Skip to main content

Financial Support & Directed Giving

Financial Support

We're thrilled to receive donations. Member dues cover only about half of our expenses, so your gifts are vital to continue our services. 

Your contributions to the General Fund support:

  • Education – GenTalks, our annual Open House, and Special Interest Groups provide nearly 200 learning opportunities every year.
  • Resources – Online databases, our website, Zoom accounts, targeted book purchases, and digital collections tools.
  • The GFO Library  – Rent, computers, scanners, and printers, and the infrastructure (such as shelving, light bulbs, furnace and dehumidifier filters, and cleaning supplies--not very glamorous--but necessary) to keep the Library fully functioning.

Directed Giving

Following are some directed giving opportunities that may interest you. When you earmark your donation to a specific fund or cause, you can rest assured that it will be used for the purpose you intend.

Endowment Fund

In 1989 the GFO initiated an endowment fund to help provide funding in perpetuity.  The Endowment Fund Operating Plan may be viewed here. With generous donations and careful management, the fund has grown. To donate online, please indicate 'Endowment Fund' in the comments field. Have questions or need more information? Please send a message to our Endowment Committee.

Matching Gifts

You may be able to double your gift through a matching gift program available through your former or current employer.   We recommend you contact your current or former employer’s HR department to find out if this is an option. For instance, Intel employees and retirees can match donations of money and volunteer time via Benevity.

Planned Giving

Planned Giving is a phrase describing plans for assisting the GFO, especially through estate planning.  Although the federal estate tax exemption has been increased, many states also have estate taxes at a much lower exemption rate.  We always recommend that you discuss these types of donations with your tax and legal advisors.

Bequests

One of the simplest, yet most significant ways to show support is to name the GFO as a beneficiary in your bank account, 401-K, or similar retirement account, will, or trust.

You may bequeath a specific sum, a percentage of your estate, or specific items, like securities.

To add us to a bank or retirement account, designate the  "Genealogical Forum of Oregon" as a beneficiary on death.

If you would like to add the GFO to will or trust, you may add a codicil or trust amendment that states the change. A sample of the language to add to your will or trust is:

I hereby give __________ to the Genealogical Forum of Oregon, Inc., an Oregon non-profit corporation. 

The blank can be filled in with a certain amount, or percentage, or certain items.  If you are interested in willing tangible assets to the GFO, please contact us first.

Gifts of Retirement Funds

If your retirement plans include the option to bequeath plan assets, you can reduce the value of your estate that is taxed, and your heirs will not have to pay income and estate tax on the assets that are gifted to the nonprofit GFO. 

Life Insurance

Another opportunity to support GFO is to gift your fully paid life insurance policy or to make GFO the (sole or partial) beneficiary of an existing policy. You could also take out a new policy with the GFO as owner and beneficiary. 

Appreciated Securities

Another giving option is to transfer appreciated securities to GFO.  In most cases, donors can claim full present value as a tax deduction while avoiding capital gains taxes.  Consult with your attorney to fully understand whether you will receive a tax advantage from donating in this way.

Additional Ways to Give

There are additional ways in which to donate to the GFO in your planned giving, such as Charitable Remainder Trusts, Charitable Lead Trusts, Retained Life Estates, and Gift Annuities.  If you are interested in any of these methods, please contact the GFO [link]. GFO representatives will be glad to work with you and your tax professional or attorney to explore these additional ways to support the GFO, our library, and the work we do.

In Memory of and In Honor of

Any donation to the GFO may be made in memory of loved ones or ancestors, or in honor of an individual, couple, group, or organization of your choice.  These can be living or deceased persons, your high school graduating class, your military unit, or any other entity you would like to remember or honor.  These are published annually in The Bulletin or the GFO Annual Report.  Please provide the specifics in the comments field online or in the space provided on the downloadable donation form. 

For more information about giving, please send us an email.