Ways to Give
WHY GIVE?
More than 15,000 women and children have been served by Abby’s House since our inception in 1976. Each woman for whom we have opened the door is on her own unique journey, and here at Abby’s, she can regroup and rebuild her life. At Abby’s, women are treated with respect and dignity and are provided with the supports they need to move forward.
We remain steadfastly true to our mission and to our values and treat each woman individually, based on her hopes, aspirations, and strengths. We rely on your generosity to serve each woman in the best way for her. Our work would not be possible without you!
YOUR GIFT’S IMPACT
Every donation that is made to Abby’s House supports our critical programs and services. In 2021, with your support:
- 98 women and 10 children resided in our supportive housing
- 28 women were welcomed into the shelter
- 21 residents and shelter guests moved into permanent housing, independent from Abby’s House
- 515 women received advocacy and referral services
- 52 vouchers given out to women from the community in need of clothing to the Abby’s House Thrift Shop
WAYS TO GIVE
Individual Support
Your gift makes it possible for women and children to dream of a hopeful future. Once safely housed, women develop a plan to avoid future homelessness and housing insecurity.
Click here to make your secure, online gift today.
Or mail your check to:
Abby’s House
ATTN: Accounting
52 High Street
Worcester, MA 01609
Multiply your impact through recurring gifts. To set up recurring gifts, visit our Donate page.
IN MEMORY OF/IN HONOR OF GIFTS
Giving a gift in honor or in memory of someone serves two important purposes. Not only do you commemorate or honor someone special to you, but you are also providing women and children with a place to call home. Select “Dedicate this Donation” while making your online donation to access the tribute gift options. Additional options for sending an acknowledgement are now available:
- When Making Your Gift Online
- Send an E-Card, and provide the email address of the person you want to notify. Your e-card is instantaneously sent to them, and can include a personal note from you. This is our recommended option, as it will ensure your honoree is notified quickly.
- Mail a Card: You can print your own card to send to your honoree. This option allows you to download the card an all of your tribute information is automatically added, including any personal notes. A link to download the PDF card will be emailed to you once you complete your donation.
- When Making Your Gift by Check
- To have a tribute card mailed by Abby’s House staff, please mail your check and the tribute information, noting who you are honoring, the person receiving the acknowledgement, and the address where you would like the acknowledgement to be sent. Unfortunately, no personal notes can be added to these cards. Please note: This option can take up to 2-3 weeks.
Please call the Development Office at 508-756-5486 with any additional questions about creating your tribute cards.
Choose to have your gift recur on a regular basis and your gift will be automatically charged to your credit or debit card according to the frequency you select. This option makes it easier to spread your gift out over time. Please select this option in our online payment or you can call the Development Office at 508-756-5486 for assistance.
There are new tax incentives for charitable giving that were included in the recently enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act.
Donors may deduct 100% of cash contributions to most public charities. For the 2020 tax year only, you may deduct cash contributions to Abby’s House and most other public charities up to 100% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). Ordinarily these deductions would be limited to 60% of your adjusted gross income. This higher limit will allow especially generous donors to reduce their 2020 federal income tax to zero. Donors who are even more generous can carry forward unused cash contribution deductions up to five years. Contributions to donor advised funds or supporting organizations are not eligible for this special election. Also note that the 100% limit is reduced dollar-for-dollar by other itemized charitable deductions, which means that your charitable deductions in 2020 cannot exceed 100%, but you may be able to carry unused charitable deductions forward to future years.
The 100% election may not always be the tax-wise choice. Because federal income tax rates are progressive, it is not a given that it will be to your advantage to deduct 100% of your cash contributions in 2020. Check with your financial or other advisors to determine whether the 100% election makes sense for your specific circumstances.
Non-itemizers are eligible for a special $300 charitable contribution deduction in 2020. If you do not itemize your deductions in 2020, you can still reduce your taxable income by up to $300 for contributions of cash to public charities. A married couple can reduce taxable income by $600 for these contributions.
