Ways to Contribute

• Cash Contributions


• Planned Giving


• Wish Endowment Funds


• Corporate Giving


• Sponsor an Event


• Adopt-A-Wish®


• Tribute Gifts


• In Kind Donations

Thank you. Just by visiting this page, you have shown an interest in helping us further our mission of creating hope, strength and joy in a child’s life. Since our inception in 1983, when the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Nebraska was incorporated as a 501 c. 3., we have granted the wishes of over 1,500 children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions. For a child who is undergoing rigorous medical treatments, the chance to dream and anticipate a wish offers a positive alternative and hope for the future. Whether it is a wish to swim with the dolphins, be on “Deal or No Deal,” or watch a new play structure being built in one’s own back yard, each wish offers the child and child’s family a chance to anticipate and create memories.

Several factors contribute to the financial wellness of the Nebraska chapter. Private donations, corporate contributions, internal and external fundraisers, student programs and individual giving allow us to continue making magical wishes happen which create many warm memories for all involved.

Those memories are only made possible by the generosity of so many individuals, businesses, foundations and trusts. There are many ways you can give to help us reach our goal of granting wishes for 90 children in Nebraska this year. Please remember that every donation helps bring hope, strength and joy to a Nebraska wish child.

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CASH CONTRIBUTIONS can be made by mail, phone or online. We thank you in advance for your consideration and generosity.

DONATIONS CAN BE MADE BY:

MAIL:
You may complete the downloadable application form and mail with your check, made payable to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Nebraska and mail to:

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Nebraska
11926 Arbor Street, Suite 102
Omaha, NE 68144

PHONE:
Call 402-333-8999 or 800-760-WISH (9474) to donate using your credit card.

IN PERSON:
Please stop by any of our offices…We would love to meet you and answer any questions you might have about our Foundation.

ONLINE:
Click here to visit our national secure web site to designate a gift to the Nebraska chapter with a credit card.

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PLANNED GIVING is an opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of our courageous children within the context of your own overall financial plan. It is not a complicated, mysterious proposition, nor is it only for the wealthy; it is simply a “plan” to make a financial contribution of any amount to your favorite charity.

Planned Giving also allows you to Leave a Legacy of making wishes come true by remembering Make-A-Wish Foundation of Nebraska in your will or other estate plans. There are a variety of planned giving vehicles from which to choose, some of which are described in more detail below.

Be sure to consult a lawyer for advice on which giving option best fits your circumstances. To ensure your gift is used to help local children, please designate the beneficiary as:

PLANNED GIFT OPPORTUNITIES

THE NEBRASKA CHARITABLE TAX CREDIT gives individual Nebraskans the chance to make a planned gift, or Nebraska corporations the opportunity to make a cash gift, allowing either to qualify for an immediate state tax credit of up to $5,000 annually. For more details, check out: www.NebraskaTaxCredit.org or contact your financial advisor.

ROLL YOUR IRA OVER to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Nebraska
Congress changed the rules to permit a tax-free rollover from an IRA to charity. This provides a unique giving opportunity with beneficial tax implications for people aged 70½ or older. You can now transfer distributions from your IRA to a charitable organization like Make-A-Wish.

• Individuals 70½ or older can transfer their IRA distributions as a charitable distribution
• The charitable distribution counts toward minimum distribution requirements
• The charitable distribution does not generate taxable income
• The charitable distribution does not generate a tax deduction, so even those who don’t itemize can benefit
• You may transfer up to $100,000 per year directly from your IRA
• These gifts may be made in addition to any other charitable giving already completed or planned
• The deadline for this tax-free rollover is December 31, 2007

BEQUESTS or having a proper last will and testament ensures your property will pass to those you care about. If you don’t leave a will, state law determines how your assets will be divided, and it is highly doubtful you would agree to the final distribution.

How a will is structured is how one will be remembered. A will gives one an opportunity to transfer the values that are important, and is one of the best ways to leave a legacy.

Remembering the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Nebraska in your will is a fitting testimony of your belief in our mission. When you name a beneficiary, you have many choices. You can leave a fixed dollar amount, or a percentage of the estate. Your gift can also be contingent or you can have a trust put into place. There are many options, and a lawyer can help you sort through all of them with your best interests in the forefront.

