How to Donate
Every year, The Children's Home Society of New Jersey reaches out and touches the lives of thousands of at-risk infants, children and families living in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Our dedicated and professional staff deals with issues relating to child neglect and abuse, teen pregnancy, adoption, parenting, substance abuse, teen violence and other youth problems.
Since many of our programs receive no government funding, contributions from private sources are critical for us to maintain our services for at-risk infants and children. Contributions of any amount are always appreciated and may be designated for a specific program. Moreover, you can be assured that 100% of your gift will go to direct services for our children. The Children's Home Society of New Jersey (CHS) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. All gifts are tax-deductible as provided by law and will be acknowledged promptly.
It doesn’t take a lot of money to make a difference in the life of an infant or child. Your gift of $10, $25, $50 as well as larger gifts will help us continue our efforts to provide safe and loving homes for the babies and children entrusted to us. You can make a gift to The Children's Home Society of New Jersey in many different ways.
Giving Options
All donations are used for direct services to children and families.
- You can make an immediate gift online by using our secure online donation form. You can also print out this form and send your contribution by cash, check or money order through the mail.
- You can give a tribute gift in memory or in honor of a special friend or family member.
- You or your company can support our fundraising events through a corporate partnership or donor designation.
- You can plan for the future through one of many planned giving opportunities.
Immediate Gifts
So much of what we do depends upon ongoing voluntary contributions from concerned and caring friends – people just like you. Please help us meet the needs of the children and families who come to us for help by making a gift today. If you wish to make your gift by check or money order, please make it payable to“The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey” or “CHS” and mail to:
The Children's Home Society of New Jersey
635 South Clinton Avenue
Trenton, NJ 08611
If you would prefer not to use our secure online donation form to make your contribution, please contact our Development
Office at (609) 695-6274, extension 161. You will be asked to provide the following information:
- Amount of the donation
- Credit card type (MasterCard, Visa or American Express only)
- Credit card number and expiration date
- Your name as printed on the card
- Your e-mail or mailing address (so we can acknowledge your gift).
Tribute Gifts
You can memorialize a loved one, honor a friend, or celebrate a special occasion by reaching out to a child in need through a tribute gift. Sent in lieu of flowers or to honor someone’s birthday, anniversary or special accomplishment, your gift will turn hope into reality for an infant or child who needs our help.
On the day your gift is received, we will mail a beautiful acknowledgement card (giving your name and address only) to those you designate. We will also send you an acknowledgement for your records. Your name and the name of the person in whose name the gift was made will be listed in our newsletter unless you request otherwise.
To make a tribute gift, please provide the following information:
- Amount of gift
- Purpose of gift (memorial or honorarium)
- Name of the person(s) in whose name the gift is made
- If an honorarium, the occasion for which the gift is made
- Your name
- Your address
- Name of the person(s) to notify of the gift
- Address of the person(s) to notify
You may make a tribute gift using your credit card (MasterCard, Visa or American Express) by calling the Development Office at (609) 695-6274, extension 161.
If you prefer to mail your gift, please make your check or money order payable to “The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey” or “CHS” and mail to:
The Children's Home Society of New Jersey
635 South Clinton Avenue
Trenton, NJ 08611
Note: Some of our donors like to keep our special “Memorial/Honorarium Envelopes” on hand for future use or to have available for others who may wish them. If you would like to receive a free supply of these envelopes, please contact our Development Office and we will mail the envelopes to you in whatever quantity you request.
Corporate Partnerships
A corporate partnership that benefits local children and families isn’t just a good idea – it’s good business. Corporate partnerships with The Children's Home Society of New Jersey can be community-based or statewide in scope and can include direct contributions, event sponsorships, in-kind gifts and employee involvement. Click here for more information about partnerships of caring.
Donor Designation or Company Matching Programs
If you work for a company that matches employee gifts or donor designation in its United Way campaign please consider designating your pledge to The Children's Home Society of New Jersey.
