Cause-Related Marketing

Many organizations and individuals choose to set aside a portion of the proceeds of a certain product or service to charity in a practice known as cause marketing or cause-related marketing. Cause marketing campaigns may range from a single annual donation by an organization, to a percentage of the sale price of a company product line, to net proceeds from a limited-edition product by an individual engaging their fan base for a good cause. 

Donor-Advised Funds

A donor-advised fund is a fund commonly held at a community foundation that distributes funds to other charities, such as Friends. You can open one with a written agreement between you and the organization that gives you (or other family members) the right to recommend that the distributions (i.e. grants) be made from your fund to Friends. One caveat: you cannot direct distributions. You have the right only to make recommendations regarding how much, how often, and to which charities. Most donor-advised funds will follow your advice if it is consistent with the fund's objectives and the selected charities are qualified charities.

IRA Charitable Rollover

Friends who are 70.5 years old and older- you can give any amount (up to a maximum of $108,000) this year from your IRA directly to a qualified charity like Friends of the Chicago River, without having to pay income taxes on the money. Gifts of any value of $108,000 or less are eligible for the benefit. This popular gift option is commonly called the IRA charitable rollover, but you may also see it referred to as a qualified charitable distribution, or QCD for short. You must be 70.5 years old on the date of your gift. Your contribution will have a direct and prompt impact on Friends' work. Please contact Friends' Director of Development, Annie Hanrahan, with any questions about giving this year, at ahanrahan@chicagoriver.org.