Ways to Give

A Tribute Gift is a thoughtful way to celebrate a special person or mark an important occasion while contributing to the powerful mission of Voices for Children. You can also use this program to raise money by asking others to give to Voices for Children in lieu of gifts for birthdays, graduations, weddings, anniversaries, or other events.

Memorial Gifts are a caring and impactful way to remember a loved one while supporting the needs of foster children. We are proud to assist you in honoring the memory of a loved one. Once we process your information, you will receive an acknowledgment letter, and the person of your choosing will also receive a letter notifying them that you have made a gift in the honoree’s name (we do not disclose the amount of the gift).

Gifts can be made online or through the mail. Please mail checks to Voices for Children, 2851 Meadow Lark Drive, San Diego, CA 92123-2709. You may also use your credit card to make a donation over the phone. Just call 858-598-2211. We are here to answer your questions and help facilitate any Tribute or Memorial Gifts you may wish to make.

Setting up a monthly, quarterly, or annual gift is an easy and convenient way to make a difference year-round for foster children. Contact your bank about a recurring, automatic payment via bank-issued check, or provide us with your credit card information and request an automatic draft. For more information and assistance in setting up a Recurring Gift to Voices for Children, email giving@speakupnow.org.

Giving appreciated securities—stocks, bonds, and mutual funds—benefits both donors and Voices for Children. In most cases, donors receive a charitable deduction for the full fair market value of the security and do not have to pay capital gains tax on the transfer of securities that have been held for at least a year. For information about transferring securities, email giving@speakupnow.org.

Did you know that many employers offer generous “matching gift programs” that can double or even triple the impact of your donation to Voices for Children? Matching gift programs can dramatically increase your charitable gift at no additional cost to you. Many companies will match their employees’ donations (and sometimes even employee spouse or retiree gifts as well!).  Some companies even match volunteer hours and in-kind donations.

Find out if your employer or the employers of your friends and family have matching gift programs. You can often get more information from your company’s HR department. Each company has its own guidelines, but many will match gifts annually. Leverage your support to help more foster children!

View a list of corporations that offer matching gifts here.  With any questions, email giving@speakupnow.org.

Would you like to help Voices for Children continue its mission into the future? A simple, flexible, and versatile way to ensure we can provide the CASA program for generations to come is to name Voices for Children in your will or living trust, by making a charitable bequest. Such “planned gifts” can have significant tax benefits for donors and your heirs. By including Voices for Children in your estate planning, you can make a legacy gift that may not be possible during your lifetime. Bequests in any amount can be unrestricted or designated for a specific purpose.

Here is sample wording for you and your attorney to consider when including a bequest to Voices for Children in your estate:  “I give to Voices for Children, a nonprofit organization (IRS EIN #95-3786047) located in San Diego, California, the sum of $_________ [or property described herein].”

Aside from a simple will or estate designation, there are other options for planned giving including a charitable gift annuity, a charitable lead trust, or a life insurance policy. Always check with your estate attorney or financial adviser for additional information.

VFC has established The Advocates Circle to honor and recognize those donors who have told us that Voices for Children is included in their estates. The Chair of The Advocates Circle is Kathryn Ashworth, Esq., the co-founder of Voices for Children.  Members are invited to special events to acknowledge those leaving a legacy for foster children.  To join, you simply need to inform us of your plans.  For more information, email giving@speakupnow.org.

Our CASAs love to take their children on special “field trips” and Voices for Children welcomes donations of tickets to all sports events, the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, museums, musical performances, or other local attractions!  You can help our CASAs to provide special activities to enrich our foster children’s quality of life.  All year long, we also welcome donations to our Children’s Assistance Fund or outright donations of Gift Cards in increments of $25 or $50, which we give to foster children on their birthdays or at the holidays.  Please view our wish list. For more information, call 858-598-2222 or email children@speakupnow.org.

Do you belong to a group or organization that raises funds for charities? Would you and a group of friends like to organize your own small event with proceeds donated to Voices for Children? Please contact us at 858-598-2232 or email events@speakupnow.org to let us know about your event. Approved events may use our logo and mission to help raise funds to support Voices for Children.

“The Starfish Story” is a fictional tale that symbolizes the work of our CASAs and Voices for Children: you can make a difference in someone’s life, one person at a time. We are pleased to offer a sophisticated line of Starfish Collectibles, designed around “The Starfish Story.” All proceeds of our beautifully packaged, hand-blown glass paperweights, keepsakes, and ornaments, as well as our sterling silver starfish-themed jewelry, benefit Voices for Children. These glass pieces, created and made by a talented San Diego glass artist, are unique wedding favors and corporate gifts, as well as meaningful gifts for birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions. Each piece comes with “The Starfish Story” enclosed. Visit our Starfish Store now, learn more about the story behind the starfish, and place an order! You will be helping a foster child.

Donating your car, truck, van, SUV, boat, motorcycle, ATV, RV, trailer or airplane to benefit a charity has never been easier! Cars Inc. provides vehicle donation services for Voices for Children. Simply give them a call and trained staff will guide you through the donation process.  They take care of everything, including pick-up and sale, then send you a nice tax deduction at the end. Vehicles do not even have to be operational! Get that clunker out of your driveway! For more information, email giving@speakupnow.org.

The focus of United Way of San Diego is to help San Diego’s children and families grow stronger, and Voices for Children welcomes donations through United Way’s workplace giving. Our United Way number is 96584. For more information, visit United Way of San Diego County.