There are many ways to support Serendipity Center, and every gift helps our students reach their full potential as healed, educated, and productive community members. There will always be students who cannot be served by their public schools, and since 1979 we have been honored to serve this community. Your gift helps ensure that we can continue serving families for years to come.
Below are several ways you might help ensure that Serendipity Center remains a thriving, inspiring, transformative place well into the future.
Find your way to make an impact today!
Click on each option to learn more.
Gifts of Cash
The simplest way to make a gift to Serendipity Center is by cash or credit card online or through the mail. All gifts are fully tax-deductible according to IRS regulations. Please click here to donate or make your check payable to Serendipity Center and mail it to:
Serendipity Center
PO Box 33350
Portland, OR 97292
Recurring Giving
When you become a Recurring Donor, your donation is ongoing until you say otherwise. Your credit or debit card will automatically be billed each month. If you need to stop or pause your recurring gift, call us directly and we can help! Even a small recurring contribution can have a big long-term impact. For the cost of a cup of coffee each month, you can provide ongoing support that ensures stability and consistency in the lives of our students. To help sustain your coffee budget, each month your recurring donation will automatically enter you into a drawing to WIN a $5 Dutch Bros gift card! Most importantly, becoming a Recurring Donor sends a powerful message that you believe in our mission of healing and educating even those students with the most challenging behaviors.
Memorial and Honorary Gifts
Memorial Gifts are a thoughtful way to remember a loved one while also supporting the mission and vision of Serendipity Center.
Honor the special people in your life by recognizing them through an Honorary Gift. Perfect for special occasions, anniversaries, birthdays, or just to show them you care.
Would you like to encourage others to give in memory or in honor of a loved one? We can help you create the perfect giving webpage. Contact us to learn more.
Electronic Bank Transfer
An electronic bank transfer donation, also known as an ACH donation or direct deposit, is a safe and secure way to make your gift to Serendipity. To make a gift via electronic bank transfer, contact Rachel Gitner at 971-230-7260 or rachelg@serendipitycenter.org for banking information.
Gifts of Stock and Mutual Funds
Serendipity welcomes gifts of stock following the below instructions. We use Cetera Investment Services LLC as our brokerage firm. Your gift will be sold immediately upon receipt.
Electronic Transfers:
Instruct current custodian to deliver to:
Cetera Investment Services LLC
Account Name: Serendipity Center Inc.
Account#: 6TX16525
DTC#: 0701
Important: Please instruct current custodian to notify Rachel Gitner at 971-230-7260 or rachelg@serendipitycenter.org prior to transfer so we know to expect it.
Physical Certificates:
Mail certificates and stock powers to:
Serendipity Center c/o Rachel Gitner
PO Box 33350
Portland, OR 97292
Charitable IRA Rollover
The recently reinstated Charitable IRA Rollover allows individuals aged 70 ½ and older to make direct transfers of up to $100,000 per year from IRAs directly to a qualified charitable organization such as Serendipity Center without being subject to income taxes on the distribution. As no tax is incurred on the withdrawal, these gifts do not qualify for a charitable deduction, but direct transfers may be counted towards your minimum required distribution. Rollovers may also reduce your income, which may positively impact your tax bracket. To find out more, and to speak in confidence and without obligation, contact Rachel Gitner at 971-230-7260 or rachelg@serendipitycenter.org.
Donor Advised Funds (DAFs)
Do you have a donor advised fund through your financial institution? Consider recommending a grant to Serendipity Center where your donation will be put to good use today. Click the link below to take you to some of the most common donor advised fund web pages, where you can request that funds be transferred to Serendipity Center.
Matching Gifts
More than 1,400 organizations have established programs that match or multiply donations made by current and, in some cases, retired employees and their spouses/partners. These programs may enable you to double or even triple your contribution to Serendipity Center. Ask your company’s human resources department for more information and let us know if we should expect to receive a gift from your company on your behalf.
Gifts Through Your Will
Is Serendipity Center listed as a beneficiary in your will or estate plan? Please let us know! It’s important for us to know your plans—even if those plans might change– so that we can plan for the future and honor your charitable intent.
Do you have a will? Almost everyone needs a will, and we can help you get started with trusted, vetted professionals. You might even benefit from free online estate planning. Contact Rachel to learn more and set up a no-obligation appointment today.
Sample language to leave a gift through your will:
Specific Bequest
I give to Serendipity Center, an Oregon nonprofit corporation, Federal Tax Identification Number 93-0730861, located at 14815 SE Division St., Portland, Oregon, 97236, the sum of $_________________ (or _______________ %) to support the organization in its general purposes and needs.
Bequest of Remainder of Estate
I give the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate to Serendipity Center, an Oregon nonprofit corporation, Federal Tax Identification Number 93-0730861, located at 14815 SE Division St., Portland, Oregon, 97236 to support the organization in its general purposes and needs.
____
We hope the above language is helpful to you as you work with your attorney to design your estate plan.
If you would like your gift to benefit a specific program or need at the school, please give us a call so we can document your generous wishes.
If you hope to leave a specific piece of real or personal property as a gift, please give us a call so we can first make sure it is a gift we can receive.
Serendipity Center is recognized by the IRS under Section 501 (c)(3) as a non-profit, tax-exempt charitable institution. Gifts to Serendipity Center, therefore, are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Shop at Your Favorite Stores
Click here to learn how you can support Serendipity by doing your weekly shopping!
Wish List
Most of our time and resources are spent on the critical work we do with our children struggling to overcome their challenges. The community can be of great assistance in helping us provide our classrooms with some of the essential items we need to enrich the experiences of our students.
Click here to download our current list of needed items. Your donation of any of these would be a great gift to our staff and children!
Other Ways to Give
There are many more ways to maximize the value of your giving to Serendipity Center. Serendipity Centers partners with Oregon Community Foundation to accept gifts of real estate. We also accept tangible personal property and life insurance.
Gifts that pay you and/or another beneficiary income in return for your gift may allow you to make a more substantial gift than you thought possible and provide immediate tax benefits.
Retained life estate and charitable lead trusts can protect assets and significantly reduce tax liabilities.
Explore the remarkable story of a family’s four-decade legacy of giving to Serendipity, and discover how their generosity has transformed the lives of students and will continue to inspire generations to come.
Already a Donor? Click on the button to manage your recurring donations & payment methods!
Tax Deduction Info
Serendipity Center is a 501(c)3 organization. Our Tax ID # is 93-0730861. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Please contact your tax advisor for specific questions. Donations may also be mailed to PO Box 33350 Portland, OR 97292 Attention: Development Office
Cultivating a Lasting Impact: The Power of Gift Planning at Serendipity Center
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