The Pacific Foundation for Blind Children depends on charitable giving to fulfill its mission to broaden and enhance educational and employment opportunities for individuals who are blind and visually impaired. Your charitable gifts are very important to us!
General or dedicated
Your gifts to the PFBC can be applied to specific programs, services or funds (dedicated gifts), or to the PFBC general fund (unrestricted gifts).
Dedicated gifts are restricted to the purpose or fund requested by the donor. The PFBC currently maintains funds dedicated to equipment purchases, education, training and travel opportunities, program development, and medical needs, and funds such as the Val Ogden Society.
General gifts are deposited to the PFBC general fund, which is used for operations, projects, programs and grant requests for purposes other than those covered by dedicated funds. Unrestricted gifts that are not consumed by PFBC grants are dedicated to the Foundation’s general endowment fund.
The PFBC is currently building a general endowment fund with the long–range goal to make PFBC self–supporting — we want the Foundation to pay for its operating needs solely on income generated by the general endowment.
What To Give
You can contribute to the success of the PFBC mission in many ways:
- One–time cash gifts.
- Annual cash gifts paid in monthly, quarterly, or other periodic installments.
- Appreciated stock, mutual fund shares, or closely held stock. Usually, a gift of appreciated stock or mutual fund shares can qualify for an income tax deduction equal to its current market value, and there is no capital gain tax when the fund shares are sold by the PFBC. Note: The Pacific Foundation for Blind Children has an internal policy to sell stock immediately.
- Real estate or personal property. Consider a gift of real estate to make a substantial outright or planned gift. Gifts of valuable items like jewelry, antiques, or art can also create charitable legacies.
- Assets of a family foundation or other private foundations can continue to achieve a philanthropic objective while taking advantage of cost–savings, regulatory, administrative and excise tax burdens of self–administered funds.
- Gifts of IRAs and other retirement funds lessen the impact of income, estate and generation-skipping taxes on a family’s inheritance by naming the PFBC as the beneficiary.
- Assignment of life insurance benefits. A donor can deduct insurance premiums by assigning a life insurance policy to the PFBC as owner and beneficiary. When the policy is redeemed, a permanent fund can be created to support the donor’s charitable goals.
Planned Giving
Planned giving strategies can help you make charitable gifts while enjoying tax benefits and preserving economic value of what you give for yourself and your loved ones. There are many ways for individuals to benefit the PFBC long into the future through estate plans. For example:
- Bequests are the most common way to make lasting gifts. Simply list the Pacific Foundation for Blind Children as a beneficiary of your estate plan. Donors are encouraged to consult with our staff when preparing their estate plans to insure that the Foundation is able to carry out their wishes.
- IRA, 401(k), or other qualified retirement plan assets may be used to leave a legacy simply by naming the PFBC as the beneficiary.
- Life insurance can be used if you name the PFBC as the owner and beneficiary of a new or existing policy, perhaps a policy that is no longer essential to your financial goals. Premiums on the policy that you pay will then become tax deductible.
- Charitable Remainder Trusts allow you to receive income (or provide income for another person) with the knowledge that the funds remaining when the trust terminates will be used to support your charitable interests.
- Charitable Lead Trusts enable you to make significant charitable gifts in the near term while eventually transferring substantial assets to beneficiaries, who may benefit from significantly lowered gift and estate taxes.
Other Ways To Help
You do not have to spend money to help the PFBC mission. The PFBC relies on volunteers to help raise awareness about the needs of the Foundation and the people it serves. You can help by:
- Become an event sponsor. The PFBC hosts several charitable or fund–raising events each year. These events can not occur without the generous support of event sponsors who provide products or personnel.
- Donate prizes or complimentary gifts that the PFBC can distribute at its events.
- Volunteer time. The PFBC relies on volunteers to keep its operational costs low.
- Join us as a corporate partner. Investing in the Pacific Foundation for Blind Children is not only a rewarding philanthropic decision, it is just good business! Your company can take the spotlight with exceptional exposure to a premium potential customer base. The Washington State School for the Blind is one of the leading educational schools for the blind and visually impaired throughout the United States. Your support helps to give its students equal education and the training necessary to give them the confidence that anything they choose to do is possible. Sponsorships and contributions can be designated for sponsorship of various education programs, special events, technology and support, grants, required Braille books and audio needs, and special assistance for independent living. All PFBC corporate sponsors receive public recognition for their support. If you would like more information about corporate giving, contact JaReda Webb by phone (360) 696-6321 extension 177 or email.
Thank You
Your gracious gifts help provide each person in Washington State who is blind or visually impaired with the tools, skills and training necessary to give them confidence that anything they choose to do is possible. We thank you for your support.
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.”
—Dr. Seuss