TRUSTS
A trust is a legal agreement which serves as a container into which you can place various assets, such as cash, securities, real estate or other property. The grantor appoints a trustee responsible for managing the trust’s assets. A trust can be established for a certain number of years or for lifetimes. They can be revocable or irrevocable, charitable or not.

GIFTS OF STOCK
The tax advantages for gifts of securities – especially long-term, appreciated securities – are significant. Gifts of this type actually may provide a double benefit. First, it may be possible to receive a charitable tax deduction for the full fair-market value of the stock. Secondly, you may avoid any capital gains taxes you might otherwise have paid if you sold the stock and donated the resulting cash.

A transaction can be as simple as calling one’s broker and authorizing the transfer to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Nebraska. As with gifts of cash, a gift of securities provides you, the donor, with an immediate sense of satisfaction for your role in helping our Foundation grant wishes to children.

GIFTS OF LIFE INSURANCE
Changing insurance needs often present an excellent opportunity for policies to become important charitable gifts. An example might be policies purchased for specific purposes no longer applicable, such as that purchased to pay college tuition for children who have long since earned their degrees.

REAL ESTATE/PERSONAL PROPERTY GIFTS
If you own real estate that has appreciated significantly over time, you may want to consider contributing it. Gifts of marketable real estate are welcome and can offer donors substantial tax advantages.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE NAME DESIGNATED WITHIN ANY OF YOUR DOCUMENTS IS CRITICAL TO FINAL DISPOSITION. IF YOUR INTENT IS FOR YOUR GIFT TO GO TO THE NEBRASKA CHAPTER, YOU MUST INCLUDE OUR FULL LEGAL NAME:

Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Nebraska, Inc.

For more information, you may visit our national web site.

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WISH ENDOWMENT FUNDS
A gift to one of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Nebraska Endowment Funds is truly a visionary contribution. As the Foundation relies solely on the generosity of philanthropic gifts, this guaranteed funding is vital, as it enables the Foundation to better withstand economic downturns, thereby allowing our largest asset – our wish children – to continue receiving their wishes.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Nebraska has Endowment Funds in place to which a donor may contribute:

1. Chanel Jenkins Todd Memorial Endowment Fund
2. Andrew Cook Memorial Endowment Fund
3. Make-A-Wish Foundation of Nebraska Endowment Fund

Each of these funds is designed to receive and administer gifts reserved for the long-term benefit of Make-A-Wish and the children we serve. Interest earned within these funds goes to finance wish-granting activities. The principal of each fund remains untouched and intact, generating additional interest dollars year after year.

Each fund is administered by financial professionals and a fund manager. Gifts may include bequests, charitable gift annuities, trusts, IRA’s, gifts of insurance proceeds or real property and gifts of securities or other appreciated assets.

We will accept donations of any kind listed above (those not cash will be converted to cash) and in any amount to be placed within an Endowment Fund.

For a gift of $25,000 or more, you can name a Fund in honor of or in memory of a loved one.

A donation of $100,000 or more to the Foundation will ensure funding of one wish annually for perpetuity.

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CORPORATE GIVING: COMMUNITY SUPPORT AT ITS FINEST
Businesses and organizations throughout Nebraska provide critical support to our Foundation in the form of cash and in-kind donations of goods and services.

One great way for your company and your brands to support the Foundation is by partnering with us in meaningful and successful cause-related marketing programs.

Every company has different brand-building needs and strategies. We would be happy to work with you to determine your company’s objectives through a relationship with the Foundation. Each partnership can be individually tailored to meet your goals and ours.

Do Well by Doing Good
The public respects corporate philanthropy. In addition to improving children’s lives through a corporate partnership with Make-A-Wish, marketing studies show that supporting charities is good for business. According to a recent Cone/Roper Cause-Related Trends Report, 83% of Americans have a more positive image of companies who support a cause they care about.

In addition, employees enjoy knowing they work for a cause-motivated corporation. About 87% of employees say they feel a strong sense of loyalty to their companies with cause-related marketing programs, versus 67% of those employed in companies without such an association.

A partnership with Make-A-Wish puts smiles on the faces of consumers and employees alike. Even better, it puts huge smiles on the faces of our wish children.

If your company would like to form a partnership with us, please contact the office nearest you on our “Contact Us” page.

CORPORATE MATCHING GIFT PROGRAM
You can multiply your gift if your company has a matching gift program. Many employers match gifts 1:1, some even match 2:1 or make a contribution based upon volunteer hours given. Please check with your employer to see if they have such a program, and complete the necessary form to ensure that your gift of time or money can be amplified.

