Frequently Asked Questions

Aren't member and program fees enough to support the YMCA of Greater Houston?

The YMCA of Greater Houston is a not-for-profit organization. Membership and program fees do help support the YMCA. However, many of the programs that the YMCA provides do not generate revenue significant to cover costs. In addition, the mission of the YMCA is to make programs available for all, regardless of an individual's financial circumstances. The YMCA provides scholarships and program subsidies thanks to individual, corporate and foundation charitable gifts.

What is the Heritage Club and how do people join?

The Heritage Club is a recognition society for those who make outright gifts to the endowment fund or those who have made arrangements for the YMCA in their estate plans. Membership in the Heritage Club requires an endowment designated planned gift or an outright gift of $5,000.

The names of Heritage Club members are published annually in the Endowment Foundation's annual report. Members are invited to special recognition and fellowship events and receive special leadership level giving mailings.

Please browse and explore our site to learn more about the many gift opportunities that can be designed to match your philanthropic goals with your financial objectives. Our site offers several helpful tools including:

• A glossary of estate and gift planning terms,
• A personalized gift calculator that summarizes the financial aspects of various income-producing gifts, and
• E-brochures to request in-depth information on a range of gift planning topics.

What are the different ways I can give to the endowment fund?

• Gifts of Cash: Making a cash donation is as simple as writing a check, or authorizing a charge on your credit card or authoring bank drafts.
• Gifts of Securities: Stock that has increased in value is one of the most popular assets used for charitable giving, once it has been held for a minimum of a year. Making a gift of securities to us offers you the chance to help our organization while realizing many important benefits for your.
• Gifts of Retirement Plan Assets: Your financial future will likely revolve around your retirement plan assets. To maximize the value of a retirement account, consider making a lifetime gift of its after-tax values to a tax-exempt, deferred giving plan.
• Gifts of Real Estate: Using real estate, such as your house, farm or commercial property, to fund a gift allows you to preserve your cash assets, receive significant tax and income advantages and make a larger charitable gift than anticipated.
• Gifts of Life Insurance: Donating your life insurance could be a wonderful way to fulfill your desire to support our work. By making the YMCA of Greater Houston the beneficiary of an existing policy, you make good use of your resources and expand your ability to make a significant gift.
• Bequest: Consider naming the YMCA of Greater Houston in your will or trust.

How can corporations and foundations work with the YMCA?

The YMCA's Advancement Office fosters the development of mutually beneficial partnerships with corporations and foundations in the greater Houston community and around the nation. The YMCA's strengths in character-driven programs and services can advance a company's strategic business interests and help philanthropic organizations achieve their goals. If you would like to discuss ways that the YMCA can help your organization achieve its goals, please contact us.

What should I consider related to end of the year giving?

As the year comes to a close and we enter into the season of goodwill, remember that making charitable gifts provides much-needed support for our mission, is personally heartwarming and may produce significant tax savings for you.

• Time it right! By timing your charitable gifts before Dec. 31, you will see a tax break for that year if you itemize deductions on your income tax return. There are several strategies for resourceful year-end giving.
• Write a check. We always appreciate gifts we can put to immediate use.
• Charge your credit card. A fast and easy way to make year-end gifts is to simply call and make an outright gift with your credit card.
• Contribute appreciated securities that you have held more than one year. You can claim deductions for their full fair market values and avoid any tax on their appreciation.
• Prepay a pledge, either the entire amount or an upcoming installment.
• Invest in a life income plan that provides you with payments for the rest of your life and ultimately benefits the charitable organization. If you use long-term appreciated securities to fund the plan, you will be entitled to an income tax deduction based on the charitable portion of the securities full value, in addition to avoiding capital gains taxes on that portion.
• Donate an insurance policy. A life insurance policy you no longer need makes a perfect year-end gift. To qualify as a gift, the charitable organization must become the owner of the policy.
• Be careful in getting this gift to the YMCA in time!
  The gift date, or the date used for tax purposes, is the day you relinquish control of the asset. Depending on the asset used for the gift or your method of giving, certain rules govern the gift date.
• Checks - The postmark date is the date of the gift, assuming the check is mailed, or the date the check is hand-delivered.
• Credit cards - The day the charge is authorized is considered the gift date.
• Pledges - Pledges are deductible in the year they are fulfilled, not in the year they are made.
• Securities -  If the securities are electronically transferred to the YMCA, the gift date is officially made the day the securities enter the YMCA's account. For hand-delivered securities, the day they are received by the YMCA or its broker is the date of the gift. To mail securities, it is important to send, by registered or certified mail, the unsigned certificates in a separate envelope from the signed stock power and letter of intent. The gift date is the postmark date of the later of the two mailed envelopes. Stock market fluctuations after the date of delivery will not affect your charitable deduction.
• Real estate - The official gift date is the day the YMCA receives the signed deed if hand-delivered, otherwise the postmark is the date of the gift if the deed is mailed.

Please seek financial advice from a planner you trust for counsel. Discuss your plans with financial, legal and charitable organization advisors. Be prepared to confidentially address financial and personal goals with regard to your charitable giving interests, what you want to give, the timing of your gift and how a gift will be made. This information will help determine a plan best suited to your needs.

What is the Partners Campaign?

This annual fund supports the entire experience at the YMCA and targets the most pressing needs,  scholarships, outreach, youth development and more. The Partners Campaign ensures that the YMCA is available to all.

As one of YMCA of Greater Houston President Clark Baker's highest priorities, annual giving is the means by which YMCA staff, board members, members, parents, and friends can most effectively contribute their charitable support for the YMCA each year. Every center's Partners Campaign dollars are used by the center exclusively to support their community's needs. The YMCA encourages participation at all giving levels.

Gifts made to the campaign are used in the fiscal year of the campaign. 100% of Partners Campaign dollars are used for the annual case no dollars are spent on administrative services or fees.

Does my gift really make a difference?

YES! Every gift, regardless of size, makes a difference. The gifts of thousands of YMCA friends quickly add up.

Does the YMCA accept Matching Gifts?

Yes. Corporate matching gifts are encouraged. Donors simply gather their company's matching gift form and submit it to the YMCA with their gift. The YMCA promptly completes the matching gift form and returns it to the corporation.

Will I receive a receipt for my gift?

All donations (no matter the size) will receive an IRS compliant thank you note for your tax reporting purposes.

Can I make a gift in honor or memory of a friend or loved one?

Tribute and memorial gifts are welcomed. The donor will be provided a tax compliant thank you note. The individual (or his or her family) will receive an acknowledgement from the YMCA noting that a gift has been made in honor or memory. The donor's name and address will be provided to the family so that they can acknowledge your generosity, but the YMCA does not share the gift value with the family.

What are the manners in which I can make a gift?

Cash, checks, credit cards, bank electronic funds transfers/draws, appreciated assets, real estate and planned gifts are all accepted by the YMCA of Greater Houston. Capital pledges may be made over a period of years with a signed letter of intent. Annual gifts to the Partners Campaign should be paid in full by August 31^st. Payments may be made in person at a center, via mail, by phone call, email or online.

How do I contact the Advancement Department and/or where do I mail my gift?

1600 Louisiana Street, Houston, Texas 77002 or dsnow@ymcahouston.org or 713-659-5566.