Donations of all kinds are always needed. They include:
- Financial - Individual, congregational, foundation and corporate donations
- Clothing - socks, shoes, underwear, t-shirts, pants, jackets, coats, blankets, etc.
- Toiletries- hotel sized soap, shampoo, deodorant, shaving cream, razors
- Food- large-sized canned goods, coffee, sugar, margarine, produce, etc.
- Cleaning Supplies - dishwashing liquid, bleach, laundry detergent, etc.
The Firehouse Shelter is a faith-based 501 c(3) charitable organization that provides a continuum of caring and nurturing services to empower homeless individuals and families living on the streets of Birmingham and the surrounding communities to return to a stable home environment.
All donations are tax deductible and 92-cents of every donated dollar go directly to our programs helping Birmingham’s homeless. Your financial contribution to The Firehouse Shelter will assure that these programs will continue to be there when individuals and families need assistance.
Here are some methods to make a financial contribution to the Firehouse Shelter:
A note about Planned Giving: if you are committed to making a long-term donation, please contact your attorney or financial advisor. With our Planned Giving number (093-467-523-064) you can donate to the Firehouse Shelter through insurance policies, wills, or other means.
To make a quick easy gift:
- Simply write a check
- Your benefit: an income tax deduction and you’ll provide an immediate impact for The Shelter.
To avoid tax on capital gains:
- Contribute appreciated stock or other securities.
- Your benefit: a charitable contribution plus no capital gains tax.
To reduce gift and estate taxes on assets you pass on to your heirs:
- Establish a charitable lead trust that pays income to shelter for a term of years, then make payments to your heirs.
- Your benefit: estate tax savings, while the property remains in your family’s control.
To make a revocable gift during your lifetime:
- Name the Firehouse Shelter as the beneficiary of assets in a living trust for your lifetime
- Your benefit: full control of the trust terms for your lifetime.
To defer a gift until after you or your spouse’s death:
- Leave a bequest of cash, property or a share of the residue of your estate to The Shelter in your will.
- Your benefit: donations are fully exempt from estate tax.
To make a large gift with little cost to yourself:
- Contribute a life insurance policy you no longer need to The Shelter.
- Your benefit: current and possibly future income tax deductions.
To avoid two-fold taxation on IRA and other employee benefit plans:
- Donate the property to The Shelter or sell it to The Shelter at a reduced price.
- Your benefit: An income tax deduction plus reduced or eliminated capital gains tax.
To provide tax benefits and a hedge against inflation during your lifetime:
- Establish a charitable remainder trust.
- Your benefit: variable income during your lifetime and a gift to the shelter at your death.
To provide a fixed income at a favorable rate of return:
- Establish a charitable remainder annuity trust or a charitable gift annuity.
- Your benefit: tax benefits plus lifetime income and a gift to the shelter.
Checks may be made out to Firehouse Shelter and can be mailed to:
Firehouse Shelter
PO Box 11722
Birmingham, AL 35202