WORKPLACE GIVING
Many employers conduct workplace giving campaigns through organizations such as United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). If you participate in either, you can designate Make-A-Wish Foundation of Nebraska as a designated recipient. The code for CFC is #11375.

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SPONSORING AN EVENT provides high visibility for corporate supporters and an opportunity to meet with wish children and families who, as Wish Ambassadors for the organization, convey the power and magic of a wish fulfilled.

• Friends of Make-A-Wish, Omaha, Annual Blue Jean Ball (Feb/Mar)
• BIG RED RedTie Dinner, organized by the Friends of Make-A-Wish, Lincoln and held at the West Stadium Club, Memorial Stadium (July)
• Friends of Make-A-Wish, Kearney, host a Blue Jean BBQ (Sept)
• A Blue Jean BBQ is also held in Sidney and hosted by the local Make-A-Wish volunteer team (Sept)
• A gift wrap booth is staffed daily by volunteers at Oak View Mall, Omaha, from the day after Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve each year.

Our web site includes details of these events as timing dictates, as well as other events hosted by individuals, businesses and organizations.

EXTERNAL EVENTS: We have over 50 events each year throughout Nebraska, all organized to benefit our wish children. We are thrilled to have the support of so many people, and try to have representatives at most of them, often to say a few words or accept a check, if appropriate. These events are often tailored after the interests of the organizers, and can be as varied as tournaments for golf, tennis, volleyball, chess, bowling; karaoke contests, poker runs, car shows, concerts, educational seminars, bicycle rides, walks/runs, dinners, garage sales, and lemonade stands, to name a few. The list is endless, and more ideas can be found at: http://www.fundraising-ideas.org/DIY/

We also have additional resources available to help you:

If you are interested in organizing a fundraiser to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation of Nebraska, please contact the office nearest you for an Event Proposal Form and Licensing Agreement, which allows you to use our logo.

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Adopt-A-Wish®
Like children, wishes come in all shapes and sizes, from spending time with a favorite celebrity to a shopping spree to make those favorite purchases, to a trip to an exciting destination. Through our Adopt-A-Wish program, you or your group can sponsor a child’s wish.

This program is simple and fun. It allows groups, individuals, clubs or companies to contribute to our mission and offers two levels of participation:

You may contact any of our offices for more information about a possible wish to adopt.

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TRIBUTE GIFTS offer a unique and meaningful way to share the magic of a special occasion or to honor or remember a loved one.

HONOR AND MEMORIAL GIFTS
You can have a card sent to acknowledge your gift in honor of or in memory of a loved one. To do so, please send a check by mail or you may call the Make-A-Wish office at 402-333-8999 or 800-760-9474 to charge your gift to a credit card.

• Your name and address
• The name of the person for whom the donation is made
• The name and address of the person(s) to whom you would like the acknowledgement card sent

WEDDING/SPECIAL OCCASION GIFTS
If you are celebrating a special occasion, such as a wedding, bar/bat mitzvah or anniversary, you can share the joy of your special day by helping make a child’s wish come true. In lieu of gifts, you can ask your guest to make a donation to Make-A-Wish in your honor.

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IN KIND GIFTS OF GOODS OR SERVICES help us to keep our overhead costs low. We welcome donations of services, such as printing, computer set up, electrical work, photography, postage, office supplies, carpentry, limousine service, and the list goes on and on...Wishes are limited only by a child’s imagination, so we appreciate any/all goods and services you can imagine. The gifts of services and goods keep our wish costs lower and account for about 40% of the value of each wish. In addition, the Foundation accepts donations of goods to be used in our office and at fundraising events.

WISH GIFTS are in kind donations that help defray operating costs and add that special touch to make the wish experience one-of-a-kind. Examples include, but are not limited, to:

Please provide only new and unopened items for wishes.

AUCTION ITEMS are a necessary part of most events and we always appreciate the donation of items which enhance a raffle or auction, such as event tickets, sports memorabilia, and one-of-a-kind experiences, to name a few.

FREQUENT FLIER MILES AND HOTEL POINTS can often be donated back and used for wish-related travel. Please note that donations of miles and hotel points are not tax deductible.

For a complete listing of participating airlines, click here for contribution procedures.

To donate hotel points, click here to see a complete listing and details.

OFFICE SUPPLIES that we can always use include:

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