by Kerry Roeder, Executive Director
One of the joys of being part of Historic Fair Hill is that what we do has both immediate and long term lasting impacts. A big part of my role is fundraising, so that we can continue to deepen and expand this work. I like to think about fundraising and giving as a way for us to redistribute wealth, so that we can have a more equitable and just future.
To put it plainly: you make the programming at Fairhill possible – we do not have a single major philanthropist who backs our budget. It is continued donations from our community that are key. As you can imagine, our needs are great: rising costs, increased needs, and our commitment to paying our staff what they deserve.
Every gift, large or small, is incredibly meaningful, and I’m grateful that we all do what we can to support each other. As you consider your philanthropic priorities in the months ahead, I hope that Fairhill will be at the top of your list. Here are just a few ways to consider making an impactful gift.
Unrestricted Gifts – Our Greatest Need
Donations that can go to where there is the most need are an incredibly helpful way to give, whether it’s $50 or $50,000. Our programs are only as strong as our staff and everything that goes on behind the scenes to make the organization work. This includes being able to pay for salaries, but also insurance coverage, benefits, maintenance, marketing materials, porta potty fees, etc. Trusting that we will put your gift to the best use is a wonderful way to support.
Monthly & Yearly Donations
One of the big challenges of nonprofit budgeting is not knowing what’s coming next. We put together a budget at the start of each fiscal year based on what we hope we’ll be able to bring in. Monthly donations give us a predictable income stream that we can always rely on, which is super helpful. Multi-year gifts as pledges or bunched together, let us know how to budget and what we can expect over the course of the year. It also definitely helps me sleep better at night knowing that things are funded and sustainable! If you are interested in becoming a sustaining member of Historic Fair Hill or setting up a multi-year pledge, please contact me so that I can assist you in setting up your recurring commitment.
Corporate Support and Matching Gifts
Many companies offer matching gifts, which is a super easy way to double or even triple your impact with the click of a button! You can check with your employer about matching opportunities. Some companies even have generous Employee Workplace Giving Programs where supporters can choose to give us a small portion of their paycheck each month. In addition, we currently receive corporate support from the Wawa Foundation and PNC Charitable Trusts, among others. We are always looking for new corporate partnerships to support our work and would welcome an introduction or connection to Fairhill.
Giving from your IRA
If you are at least 70.5 years old, you can give directly to a qualified charity, such as Historic Fair Hill, from your IRA without having to pay income taxes on the withdrawal. This is an increasingly popular way to give. You can use this amount to help fulfill your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD).
Planned Giving
Everyone I have had the pleasure of meeting through Historic Fair Hill has been compassionate, thoughtful, and committed to making the world a better place. We have had people giving to us since our site was still a dumping ground and cleanup efforts had just started. We have volunteers going into schools weekly to read with our children and others planting and harvesting for our neighbors. Legacy Giving is a beautiful way to ensure that this work will continue well into the future. There are many ways to do this, from adding us to your will, setting up a charitable gift annuity, or setting us up as a beneficiary through your donor-advised fund or IRA.
You can also donate through a Donor Advised Fund, Stocks & Securities, and of course by check, credit card, or Venmo.
There are so many different ways of supporting us and they all matter! You can find out more by visiting historicfairhill.com/donate or by reaching out to me directly at info@historicfairhill.com. Thank you!
