Giving Options
Private support of the Sons of Italy Foundation® (SIF) is vital to its success. To assist donors, the SIF provides a full range of donation options.
For donations to the SIF’s national charities, 85% of all donations received go directly to the charity. All are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by federal law.
All gifts to the SIF are evaluated regularly by the Board of Trustees and an independent auditor. Full fiduciary responsibility for the management of donor accounts and distribution of funds to beneficiaries is administered by SIF staff and a professional team of advisors, including accountants, attorneys and certified financial managers.
For More Information
Please contact the National Office for more information or to make an endowment, legacy or other major gift.
202.547.2900 | sif@osia.org
How to Make a Donation
Donations to the Sons of Italy Foundation® may be made safely and securely online or by mail to:
Sons of Italy Foundation
219 E Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
When you make a gift to the Sons of Italy Foundation® (SIF), you have flexibility in determining how the funds will be used.
Unrestricted Gifts
Unrestricted gifts, large or small, are among the most valuable to the SIF because they allow us to allocate funds wherever the need is greatest, and to take advantage of unique funding opportunities as they arise.
Directed Gifts
Directed gifts allow you to designate your donation to a specific SIF program, or to an endowment you may establish. When you make a directed gift to the SIF, you enjoy the satisfaction of knowing you are supporting a program that is personally meaningful to you. Please see the list of current campaigns for which the SIF is accepting donations.
Outright Gifts
When you make an outright gift to the Sons of Italy Foundation® (SIF), your contribution can be put to work immediately, providing funding for current programs. An outright gift may be composed of almost any asset of value.
- Cash gifts, the easiest gift to make, may be made online or by mail, using a credit/debit card or a personal or business check made payable to the SIF.
- Gifts of appreciated securities, stocks, and bonds may also provide tax advantages when transferred to the SIF before they are sold. In some instances, donation of securities may provide a twofold tax benefit, creating an income-tax deduction as well as eliminating the capital-gains tax that would have been due on their sale. If you own securities that have declined in value, you may wish to sell them and donate the proceeds to the SIF. In this way, you establish a loss on the securities for tax purposes and claim a deduction for a charitable contribution. It is recommended you consult your financial advisors for more information on tax advantages for donation of securities. Kindly contact the National Office if you wish to make a gift of this nature.
- Gifts of real estate and other property may provide multiple benefits. You can possibly avoid capital gains tax and claim a charitable deduction of the full fair market value of the property. Kindly contact the National Office prior to making a gift of this nature.
Recurring Gifts
Making recurring monthly gifts is an easy way to provide support that ensures ongoing reliable funding for our programs. Through a regular monthly commitment of any amount, you can support any or all of the SIF’s programs/charities, or let the SIF apply your gift where it is needed most.
Recurring giving is automatic. Once you sign up, your donation is automatically charged to your credit card on the same day each month. You do not need to do anything more. You may continue making monthly donations as long as you wish. If the need arises to change the credit card to which your monthly donations are charged, to change your donation amount, or to suspend making a gift altogether, contact the National Office and your request will be immediately processed.
Supporters who contribute $10 or more for 3 consecutive months will become members of the Sons of Italy Sustaining Patrons Circle and recognized in the Sustaining Patrons Circle Honor Roll in multimedia publications. Please see the Sustaining Patrons Circle section for more information about the program and recurring giving.
Memorial / Tribute Gifts
Honor a loved one’s memory with a memorial gift or celebrate a loved one’s special occasion by making a tribute gift.
Whether you are fulfilling a family member’s wish to support the Sons of Italy Foundation or surprising a friend with a gift that truly embraces the meaning of giving, a donation to the Sons of Italy Foundation is an easy and meaningful way to do good while honoring someone special.
Memorial gifts may be made in honor of someone who has passed away. If you wish, a gift notification may be sent to a person you designate.
Tribute gifts may be made for any occasion – or no occasion at all! Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, even Christmas, are all perfect opportunities to make a tribute gift to someone who is proud of his or her Italian heritage, is charitable…or simply has it all. The person you are honoring will be notified of your gift if you wish.
Memorial and Tribute gifts are quick and easy when made online and the recipient or designee can be notified by e-card (fastest method) or by mail*.
Not comfortable making this gift online? Complete and return the Memorial/Tribute Gift form to make your donation.
*Please allow up to 5 days for e-card notifications to be sent, and at least 7 days for mail notifications to be sent. If you are making your gift through the mail, rather than online, please note that processing the gift and notifications may take longer.
Gift Pledges
The Sons of Italy Foundation® welcomes your gift through a pledge – a formal statement of intention to make a gift to the SIF.
With a pledge, you may complete your gift by making regular payments over time, allowing yourself to give more generously than you originally may have considered. Each payment on your pledge is eligible for an income-tax deduction in the tax year in which it is made.
Please contact the National Office if you would like to make a pledge to the SIF.
Endowments
Endowments provide security over the long term by expanding the SIF’s permanent financial base and creating a predictable source of future income for such things as scholarships or other specific programs. The principal donation remains untouched.
Please contact the National Office if you would like to establish an endowment. If you are interested in establishing an endowed scholarship, click here for a full guide.
Legacy Gifts / Planned Giving
Considering philanthropy in your estate planning is an excellent way to make an impact on a cause that is meaningful to you, while planning for your future and that of your loved ones.
There are multiple ways you can include the SIF in your estate planning:
- Designate the SIF a beneficiary of some or all of your estate. Gift options include but are not limited to Wills, Living Trusts, IRAs and Life Insurance policies. View/print a brochure about will and trust legacy bequests to the SIF
- Make estate gifts to the SIF during your lifetime (often decreasing the tax responsibility placed upon your heirs). Gift options include but are not limited to substantial outright gifts of cash, securities or real estate, and Charitable Trusts.
Whichever option you decide, you are choosing to help the SIF in a very significant way.
As with any major financial decision, it is recommended you consult your financial planner, attorney and/or other advisors prior to establishing a legacy gift / planned giving to determine what options are available and best suited to your needs.
Click here for a full guide on legacy giving to the Sons of Italy Foundation. Please contact the Legacy Giving Department at 202.547.2900 or by email for more information, to establish a legacy gift, or if you wish to establish a legacy gift of a type not mentioned below.