Donate
Empower people who are blind or visually impaired
The impact of your gift
All gifts are used to support the Council’s mission to promote the dignity and empowerment of the people in Wisconsin who are blind and visually impaired by providing services, advocating legislation and educating the general public.
$160
Provides a two-hour in-home visit by a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist to share tips for cooking, medication management, daily living tasks and home safety
$500
Sponsors a statewide webinar to provide free training about various topics related to eye health, vision loss, and adaptive products
WAYS TO GIVE
monthly giftS
Become a White Cane Circle member by making a monthly gift to the Council. This can be done via credit card, bank transfer, or by clicking the button below.
Cash Gifts
Gifts of cash, check or credit card can provide immediate help for programs and services. The Council accepts MasterCard, Visa and Discover. Donations can also be made securely online through PayPal.
Tribute gifts
A tribute gift is a meaningful way to honor the memory of a loved one, show appreciation for someone special, or commemorate an occasion such as a birthday or anniversary.
Memorial Designation
To direct memorial donations to the Council, please include these words in the obituary:
“Memorial gifts may be made to Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired, 754 Williamson Street, Madison, WI 53703 or online at WCBlind.org.”
Matching Employer Gifts
A matching gift from your employer or former employer (if retired) can substantially increase the value of your gift. Please notify us if your gift is eligible for a corporate match.
Donor Advised Funds
The Council welcomes gifts from donor advised funds. Acknowledgement will be sent as directed by the foundation disbursing the funds.
Planned gifts
Gifts we receive through bequests and other estate gifts strengthen the Council’s ability to provide services to the thousands of people in Wisconsin who are adjusting to life with vision loss. Leaving a gift to the Council in your will provides a way for your values to live on indefinitely through the good works of the Council.
For attorneys and financial planners
Bequest language: I give, devise, and bequeath to Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired of Madison, WI, a not for profit 501(c)3 corporation, the sum of $________ (or percentage of estate, or description of the property) to be used to fulfill the mission of the Council.
The Council’s EIN # is 39-0977746.
What is a legacy gift?
Legacy gifts are known by several names such as planned gifts, estate gifts, and bequests. The Council recognizes as a legacy gift any contribution that is gifted after the individual is deceased. This includes trusts, bequests, annuities, insurance policies, retirement assets, and other estate gifts.
Bequest
Remembering the Council in your will allows you to leave a lasting legacy for people in Wisconsin as they adjust to life with vision loss.
The following is suggested language:
I give, devise, and bequeath to Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired of Madison, WI, a not for profit 501(c)3 corporation, the sum of $________ (or percentage of estate, or description of the property) to be used to fulfill the mission of the Council.
Insurance
Many people own insurance policies that are no longer needed for their original purpose. Paid up policies can be transferred to the Council, or new policies naming the Council as the beneficiary, will benefit the Council and you.
The Legacy CIrcle
Join our Legacy Circle. By informing us of your intention to include the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired in your estate plans, you are eligible to join this circle of Council friends who have made the thoughtful and important decision to support the work of the Council beyond your years.
Download the Legacy Circle membership form
Retirement Plans
You may have set up a retirement plan years ago and now wish to change the beneficiary. Retirement plan remainder funds can be transferred to the Council by naming WCBVI as a beneficiary.
IRA Contributions
If you are 70½ or older, you may transfer up to $100,000 each year, free from federal income tax, directly from traditional and Roth IRA accounts. You may transfer a total of up to $100,000 each year, free from federal income tax, directly from traditional or Roth IRAs to one or more qualified charities, including the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired. Amounts given in this way count toward required IRA minimum withdrawal amounts for the year of the gift. To make a qualified gift, the amount must be distributed directly from an IRA to the Council. For those with check writing privileges on their accounts, this may be the most efficient way to make gifts directly from an IRA. For more information, contact your IRA administrator or your tax advisor.
Securities
Gifts of negotiable securities can be transferred electronically to the Council’s brokerage account or delivered physically with the donor’s endorsement or signed stock power attached. The benefits of donating appreciated stock include a charitable deduction equal to the fair market value of the securities and you pay no capital gains tax on your gift.
Volunteer
Do you enjoy offering your time to help support a great cause? From time to time the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired looks to volunteers to help assist with special projects.
Current Opportunities
Securing Items for Online Auction: Search online for businesses that are willing to donate items. Many restaurants and shops have donation request forms online and are happy to give. We just need to find them! You can do this at home or at the Council office. Your help is needed between now and October 1st.
Workplace giving
The Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired is a member of Community Shares of Wisconsin, a federation that raises money to support its member organizations that work for social, economic and environmental justice at the local, state and national levels. The Council will receive 100% of your gift when it comes through Community Shares!
Donor testimonials
Legacy Circle
Members of the Legacy Circle are individuals who have made a planned gift that will benefit the Council after their death. This could be through a will, trust, charitable gift annuity, insurance policy, retirement assets, or other estate gift.
“I think of any legacy as providing something for the future. In this case, our funds will help continue the Council’s great work of serving people who are blind or visually impaired around the state.”
Kathy Brockman
Council board member and supporter on the importance of becoming a Legacy Circle member
Council Friends
Friends of the Council contribute $500 or more in a calendar year.
White cane circle
Members of the White Cane Circle make a monthly or quarterly gift to the Council to support year-round needs.
“It makes me so happy to know that what I give goes back and is being used solely for the purpose of helping individuals who are blind or visually impaired.”
Beth Ann Zellmer
A loyal donor to the Council with her recurring gifts over several years
Council Visionaries
Council Visionaries, over their lifetime, have given $20,000 or more in support of the Council’s work.
“I first started giving because I was the CEO/Executive Director, and felt giving was part of my responsibility to support the Council. Over the years, I got to know the Council and what they do to advocate for people who are blind and visually impaired. I give because I believe in the Council’s core values and mission; overall I believe in the people. That is why I give.”Loretta Himmelsbach
Former Council CEO/Executive Director
Thank you, donors!
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GIFTS IN 2018 MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Everyday Ways to give
If you are an eligible member of Thrivent Financial, you can “vote” for your Thrivent Choice Dollars to be given to the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired. Learn more or to designate your Choice Dollars to the Council here.
When you buy online with AmazonSmile, you can designate the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired to receive 0.5% of your purchases — and it costs you nothing! On your first visit there, you can select the Council to receive donations before you begin shopping. The system will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make on AmazonSmile will result in a donation.
The Council is registered as an approved non-profit organization with Network for Good.
The Council is registered as an approved non-profit organization with Great NonProfits.
Donations can be made online or sent to:
Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired 754 Williamson Street, Madison, WI 53703
Direct questions to Lori at (608) 237-8114 or
