How you can help: A giving guide

Finding our cures demands a great deal of money, time and research. The Spastic Paraplegia Foundation is a publicly supported, volunteer driven organization and your help is needed, now more than ever. Concerned individuals and sponsors will make it possible for us to accomplish our mission. Thank you.

Index:

Individual Donations
Corporate Sponsorships
TeamWalk - Signature Event!
Local Events
Planned Giving
Gifts In-kind
Shopping to benefit SPF (at no cost to you!)

Individual Donations

To make an online credit card donation or to print out a Donations Form to mail in, click here. A gift of cash is tax-deductible for all taxpayers who itemize.

Make your gift worth twice as much! If you work for a firm that has an employee matching gift program, you may be able to double your gift. Obtain the form from your company (usually in the human resources department) and send it to:

Treasurer's Office

Spastic Paraplegia Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 1208
Fortson, Georgia 31808

Giving Email

We ask that you encourage your friends and family to contribute to SPF research. Click here for a sample Giving Email you can send to your friends and family asking them to make a donation instead of buying you gifts for your special day.

Contribute by Pledge

Want to send regular gifts to SPF? It's easy - set up a One Step a Month program that will automatically bill your credit card for the amounts and intervals of your choice.

United Way an Combined Federal Campaign donations

If you company has a United Way giving program or you participate in the federal CFC program, you can designate the SPF as your charity-of-choice. The CFC code for SPF is #12554. For the United Way program, simply enter in our name and address (see above) and tax ID #04-3594491 on the donations form.

Your company or group can help, too

Check the giving-guidelines of your company, faith-based organization and civic group. The SPF can help you create a donations request letter. 

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Corporate sponsorships

Corporate Sponsorships are an excellent way to promote your company while supporting a worthy cause. It's good business! Sponsorships can:

• Enhance your company's public image

• Draw attention to a product or service

• Contribute to an increase in sales

• Boost employee morale

There are opportunities to sponsor national conferences, local patient events, the SPF website and E-News, or other initiatives. For information about current Sponsors, please visit Sponsors.

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TeamWalk - Our signature event!

SPF’s signature event is our national TeamWalk held in the fall. Everyone from near and far, whether as Walkers or Walkers-by-Proxy, can participate in the TeamWalk!

• For those who can attend, TeamWalk weekends offer a Conference and social exchanges as well as the opportunity to join others in TeamWalk. Individuals can walk along with family members and friends or participate as TeamWalk supporters at the rally point.

• Non-attendees can participate in our unique Walker by Proxy program. A designated Walker will carry your name and spirit in TeamWalk!

• We also support local TeamWalk Connections.  These are a social event followed by a group walkathon.   In 2007, we held eleven.  See summaries and photos of the TeamWalk Connections here.

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Local events

Individuals are welcome (and needed!) to organize local fundraising initiatives. We can provide ideas, guidance and support in organizing your special event. 

In 2007, the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation celebrates its fifth year in existence. See summaries and photos of the 2007 National Conference  here.

Volunteers also organize an annual RGM for SPF Golf Classic in Maryland. You can help with this event or organize a golf tournament in other areas.  Visit RGM for SPF Golf Classic to read about this event and see photos. 

Additionally, there is a Loop for Life motorcycle ride in Indianapolis that generates significant funds to support SPF Research Awards.  You can help with this event  or organize a similar event in your area. Visit Loop for Life to read about this event and see photos.

Here are some easy ideas you can help raise funds for research:

• Bake Sale, Car Wash, Rummage or Yard Sale, or Gift Wrapping Table

• Bike-a-thon, roll-a-thon, dance-a-thon, walk-a-thon or similar activity

• Entertainment Book promotion

• Restaurant Promotion, where a restaurant donates a portion of sales on a particular date (Papa Gino’s pizza and Pizza Hut are popular choices) Coupon booklet promotion – some restaurants or grocery store chains offer coupon books

• Social - a barbecue, picnic, breakfast, or dinner. Sell tickets for the meal that will also include a donation. You can add a raffle or auction to raise additional funds

• Hold a “party plan” event with a direct-selling company willing to donate a percentage of the proceeds (Tupperware, Pampered Chef and Avon are popular choices)

Please review this Fundraiser Event Form and contact us with your ideas!

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Planned Giving

You can help create a future without HSP or PLS through Planned Giving. Planned Giving refers to charitable gifts that require advance planning. These gifts can provide valuable tax benefits while you support vital research:

• Increase your current income

• Reduce your income tax

• Avoid capital gains tax

• Pass assets to family at a reduced tax cost

There is an appropriate gift to fit every objective. Here’s a chart to help determine which gift will meet your goals.

Your personal circumstances will determine the best plan to meet your financial and charitable goals. The information that follows is a listing of popular options and is not intended as legal, tax or investment advice. Please consult your attorney, tax professional or investment professional.

Wills and Bequests

Through your will or living trust, you may be able to provide substantial support to SPF without diminishing assets available to you during your lifetime. You can give a specific amount or a percentage of your estate.

Life income gift

Charitable gift annuities or charitable remainder trusts can target gifts of cash, securities or other marketable assets to SPF and retain life-income for you, your spouse and/or others. The remaining principal passes to SPF at the death of the last beneficiary.

Charitable Lead Trusts

A charitable lead trust provides a current income tax deduction and transfers property to heirs while minimizing transfer taxes. A gift of an income stream to SPF is made from the trust principal for a selected period of time. After that period, the trust principal reverts to you or is distributed to others.

Appreciated Stock

Gifts of stocks, bonds and mutual funds may offer you capital gains tax incentives. Amounts up to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income may be deducted for the year the gift is made; any excess can be deducted over the next five years.

Charitable Remainder Trusts

When you create a charitable remainder trust, you transfer money, securities or other assets to a trust that will then pay you (or another beneficiary) an income. At the death of the surviving beneficiary, the remaining principal in the trust goes to SPF.

Life Insurance

Life insurance is an easy way to support the SPF. When your life insurance policy is donated to SPF, the cash value of the policy can be deductible.

Retirement Plan

Naming SPF as a beneficiary for funds in a retirement plan is an easy way to give a gift to the SPF. Check with the institution handling your IRA, other retirement plan or profit-sharing account.

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Gifts in-kind

The SPF welcomes In-kind gifts to help the Foundation fulfill its mission. By donating good or services, you help free up operating dollars that can now go toward funding important research. Should you have an item or service that you wish to donate, please contact us.  

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Tips on Asking for Money

Asking people to make a donation may be a bit difficult. Yet, most people are happy to make a contribution when the request comes from somebody they know. Click here for an article that can help you feel more comfortable about asking for support.

Additional Ideas and Resources For Fundraising

Fundraising Ideas
Grassroots Fundraising
Fundraising Yellow Pages
Fundraising Products, Ideas, and Resources

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Shopping

Your favorite online stores will pay us a commission when you buy their products after clicking through to their stores from the SPF website.  There is no add-on cost to you - the easiest donation you ever made!  Bookmark our Shopping Mall and remember to come back when ordering gifts, books, computer and office needs, personal items, clothes, house wares, travel and more.

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