Eight ways to give
Become a partner in the battle to conquer CFIDS

By Jamie Davis

As the century draws to a close, it's quite natural to reflect upon the past and look to the future with hope and anticipation. Sadly, many organizations are exploiting those feelings and taking the opportunity to sweep people up in "millennium mania" with glossy campaigns and fancy talk.

That isn't the case with the 1999 Annual Fund of The Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) Association of America. The fund was established to further our shared mission to conquer CFIDS. The 1999 Annual Fund isn't about predictions and empty promises-it's about a commitment to people with CFIDS. It's about building deserved recognition for an illness that has been glossed-over far too long by the media, the public and unfortunately, by too many in the medical community.

The goal of the Annual Fund is to preserve and enhance current education, public policy and research programs, launch critical new projects and accelerate progress in the battle against CFIDS. The investment required to meet this goal this year is $2 million. And we need your help. Recognizing the diverse financial positions of our members and donors, and understanding the various objectives people have when making charitable contributions, you'll find below a list of different ways that you can strengthen your commitment to conquering CFIDS by supporting The CFIDS Association of America.

1. Make a cash gift
   Writing a check is probably the most convenient way to contribute to the Association. Gifts of cash can be unrestricted or earmarked for specific funding needs. You'll find a membership and contributions form in the back of every issue of The CFIDS Chronicle or you can send your donation directly to the Association at PO Box 220398, Charlotte NC 28222-0398.
   
   Donors wishing to make their gift with a credit card can also send their credit card name, number, expiration date and donation amount via fax to 704/365-9755 or call the Resource Line at 704/365-2343.
   
2. Join the Founder's Circle
   The Founder's Circle is a group of individuals committed to building a year-round foundation for CFIDS education, research and public policy work through monthly credit card pledges. Although it's only been a little over a year since the Founder's Circle was created, this generous group has donated over $42,000.
   
   Many Founder's Circle members have found monthly pledging to be a simple and effective way to donate, noting that it's much easier to give $5, $10 or $25 a month rather than $60, $120 or $300 all at once. The pledges appear on their monthly credit card statements and they receive a receipt at year-end for the cumulative gift total. To join the Founder's Circle, call the Resource Line at 704/365-2343 and we'll set up your monthly pledge.
   
3. Give appreciated securities
   Gifts of appreciated securities such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds can be made quickly and easily. In most cases, these gifts provide the donor with an immediate tax deduction based on the current market value of the asset and may also help the donor avoid capital gains tax.
   
   For example, an individual wishes to contribute $10,000 to the Association. He/she has $10,000 cash and also owns stock valued at $10,000, which was originally purchased for $2,500. By donating the stock rather than the cash, the donor not only receives the tax deduction (to the full extent allowed by law), but also avoids paying capital gains tax on the $7,500 appreciation of the stock.
   
4. Support endowment fund
   In 1994, the Association made an irrevocable $5,000 gift to the Foundation for the Carolinas to establish a permanent endowment. The endowment's assets, which grow through contributions and sound investing, are never spent. Although earnings are currently reinvested, it is our intention that one day they will help sustain specific programs and provide the Association with a steady stream of income.  The most common way of making a gift to the endowment is through a bequest in your will. Bequests to the fund can be included in new wills or can be added to existing wills. The federal government encourages bequests by allowing an unlimited estate tax deduction for gifts made to qualifying charitable organizations, like The CFIDS Association of America. Consult your attorney or accountant prior to making any decisions that may impact your estate or long-term financial plans.
   
5. Go on-line
   Visit the Association's web site, www.cfids.org, and make a credit card donation on-line via our secure server. If you're one of the millions who shop on-line, visit http://www.igive.com/html/intro.cfm and shop to support The CFIDS Association. Your purchases from retailers like books.com, jcrew.com and eToys.com earn the Association a percentage of the price and may also provide you a tax-deductible donation. Membership in iGive is free and each visit to your personalized member site (not just shopping) earns the Association up to 4 cents. To date, 217 Association donors have visited iGive, earning the Association approximately $1,400.
   
6. Matching gifts
   Many companies offer their active, and in some cases, retired employees and directors an opportunity to double their contributions through matching gift programs. If you are not employed, ask friends and family members if their employers sponsor this program. The Association has received thousands of dollars in matching gifts from companies like American Express, Chris Craft Industries, Citibank, Digital Equipment, Nordson Corporation and Pitney Bowes to name a few. To find out if a company offers a matching gift program, check with the human resources department.
   
7. Get creative
   From selling Beanie Babies to organizing local concerts to participating in church bake sales, friends of the Association have come up with original ways to support Association-led programs aimed at conquering CFIDS.
    Consider contacting a support group in your area for ways to get involved, ask your son or daughter's high school cross-country team to organize a "run for CFIDS" or instead of birthday gifts this year, encourage your family and friends to make a donation to the Association in your honor. If you have any creative fund raising stories you'd like to share, please send them to the Association at PO Box 220398, Charlotte NC 28222-0398.
   
8. Become a member
   As you've got a copy of the Chronicle in hand, chances are you're already a member of the Association. But if you're not, please join us (see the membership/contribution form on page 37). If you are one of our valued members, be sure to keep your membership current. Your $35 membership dues does more than buy a subscription to news and information about CFIDS, it helps provide additional funding for the education, public policy and research that will greatly enhance the understanding of this debilitating illness.
   

For additional information
If you'd like more information on any of these ways of giving or would like to discuss other types of charitable contributions, please contact me, the Association's Director of Development, by phone, 704/364-0466 or by e-mail at jldavis@cfids.org. Or contact the Association's Controller, Kris Hopkins, at the same number or via e-mail at kphopkins @cfids.org.

(Please note: the Association does not provide legal or financial advice. For specific questions regarding the tax and financial implications of your charitable contributions, please contact an attorney, financial planner or accountant.)

Jamie Davis is The CFIDS Association of America’s Director of Development. She has been a staff member since 1995.