Donate by Mail 

Download and complete our simple donation form to send your donation check.

To donate by mail, please download and complete the donation form. Your form and check payable to “Catalight Foundation” can be mailed to:

Catalight Foundation
Attn: Melanie Akins
EIN:94-3120231
2730 Shadelands Drive
Bldg 10
Walnut Creek, CA 94598

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Donate by Phone

We accept phone payments via credit card. Our team is also happy to provide any additional information needed about how to donate to the Catalight Foundation.

When leaving a voicemail, be sure to leave your name, phone number, and reason for calling. Someone will return your call within 48 hours. If you’d prefer, reach out by email.

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Donor Advised Fund 

Make checks payable to:

Catalight Foundation
EIN: 94-3120231
2730 Shadelands Drive
Bldg 10
Walnut Creek, CA 94598

To ensure timely acknowledgment of your generous gift, please include your name, address, and/or fund name with your donation, and send us an email to let us know your donation is on the way.

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Remember Us in Your Will or Trust 

Bequests
A bequest may be right for you if:

• You want to make a gift to the Catalight Foundation.
• You want the flexibility to change your mind.
• You want continued access to your wealth, should you need it.
• You are concerned about outliving your resources.

Our giving specialists are here to help. Send us an email or call 1-925-788-6609 to discuss the specifics of your bequest.

Beneficiary Designation
This is one of the simplest ways to make a gift to the Catalight Foundation. You can specify the individuals and charities you want to support as well as the percentage of each asset you want each beneficiary to receive.

Our giving specialists are here to help. Send us an email or call 1-925-788-6609 to discuss the specifics of your bequest.

Beneficiary Designation
This is one of the simplest ways to make a gift to the Catalight Foundation. You can specify the individuals and charities you want to support as well as the percentage of each asset you want each beneficiary to receive.

Retirement Assets
You can designate the Catalight Foundation as the beneficiary of your retirement assets. This gift allows you to control the transfer of assets without changing your will or living trust. All you need to do is request (and complete) a new beneficiary designation form from your plan administrator.

Life Insurance
To complete this gift, send your insurance company a form designating the Catalight Foundation as the recipient of all or a portion of your life insurance policy’s death benefit. Alternatively, you can transfer ownership of the policy, resulting in an immediate income tax charitable deduction and potential income tax savings in the year of the gift.

Other Assets
Commercial annuity will sometimes have a remaining value at the end of the annuitant’s lifetime. You can name the Catalight Foundation to receive all or part of this amount by designating it as a sole or partial beneficiary. Reach out to your insurance company for the appropriate form.

Bank Accounts
You can instruct your bank to pay the Catalight Foundation all or a portion of what remains in a checking or savings account. Your bank can provide you with the appropriate beneficiary designation form.

Investment Accounts
You can instruct your investment company to donate some or all investments held in the account at the time of your passing. Reach out to your broker or agent to start this process. It may be as simple as adding “T.O.D. to the Catalight Foundation” after your name on the account.

Contact our giving specialists by email or call 1-925-788-6609 to discuss the benefits and details of these beneficiary designations.

You can designate the Catalight Foundation as the beneficiary of your retirement assets. This gift allows you to control the transfer of assets without changing your will or living trust. All you need to do is request (and complete) a new beneficiary designation form from your plan administrator.

Life Insurance
To complete this gift, send your insurance company a form designating the Catalight Foundation as the recipient of all or a portion of your life insurance policy’s death benefit. Alternatively, you can transfer ownership of the policy, resulting in an immediate income tax charitable deduction and potential income tax savings in the year of the gift.

Other Assets
Commercial annuity will sometimes have a remaining value at the end of the annuitant’s lifetime. You can name the Catalight Foundation to receive all or part of this amount by designating it as a sole or partial beneficiary. Reach out to your insurance company for the appropriate form.

Bank Accounts
You can instruct your bank to pay the Catalight Foundation all or a portion of what remains in a checking or savings account. Your bank can provide you with the appropriate beneficiary designation form.

Investment Accounts
You can instruct your investment company to donate some or all investments held in the account at the time of your passing. Reach out to your broker or agent to start this process. It may be as simple as adding “T.O.D. to the Catalight Foundation” after your name on the account.

Contact our giving specialists by email or call 1-925-788-6609 to discuss the benefits and details of these beneficiary designations.

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Host a Workplace Giving Campaign 

When you give your employees the opportunity to make a difference, your company gets more —more workplace satisfaction, more enthusiasm and more of the unique team spirit that comes from helping others. Your employees can support the Catalight Foundation during your annual campaign or at other special times of year.

Engagement Ideas

Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)
Federal employees can give during your CFC by writing Catalight Foundation on your pledge card and using our CFC number: 85497.

Seasonal Specialized Campaigns
Throughout the year, you can also launch specialized campaigns to channel employee enthusiasm by highlighting different Catalight Foundation services:

March: National Developmental Disability Awareness Month
Catalight Care Services

April: Autism Acceptance Month
Catalight Research Institute

October: National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Catalight Innovations

Employee Gift Matching
Knowing that donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar is a powerful incentive for any donor. Show that you stand by your employees when it matters most by matching their gifts to the Catalight Foundation.

For more information, contact us by email.

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Stocks & Mutual Funds

When you make a gift of stock to the Catalight Foundation, by eliminating the capital gains tax that would be due upon selling the stock, you receive tangible tax-savings and benefits while also supporting our purpose.

A gift of stock may be right for you if:

• You hold stocks that have risen in value. If your stocks are highly appreciated, you may find yourself with a hefty tax bill when it comes time to sell. By using these securities as a gift, you can avoid the capital gains tax on any paper profit.
• You would like to maximize your deduction while not affecting your liquidity. If you decide to make a gift of stock, you not only retain your cash assets, but you also receive a charitable tax deduction for the full fair market value of the stock that you’ve owned for more than one year.

To initiate a stock transfer to the Catalight Foundation, please reach out to your broker.

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Wire Transfer

For those who wish to electronically transfer funds to the Catalight Foundation, gifts may be sent via wire transfer. 

Please follow the instructions below or reach out by email if additional support is needed. 

Step 1: Provide the following information to your financial institution who will initiate the wire transfer/EFT.

Account Name: Catalight Foundation
Financial Institution: Wells Fargo Bank
Address: 1655 Grant Street Concord, CA 94520
ABA Number: 121000248
Account Number: 4868443524
Reference: This field is used to identify the donor and the designation of the donation (80 characters max including spaces and punctuation).

Please provide the donor name, address and zip code, so we can appropriately record and acknowledge your gift. Send supplemental information and additional instructions to us by email.

Step 2: To ensure timely acknowledgment of your gift, please send us an email (mailto: [email protected]) and let us know your donation is on the way.

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IRA Charitable Distribution

What is a qualified charitable distribution?
A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) is a distribution of funds from your IRA (other than a SEP or SIMPLE IRA) directly to a qualified charitable organization. Because the gift goes directly to the Catalight Foundation without passing through your hands, you may exclude the dollar amount of your gift from your taxable income up to $100,000 annually.

Please consult your tax advisor for information regarding specific exceptions.

How do I make a qualified charitable distribution to the Catalight Foundation? 
Your IRA custodian must make your QCD directly to the Catalight Foundation on your behalf. Each financial institution has its own process for initiating a QCD. Many retirement plan administrators require you to use their distribution forms and comply with other requirements, so be sure to reach out to your financial institution for forms and procedures to ensure you receive any potential tax benefits associated with this gift.

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