You can support Legal Aid in many ways – such as an IRA distribution, a Donor Advised Fund, or payroll giving through your employer. Some also choose to make gifts of stocks, property, or as a planned gift in their will. Read more about each option below or give our team a call to discuss how you would like to support our work: 216-861-5415.
Gifts through Individual Retirement Accounts
Are you an IRA owner age 70½ or older? Are you required to take a taxable distribution that you don’t need? Consider supporting Legal Aid directly from your IRA and gain tax advantages for you and/or your spouse.
If you are 70 ½ or older, you can transfer up to $105,000, tax-free, from your IRA to a qualified charity each year as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). The IRA Charitable Rollover and mandatory minimum distributions are great ways to make a tax-free gift and satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), too.
Things to know:
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- If you don’t itemize your income tax deductions, a QCD offers all the benefits of an itemized income tax charitable deduction;
- Each IRA owner can make a gift of up to $105,000 annually, which is up to $210,000 for a couple;
- Gifts are sent directly from your IRA to Legal Aid;
- If you are age 73 or older and must take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), a QCD gift can satisfy your RMD without increasing your income taxes;
- You can direct your gift to a program or area of your choice.
Click here for a quick summary of Charitable IRA Rollovers to Legal Aid, including (on page 2) a sample request letter you can use with your IRA custodian or trustee. Click here for a pledge form you can return to Legal Aid.
Gifts through a Donor-Advised Fund
A donor-advised fund, or DAF, is like a charitable investment account for the sole purpose of supporting charitable organizations you care about, like Legal Aid.
When you contribute cash, securities, or other assets to a donor-advised fund, you are generally eligible to take an immediate tax deduction. Then those funds can be invested for tax-free growth, and you can directly recommend grants to Legal Aid, or other eligible IRS-qualified public charities.
Make a DAF gift to Legal Aid from your fund!
Gifts through American Express Reward Points
If you earn American Express Membership Reward points, consider making a gift to Legal Aid! Through American Express JustGiving program, you can redeem your American Express Membership Rewards program points to make a gift to Legal Aid. 1,000 Membership Rewards points = $10.00 to Legal Aid!
Gifts through United Ways or Other Payroll Giving Programs
Legal Aid is proud to be the longest continually funded United Way partner organization in the country. Our shared passion for justice and equality helps strengthen the community by ensuring that all individuals and families have access to education, financial opportunity, and a healthy life.
Please consider making a gift to Legal Aid through the United Way in your area – a gift through United Way, wherever you live, can still be directed to the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. We operate four offices and serve residents of Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain counties. Your investment will directly contribute to life-changing outcomes in the areas of safety, health, housing, education, and economic stability. You can designate all or a portion of your United Way giving to Legal Aid directly when you give.
Each fall, the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) enables Federal employees and retirees to come together to raise money and volunteer for their favorite charities. Find out more and get involved: Ohio CFC | Combined Federal Campaign (givecfc.org)
Use Legal Aid’s CFC charity code 89606 to set up a gift here: CFC Donor Pledging System (opm.gov)
Interested in organizing a fundraiser for Legal Aid?
Do you have an idea for an event or activity to raise funds for Legal Aid? Please get in touch to let us know and find out how we can support you, and get inspired by some of these examples:
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- Our friends at Tucker Ellis are hosting their second Tucker Ellis Talent Show to benefit Legal Aid. The first one in 2022 was a success – anyone can vote for an act by making a donation – this is a great example of a fun workplace event that also benefits Legal Aid’s mission.
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- As a law student, Lauren wanted to continue supporting Legal Aid while she was studying abroad so she decided to run her first half marathon. She asked supporters to make a gift to Legal Aid to help keep her motivated to achieve her goals. Read the full story here.
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- In 2024, Case Western Reserve University’s Phi Alpha Delta chapter held their 6th Annual Law Gala to benefit Legal Aid. This networking event gives students a chance to mingle with each other and a wide range of local professionals and has become a staple of the annual calendar.
There are so many more ways to support Legal Aid with a creative fundraiser that brings people together and raises awareness of our work. It can be as simple as a Facebook Birthday Fundraiser or social media post, or a more formal gala dinner or music festival.
If you’d like to work with Legal Aid on a fundraising event or gift the proceeds of your fundraiser, please get in touch as early in the process as possible to find out how we can best work together to make your event a success! Dial 216-861-5217 to discuss your idea.
Gifts through Event Sponsorship
For thousands of people every year, Legal Aid is the difference between homelessness & home; danger & safety; poverty & security. You can help us help more people by becoming a Sponsor of Legal Aid’s events: Jam for Justice and our Annual Meeting & Report to the Community. Sponsors receive 10 tickets to each event and promotion across all Legal Aid social media platforms (with a combined followership of 12,000) and our digital Annual Meeting program (shared with 20,000+). Learn more by calling 216-861-5217 or fill out our sponsorship form here: 2024-Legal-Aid-Annual-Meeting-Sponsorship-Form-fillable.pdf (lasclev.org)