Planned Giving Opportunities
Planned giving provides a wide range of creative opportunities to meet the needs of many different types of people. Such gifts usually come from a donor’s assets rather than income. and can be given outright or deferred. Planned gifts are a reflection of the beliefs, values and concerns of the donor. While a planned gift to The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey will help ensure the continuation of services to at-risk infants and children and may further your own financial goals, we recommend that you consult with your own tax or legal advisor prior to making such a gift. Different types of planned giving instruments you may use to make a gift to The Children's Home Society of New Jersey include bequests, life insurance, and appreciated securities.
Bequests
A bequest is simply a gift made through a will. One of the chief advantages of a bequest is that it allows you to make a significant gift without impacting your current financial situation. You can remember The Children's Home Society of New Jersey in your will by adding a codicil to your present will or including us in your revocable trust. A gift included in your will or trust is one way to establish a lasting legacy.
You can make a significant gift through a bequest in one of four ways:
- Designating a specific amount (this gives you the opportunity to determine the exact size of your gift)
- Designating a specific property (you may wish to leave a particular piece of real estate or personal property
to CHS). Designating a percentage of your estate (through this method you can provide for a gift that will
adjust with your estate’s growth or decline). - Designating all or a part of what remains of your estate after all costs, taxes and other bequests are made.
You could also make The Children's Home Society of New Jersey a contingent beneficiary. This means that CHS would receive a gift from your will in the event that those beneficiaries you have named do not survive you. Note: If you plan to include The Children's Home Society of New Jersey in your estate plans or have already done so, please let us know so that we can include you as a member of the 1894 Legacy Society.
Life Insurance
Life insurance policies are assets that expand to many times their original value because the premiums for many of them never amount to the size of the death benefits. Thus they enable donors a way to make a major gift at a very low cost. You can make a gift of life insurance through one of the following methods:
- You can donate an existing policy to The Children's Home Society of New Jersey. (As long as the rights of ownership are transferred, you will receive an income tax deduction roughly equal to the cash surrender
value of the policy.) - You can give a new policy to The Children's Home Society of New Jersey. (By paying the annual premium,
you receive an income tax reduction for your gift while guaranteeing that CHS will receive a significant
donation upon your death.) - You can name The Children's Home Society of New Jersey as your successor beneficiary. (CHS would
receive the death benefit in the event your original beneficiary dies before you). - You can name The Children's Home Society of New Jersey as your primary beneficiary. (Your estate would
receive a charitable deduction and the death benefit would pass to CHS tax-free.)
Gifts of Securities
A gift of stocks or other investments can provide a wonderful opportunity to support The Children's Home Society of New Jersey while providing you with significant tax benefits.
A gift of securities that have appreciated in value and which you have held for more than one year will provide you with a charitable income tax deduction for the full fair market value of the asset. In addition, you avoid all federal capital gains tax that would otherwise be due on the sale of the securities.
For information on how you can donate stock to The Children's Home Society of New Jersey, please contact the Development Office at (609) 695-6274, ext. 161
Any gift of any amount is appreciated. Many donate each year. In addition to donations, we have formed:
The Children First Giving Clubs:
Leadership Circle
A select group of charitable individuals, dedicated to our children's future.
- Bronze - A pledge of $10,000
- Silver - A pledge of $25,000
- Gold - A pledge of $50,000
- Platinum - A pledge of $100,000
Annual Giving Club
Membership is extended to individuals making an annual gift of $100 or more.
- Ruby - An annual gift of $100
- Sapphire - An annual gift of $250
- Emerald - An annual gift of $500
- Diamond - An annual gift of $1000
Corporate Honor Roll
The Corporate Honor Roll was created to recognize businesses committed to the cause of children.
- Friend - A gift of $2,500
- Patron - A gift of $5,000
- Director - A gift of $10,000
- Chairman - A gift of $25,000
- Founder - A gift of $50,000
The 1894 Society
Marking the year of our founding, The 1894 Society was established to recognize those individuals who have made a provision in their will or estate plan.
To learn more about recognition in the Children First giving clubs, how to make a pledge, or the potential advantages of charitable estate planning, please contact Betty Bohlert at (609) 695-6274, extension 161, or .