Donate

There are many ways you can help TFI through giving. Our goal is to build better tomorrows for families and children which can be seen through our different programs and our work. By giving generously, you can help us change the life of a youth and become a part of our mission, Devoted to the Strength of Family.

You are making a difference by contributing to TFI. For children in the state’s care, being able to participate in school activities and sports can help them thrive when everything else in their life seems upside down. Whether it is belonging to a team headed to the championships, attending driver’s education program for a teen or accessing extra study help to get a high school diploma, your support matters.

Other donations may go towards education scholarships, increasing support for our independent living programs, parent training programs for foster families, respite care or ongoing upgrades that are necessary in our information management systems. TFI keeps track of all donations to ensure they are used as directed.

Community Fundraising

There are many ways to raise funds for TFI simply through shopping the way you’ve always done. Check out these opportunities and be sure to designate TFI as your benefiting nonprofit.

Dillons Community Rewards

Help support TFI every time you swipe your Dillons Plus Shopper’s Card. Here’s how it works:

1. Pick up a rewards card from your neighborhood Dillons store
2. Visit dillons.com/communityrewards
3. Create an account or sign in if you already have one
4. Go to Community Rewards – Enroll now
5. Select our organization by searching for TFI or entering the code “73739”

When Foster Care parents provide a home for children in the State’s care, many times there isn’t the extra money in their own budget to provide for music instruments, sport equipment, or lessons for a budding artist. Giving an in-kind donation means that you are giving a saxophone you no longer play or a dance studio gives a year of free dance lessons to a little girl who just wants to dance.

Gift cards to the movie theaters, tickets to the zoo, miniature golf, and memberships to a nearby fitness center or pool are all gifts that will brighten a youth’s day and give them childhood experiences that perhaps they wouldn’t have had without your kindness.

A note about donating tickets: If there is a concert coming to town or a sporting event that you think would be something our youth would enjoy, let us know in advance, and we will coordinate your generous offer!

At the end of the summer, backpacks and school supplies are always welcomed and during the holidays, gifts! Restaurant and store gift cards make great door prizes for our Foster Care Parent retreats.

In-kind gifts also play a huge part in making our fundraising events successful!

Please feel free to contact our program locations regarding any donation you want to make, or call Marketing at 972-685-1400 and we will make sure to connect you with the right person and program!

For cash donations, contact our Finance Department at 877-942-2239.

Gift Options that Help Children

Planned Giving integrates a donor’s charitable gifts into his or her overall financial, tax, and estate planning objectives in order to maximize benefits to both the donor and TFI Planned gifts typically come from a donor’s assets rather than income and hold many benefits in the area of tax deductions.

There are basically three types of giving—immediate gifts, deferred gifts, and planned gifts that give back.

Immediate gifts are popular due to their simplicity and the instant gratification of seeing your generosity put to work on behalf of children.

Cash gifts are the simplest type of charitable donation, providing benefits and immediate support to TFI You may deduct a cash gift for income tax purposes during the year in which you contribute it. Cash gifts are deductible for up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income for the taxable year.

Another popular option is a gift of securities. The best stocks to donate are those that have highly appreciated in value. Stock gifts are often deductible for up to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income, and you may avoid tax on the immediate capital gain. Registered securities should be sent unassigned to TFI Stock or bond powers endorsed with guaranteed signatures should be sent under a separate cover.

TFI will consider any potential gift of real estate, but reserves the right to refuse it. This includes property with either no mortgage or one with a mortgage (if the property is worth substantially more than the mortgage). Gifts of appreciated real estate can produce significant tax benefits, depending on the circumstances.

All three of the above assets may be used to fund a planned gift.

Deferred gifts are planned now but do not go into effect for TFI until a specified later time or event.

A bequest or memorial gift can specify a certain amount of money, a particular asset, or a portion of your estate be given to TFI Residuary gifts offer a way to help others once your family and heirs are provided for by indicating that the remainder of your estate is left to TFI This is a wonderful opportunity to continue making a difference in a child’s life far into the future, and it can be as simple as a sentence or two included in your will.

Life Insurance is another planned giving option. If TFI is named as beneficiary and owner of the policy, the gift will provide you with a tax deduction for the present cash value of the policy and/or future premiums.

Gifts that give back combine your gift with sustained income or benefits for you or your beneficiaries.

These plans are popular because they allow you to make a sizable gift to TFI while continuing to receive life income. The following plans give a general idea of how they work. If you are interested in learning more, please contact our Finance Department and we will set up a meeting to explore any of these options with you.

Charitable gift annuities are perhaps the most popular giving option in this category. You simply give a certain amount of money or assets to TFI, and in return, you or your beneficiaries could receive an annual set income for the rest of your life. The payout rate is usually determined by the donor’s age on the date of the gift. Charitable gift annuities allow you to make a generous contribution to TFI without depriving you of present and future income.

Other options are also available. The charitable lead trust places certain assets into a trust that pays out income and/or interest to TFI Once the trust “matures,” either at a fixed amount or after an established period of time, whatever remains is returned to you or your designated beneficiaries.

With a charitable remainder trust, assets are irrevocably transferred to the organization under a trust agreement, and then income or interest is paid to you for life or for a term of years. The advantages of this trust include income for life, avoiding capital gains tax if the trust is funded with appreciated securities, receiving immediate charitable income tax deduction, the possibility of reducing your estate tax, and the satisfaction of supporting TFI

This website is not intended as legal or tax advice, and it is highly recommended that donors consult with their own tax or legal advisors and our development professionals prior to making a planned gift to TFI To find out more about ways you can help, please contact our Finance Department at 877-942-2239.

Volunteering

If you’re interested in volunteering for TFI, please visit our volunteer page. We are always so appreciative of those who give of their time and skills to further our mission of strengthening families.

Having a open heart and some time is all that it takes to volunteer! Individuals who serve as volunteers are truly invaluable resources to our organization. Because we know in today’s world, there are no longer stereotypical volunteers, we give you many different opportunities to give!

Listed below are ways you can invest in the youth we so passionately serve through our programs.

Throughout the year we have several special events where you can potentially serve on the planning committee as well as lend hands-on help during the event itself.

Our annual Foster Care Parent Retreats where volunteers/staff take care of the youth while Foster Care parents are treated to a day of workshops and great food. It’s a great way to spend one day of your time that truly makes a difference for both Foster Care parents and their children!

Volunteers can help plan, decorate, provide resources and/or serve at holiday parties for youth in our programs.

If you have a background in construction, mechanical, AC/Heating, electrical and would like to donate those skills for maintenance projects, please let us know!

Volunteering time to teach a class in computer skills, art, sewing or cooking, is another way that would invest in the lives of the youth..

Note: Anytime volunteers work directly with youth, they will need to pass background checks.

For other interests of giving or volunteering please contact Libby Hayden at 785-294-6606 or email volunteer@tfifamily.org.