way through its training to graduation. This sponsorship is $19,000.
Student Sponsorship: You can sponsor a student as they go through class up to graduation. This type of sponsorship is $19,000 and shows your support of the individual who receives the guide dog.
Team Sponsorship: Team Sponsorships are our highest level of sponsorship and takes a guide dog puppy all the way through the process of training and takes a student completely through their 28 days of instruction on the Guide Dogs of America Campus. It is $38,000 to sponsor a team.
Contact Debbie Sands at 818-833-6433 for more information.
Donating through Workplace Giving Campaigns is a convenient way to support Guide Dogs of America while providing team work and morale at the office during the campaign.
There are several types of Workplace Giving Campaigns including: the Combined Federal Campaign(C.F.C.), the State Employees Charitable Campaign (S.E.C.C.), the United Way, and company sponsored Workplace Giving Campaigns.
The C.F.C. and S.E.C.C. For the C.F.C. And S.E.C.C., just look for Guide Dogs of America under Animal Funds of America or animal charities. For C.F.C. we are code #1807.
Many Workplace Campaign donor members continually support Guide Dogs of America year after year. We offer out thanks and hope you will designate us again in the future. The increased mobility and independence our blind individuals achieve through the use of a guide dog makes has changed the lives of these men and women. Please think of us again in this next, upcoming campaign.
United Way: The United Way is fractioned into different United Ways at the nation, state, and local levels. Each United Way operates independent from the other. With thousands of United Ways throughout the U.S.A. it is not possible for us to register as a member agency to all United Ways. If Guide Dogs of America is not listed in your United Way brochure, ask if you can designate to a non-listed or non-member agency. If they allow that, simply write us in as they instruct. Be sure to include our address when designating us so that they can easily contact us for verification documents. Many United Ways show their dedication to our cause annually by writing in Guide Dogs of America on their pledge card. Since we serve the entire United States and Canada, we appreciate the wide spread support. Please consider designating Guide Dogs of America in this year's campaign and thank you for your support!
Company Sponsored Workplace Giving Campaigns: Many companies have Workplace Giving Campaigns that are either a one time gift or convenient payroll deductions so that you can give throughout the year. If Guide Dogs of America is not listed in your brochure, ask your supervisor if you can write us in or add Guide Dogs of America to their list of charities. By adding Guide Dogs of America to the list of charities, you open up the door for your coworkers to also join you in supporting our mission of providing these extraordinary guide dogs for blind individuals who want to live more independently. This is a way to not only help with your gift, but also help by increasing our support. It also communicates your deep commitment to our cause to your coworkers and management team. You may also wish to ask your employer about matching gift opportunities that can double your gift, literally.
Many Companies offer a matching gift program to their employees where charitable contributions made by an employee are matched dollar for dollar by the company. This doubles your gift to Guide Dogs of America!
For example, your $35 gift to G.D.A. is matched by the company's $35 gift to G.D.A. for a total of $70.
So if you are thinking of donating to Guide Dogs of America, check to see of your employer offers a matching gift program. If they do, it is usually a matter of filling out a simple form and then G.D.A. receives the matching gift- literally doubling the value of your gift.
If you need any help, feel free to contact us at (818) 362-5834 or email us at
Guide Dogs of America covers travel expenses, such as airline tickets, for our guide dog recipients who do not live near the school. We serve blind individuals from all over the United States and Canada.
Help support our special guide dog program by donating your United Airline Plus miles or your Northwest Aircare Miles to Guide Dogs of America.
United Airline Mileage Plus- (800) 421-4655
(Speak to a customer service representative.)
Northwest WorldPerks- (800) 327-2881
(Use the automated system.)
We're hoping that some of our friends will donate:
Construction Cones: all sizes ($100 for 8)
A Microscope for the Puppy Nursery: binocular, dual lens, 4XD, 10XD, and 100X RD ($1,100)
A Speaker's Lectern ($1,500)
A Cordless Microphone ($90)
Mid-size Portable Shade Structures: EZ-UP style, 12' X 12' minimum size ($250)
Electric Deep Fryer for kitchen, 2 basket ($200)
Air Conditioner: Wheeled portable for the lounge.($600)
Air Conditioners for Kennel and Dormitory ($5,000)
2 Printer Stands ($45)
Outdoor Round Cement Picnic Table and Benches ($400)
Stereo Cabinet with doors for the dorm ($300)
Books on Tape: new or recycled ($20-25)
Describe Videos: narrative movies ($25)
As always, books on tape are wonderful donations that help provide a wide selection of entertainment for our guide dog recipients when they are in class and are taking time to relax after a hard day of training. If you wish to send books on tape, send them:
ATTN: Andi-"Books on Tape"
Guide Dogs of America
13445 Glenoaks Boulevard
Sylmar, C.A. 91342
Donate a used car! If you live in Southern California and have an automobile you no longer need or want, consider donating it to Guide Dogs of America. You will get a great tax deduction while supporting our program to enhance the lives of blind men and women through the use of a guide dog.
Any auto in running condition will help!
For more information, contact G.D.A. at (818) 362-5834 and ask for more information.