Planned Giving

PLANNED GIVING

Planned gifts are charitable gifts made through your estate. Planning a gift from your estate offers substantial benefits both to you and to the school.

A planned gift may take a variety of forms: a simple bequest through your will, designation of a percentage of proceeds from your life insurance or retirement plan, a charitable trust, IRA distribution, or a gift of real estate or personal property. These gifts can provide significant tax benefits to you while strengthening FCS for years to come.

If you would like to include FCS in your estate plans, we would be happy to provide information and discuss various options available. For more information, contact Christine Dunathan, Director of Advancement, at christine@friendscommunityschool.org or 301-441-2100, ext 127.

When making planned giving decisions, we recommend that you confer with your financial planner or attorney to secure the greatest benefit for yourself while helping the school.

Planned Giving Options

Simple Bequest
A bequest is a gift made through your will or living trust by adding a sentence describing your wishes. For example:
--a specific dollar amount
--a percentage of your estate
--whatever remains after specific beneficiaries have been paid
--other options as your advisor recommends

Sample bequest language is available upon request.

Minimum IRA Distribution
If you must take a minimum required distribution from your IRA, you have the option to direct your IRA administrator, through a simple form, to transfer all or a portion of the required distribution to Friends Community School. In doing so, the amount directed to FCS is not considered income to you by the IRS and may provide you with a significant tax benefit. The IRA administrator (such as TIAA, Fidelity, Vanguard, etc.) can provide the form to you.

Plesae see Charitable Gift Annuities, Bequests and Other Planned Giving in the Ways of Giving box to the right for further details.

Donate Now

Ways of Giving

List of 5 items.

Cash or Credit/Debit Card Gifts

Convenient, secure online gifts may be made by clicking on the Donate Now button at the top right of the page.

If you would like to pay by check, please make it payable to Friends Community School, with the fund to which you are giving written on the memo line, and mail it to FCS at the address below.

You may also give by using an FCS donation envelope, mailed in late Fall and always available in the school foyer. Telephone donations are also possible. Please call Christine Dunathan at 301-441-2100 for a donation envelope or to make a gift by telephone.
IRA, Stock or Mutual Fund Gifts

A gift through a direct transfer of part of your minimum IRA distribution may reduce your income tax. Gifts of appreciated securities may also offer you significant tax savings. FCS’s Schwab brokerage account number is #1036-0794. Our DTC number is #0164. Please contact Christine Dunathan at 301-441-2100 for details and to let us know to expect your transaction. Thank you!
Pledge to Give

Pledges allow donors to plan their giving over time. Often, pledges give you as the donor a way to make a larger donation than if your gift were paid today.

You may make a pledge to be paid either in the future via a lump sum or in installments, within a single year or over several years. The online giving form makes giving or pledging simple using a credit or debit card. You may also download a paper pledge form, or contact Christine Dunathan at 301-441-2100 or christine@friendscommunityschool.org to pledge your support.
Corporate Matching Gifts

Many companies offer a matching gift program that matches or even triples the value of your gift. Please contact your Human Resources Office to see if your company offers such a program. For questions or assistance with any paperwork, please contact Christine Dunathan at 301-441-2100.
Charitable Gift Annuities, Bequests, and Other Planned Giving

Planned giving benefits the school and can also provide you or your estate with significant tax and/or income benefits. FCS offers a number of planned giving options, including charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts, and bequests of cash, securities, insurance, and other assets.

FCS’s Schwab brokerage account number is #1036-0794. Our DTC number is #0164.

Please contact Christine Dunathan at 301-441-2100 to let us know your gift is coming, or to learn more about the planned giving options available.