Written by Nancy Utter on 07 August 2024. Posted in Uncategorised.

Foundation

Foundation Fundraising and Volunteer Work

The Arc of Rensselaer County Foundation

The Arc of Rensselaer County Foundation is the fundraising arm of The Arc of Rensselaer County. Its mission is to help raise money for the programs and services offered by The Arc of Rensselaer County. The Arc of Rensselaer County Foundation raises money through special events, annual appeals, grants, and major gifts.

Our premiere fundraising event is "An Evening in the Garden". This event began in 2010 as a way to showcase the beautiful sensory garden located at Brunswick Center Services (BCS). It is held every June in a tent at BCS located by the sensory garden. Also highlighted at this event is the artwork created by the participants at BCS. In 2012, over 200 people typically attend the event and have the opportunity to bid on almost 100 live and silent auction items.

Gifts of Cash or Appreciated Securities

An outright gift of cash or appreciated securities is the easiest type of gift to make to ARC. Gifts of cash are fully tax deductible up to 50% of your adjusted gross income; gifts in excess of 50% may generally be carried forward and deducted over subsequent years. Gifts of appreciated stock (which you have held for more than one year) offer substantial tax savings as well. If you sell the stock, you must pay a capital gains tax. If you donate the stock to ARC, you avoid having to pay the capital gains tax. Furthermore, your gift of stock is fully tax deductible up to 30% of your adjusted gross income. The tax deduction is based on the fair market value of the stock at the time of the gift. Gifts in excess of 30% may generally be carried forward and deducted over subsequent years.
Gifts of Real Estate

A gift to ARC of real property, such as personal residences, vacation home, farm acreage or vacant lot can offer a twofold tax saving. If the property has appreciated in value during your ownership, you must pay a sizeable capital gains tax when you sell it. If you make a gift of the property, you receive a charitable deduction for the full fair market value of the property and you also avoid having to pay the capital gains tax. You may also make a gift to ARC of a remainder interest in your personal residence, and continue to live there during your lifetime, while still realizing a tax deduction in the year you make the gift.
Gifts with a Retained Income for Life

You may make a gift of cash, stock, real estate, or personal property to establish a Charitable Remainder Unitrust or a Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust. Either option will provide income to you and/or a loved one for the rest of your life, after which the trust's assets revert to ARC. By making this gift, you can increase your income and make a tax-deductible contribution at the same time. (The rate of return you will receive is dependent on many factors, most notably your age at the time of the gift). This type of gift is irrevocable.
Charitable Lead Trust

You may make a gift to set up a trust whereby ARC will benefit from the interest income for a specified period of years. At the end of that time, the principal may pass to your heirs free of tax.
Life Insurance

You may make a gift of life insurance to ARC that provides you with a significant tax deduction. This can be done by purchasing a new policy or by donating a policy that you currently own but no longer need. You may also use your tax savings from gifts of cash, appreciated securities, or property to ARC, to purchase life insurance in a tax-wise manner to "replace" these assets for your loved ones.
Retirement Benefits

You may make a gift to ARC of retirement benefits, thus removing your retirement plan assets from your estate and avoiding taxes potentially as high as 80%.
Wills and Bequests

You may wish to include a bequest to the Rensselaer County Chapter NYSARC, Inc., in your will. Your bequest is fully deductible for federal estate purposes and you also receive a New York State estate tax deduction. The following language is appropriate for donors who would like their bequest to become part of the Rensselaer ARC Endowment Fund, which will last into perpetuity:
I give and bequeath to Rensselaer County Chapter NYSARC, Inc., of Troy, New York, the sum of $________(or, its equivalent value) (or, _____% of my residuary estate), the principal thereof to be invested and the income therefrom to be used to provide services to individuals with intellectual disabilities and other developmental disabilities, the same to be held as part of the General Endowment Fund of Rensselaer County Chapter NYSARC, Inc., and administered as an integral part thereof.

Our History

The Arc of Rensselaer County originated at a time when institutions were the primary service option for people with developmental disabilities. In 1950, when our Arc chapter was founded as part of the Capital District Chapter of the New York State Association of Retarded Children, it was a radical act to keep children with disabilities at home as opposed to shipping them off to an institution. Our Arc chapter was built on the hopeful visions of parents who saw their children as capable and contributing members of an acceptant and inclusive community - living, loving, and working beside neighbors, friends, and families.

The formation of our chapter provided an opportunity for parents to talk about and plan for ways to support their children who were excluded from typical places in the community such as schools and workplaces. At that time it was public policy to deny an education to children who were unable to “benefit” from public instruction. This led The Arc to create training or activity centers housed in donated spaces such as church basements and vacant community buildings. Acadia Building in Frear Park and School 10 in Troy, New York were sites that provided some educational instruction, but mostly crafts and recreation. These formative centers were not funded by government dollars, therefore parents and friends engaged in many fundraising activities such as bake sales to cover program expenses. In the wake of New York State’s initiative to close its abusive institutions, The Arc partnered with the Office for Developmental Disabilities (formally OMRDD) to create community options such as group homes and sheltered workshops.

We have since come a long way in supporting those with developmental disabilities live a life that they value. The form of service has morphed from group settings to individualized arrangements at work, at home and in integrated community settings. Residentially this appears in the shape of live-in, live-next to supports, shared living and paid neighbors as opposed to group homes. Supported employment and volunteering has taken the place of our sheltered workshops. At the edge of innovative assistance is self-determination, where we act as service brokers and fiscal intermediaries for individuals self-directing their funding and staffing resources. Ultimately, we envision supporting all individuals with developmental disabilities as active citizens of their communities.

Learn More about The Arc of Rensselaer County