Required minimum distributions from retirement plans are waived for 2020. Most required minimum distributions from retirement plans have been eliminated for 2020. Check with your financial advisor to see how this temporary rule will apply to you. Minimum distributions that have already started are still required from some defined benefit pension plans, but some required minimum distributions that would have started in 2020 may not have to start until 2021.
Qualified charitable distributions are still a great way for donors age 70½ or older to make contributions. If you are 70½ or older, a qualified charitable distribution (“QCD” or “IRA charitable rollover”) allows you to contribute up to $100,000 to Abby’s House from your IRA without paying income tax. Although the usual benefit of counting toward your required minimum distribution has been waived for 2020, a qualified charitable distribution remains a great way for donors to make tax advantageous contributions, especially donors who do not itemize their deductions.
The CARES Act, which was necessary to address the far-reaching effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, provides additional tax incentives to encourage charitable giving. You have important priorities for your family and loved ones, and we know that their health and financial well-being comes first. When you are ready, we’ll be here to help you shape a charitable gift plan that suits your needs and allows you to keep helping with our important work. Please contact Kelly Whalen at or call (508) 756-5486 x214 to learn about the many ways you can support the women and children of Abby’s House. *This information is not intended as tax advice. For such advice, please consult a tax advisor.
If your company participates in a United Way campaign that allows donor designations, you may be able to identify Abby’s House as the beneficiary of your payroll deduction gift by contacting the United Way campaign coordinator at your company.
We welcome workplace giving donations and corporate gifts! If your employer offers workplace giving programs for local nonprofits, please consider Abby’s House. We are happy to schedule a presentation and share information about the women and children we serve and how your contributions can change lives.
You can host an event with Abby’s House being the beneficiary of the proceeds. We will work with you to promote the event and provide you with any information you may need. Past examples include business grand openings, pancake breakfasts, auctions, concerts, bake sales, theater performances, yard sales, and Casual Fridays at the workplace.
Gifts that touch lives, forever.
The Abby’s House Legacy Circle recognizes donors who have named Abby’s House in their will or other form of planned gift. Planned gifts are an extraordinary way to leave a lasting and permanent impact on the women and children of Abby’s House.
With a bit of planning today, you can ensure that the causes that have grown important to you and your family continue to be supported, in your name, long after you’re gone.
If you are in the process of making or revising your will or estate plan, we hope that you consider including Abby’s House as a charitable beneficiary. Please contact Kelly Whalen, Director of Development at (508) 756-5486 x214 or to discuss ways you may further your commitment.
The Abby’s House Legacy Circle would like to thank those who have shared their commitment by making a planned gift to support our mission.
A QCD is a direct transfer of funds from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) custodian, payable to a qualified charity. QCDs can be counted toward satisfying your required minimum distributions (RMD) for the calendar year, as long as certain rules are met.
To learn more about how to set up a QCD, call Kelly Whalen, Development Director at 508-756-5486 x214 or .
Donating appreciated securities is a tax efficient way to further support the women and children of Abby’s House.
For questions or to learn more about making a donation of securities, contact Kelly Whalen, Director of Development at 508-756-5486 x214 or . Download stock transfer instructions here.
Abby’s House is a 501 (c)(3) organization and our federal tax identification number is 04-2648411. All donations are tax-deductible as permitted by law.
To learn more about the personal advantages of donating securities, please speak with a financial adviser for guidance.
Abby’s House ensures the privacy of donor information within bounds that are limited and common in the practice of development programs. Limited information may be shared in a confidential manner with Board members or volunteers for fundraising purposes only. Outside of such use via organized fundraising activity, Abby’s House does not divulge gift information, donor’s contact information, or donor name, in the case when anonymity is requested. Disclosure of information on donations will be made to Abby’s House auditors as part of their professional services to Abby’s House, or the IRS upon its lawful request.