By Giving To The Center

you can make an important difference in the lives of Baltimore’s most vulnerable citizens, helping us to offer hope, dignity and respect to the men, women and children whom we serve.

Franciscan Center

Get Involved

Maryland Charity Campaign #52-1164260

Financial Giving

Gifts by Check, Money Order, and Credit Cards

Financial Giving Options

Please make your check or money order payable to the Franciscan Center and mail it to:

Franciscan Center
c/o Development Department
101 W. 23rd Street
Baltimore, MD 21218

If you would like to designate your gift to a particular program, please indicate that information on the memo portion of your check. If you donate monthly, you can save yourself time and effort by donating with a credit card or direct debit using the form giving form on this page. If you need any assistance please feel free to call our Development Office at 410-467-5340 x117.

For the United Way of Central Maryland Campaign, please enter on your donation form:
Franciscan Center
c/o Development Department
101 W. 23rd Street
Baltimore, MD 21218

Securities
To understand the potential financial and tax advantages of such a donation, you may wish to consult your financial adviser. Please call our Finance Office at 410-467-5340 x119 to arrange a securities gift transfer.

Workplace Giving
Many employers provide an option for their employees to make charitable gifts through regular payroll deduction. You can direct your United Way contribution to the Franciscan Center.

Matching Gifts
If your employer has a matching gifts program, each dollar you give is matched by your employer, increasing your gift to the Center at no additional cost to you. Please ask your company’s human resources department for information.

For other Charity Campaigns, please fill in the appropriate designation code: Maryland Charity Campaign #52-1164260

Planned Giving

At The Franciscan Center, we value the role our donors play in our success. We know that supporting our mission is important to you, whether it is through making a gift now, or one we will receive in the future. Your planned gift will help us grow our endowment to create a sustainable funding source for all of our needs and provide the highest quality services for years to come.

There are a number of ways you can provide long-term support to our mission without taking away from your daily finances. If you are considering making this special gift, please consider any one of the following options:

Will Bequest

A bequest is the simplest and easiest way to make a significant gift to The Franciscan Center after your lifetime. It offers flexibility because you can retain use of your assets now and make changes at any time to reflect your philanthropic and financial goals. There are multiple common forms of charitable bequests:

  • Cash: Designate a specific amount for The Franciscan Center.
  • Residuary Bequest: Direct all or a percentage of your estate to The Franciscan Center, after payment of cash bequests and estate-related expenses.
  • Bequest of Property: Direct a particular asset, such as real estate, securities, or tangible personal property, such as an antique or valuable art object, to The Franciscan Center.

Contact your legal advisor and use the following sample language in your Will to create a bequest to the Franciscan Center:
“I give and advise to the Franciscan Center, Inc., located at 101 W 23rd Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, tax ID 52-1164260, (the sum of $____) (a description of the specific asset) ( ____% of my residuary estate)”

Retirement Assets

Naming The Franciscan Center as a beneficiary of your retirement plan or IRA account is easy. Simply contact the administrator of your plan to obtain a Designation of Beneficiary Form and complete as directed.

Life Insurance

Donors who wish to use life insurance to support The Franciscan Center have two options:

  • The simplest way is to name the Franciscan Center as the beneficiary of the policy. This option is attractive because it reduces the donor’s estate by the amount of the death benefit. In addition, this type of gift offers flexibility. If life circumstances change, the donor can always make adjustments to the beneficiary designation.
  • Donors may also choose to gift the policy outright. Gifting a life insurance policy can reduce your taxable estate and yield a current income tax deduction of the policy’s fair market value. The Franciscan Center will receive the entire face amount of the policy upon the death of the insured.
Trusts

Donors who wish to support The Franciscan Center while also providing for themselves or a beneficiary may wish to establish a charitable or non-charitable trust. This option is attractive because in some cases it reduces the amount of the donor’s estate. Three common forms of trusts are Charitable Lead Trusts, Charitable Remainder Trusts or non-charitable Trusts.

  • Charitable Lead Trusts: A charitable lead trust is designed to generate an income stream to The Franciscan Center during the life of the trust, with the remaining assets going to the donor or beneficiaries. Donors may choose the term of the trust as well as the payout to The Franciscan Center.
  • Charitable Remainder Trusts: A charitable remainder trust is also designed to benefit both The Franciscan Center and named beneficiaries, but works in the opposite way of the Charitable Lead Trust. A Charitable Remainder Trust provides income to a current beneficiary who is either the donor or a named individual. The beneficiary can receive either a fixed amount or a percentage of the value of the trust each year, for a period of years, or for the individual’s life. At the end of the period, the remainder goes to The Franciscan Center.
  • Non-Charitable Trusts: Donors can also create a non-charitable Trust under whatever terms they desire and leave a Bequest to The Franciscan Center in the same manor as a Will Bequest.

In-Kind Donations

Many of the Center’s programs benefit from generous in-kind donations each year. We accept donations of:

Men’s, Women’s, and Children’s Clothing
The Clothing program provides families and individuals with seasonally appropriate clothing, year round. We welcome lightly worn, clean or new clothing for the whole family, and every size. In addition, the Attire 4 Hire clothing program is in need of men’s business attire, undergarments, dress shoes etc. (Any woman’s business attire is sent to our partners at Suited to Succeed.)
Office Supplies
  • Copy Paper
  • Postage Stamps
Hygiene Products

The Franciscan Center also offers hygiene products for men and women, including combs, brushes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, feminine products, lotion, soap, shampoo, hair conditioner, shaving cream, and razors. Both regular and travel-sized items are appreciated.

Current Urgent Needs

Hygiene Products
  • Soap
  • Deodorant
  • Toothpaste
  • Lotion
  • Foot powder
  • Shampoo
  • Disposable razors
  • Disposable diapers
  • Feminine products
  • Washcloths
  • Bath and hand towels
Babies
  • Coats and winter clothing
  • Diapers
  • Baby formula and baby food

The Franciscan Center. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. A copy of our financial statement is available upon request by contacting our office at 101 W. 23rd Street, Baltimore, MD 21218 or 410-467-5340. Documents and information submitted to the State of Maryland under the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act are available from the Office of the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401, for the cost of copying and postage.

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