Ways To Donate
Common ways to give
Common ways to give![]()
Common ways to give
1) By Check: Please make checks payable to Oakland School for the Arts and send them to: Advancement Office, Oakland School for the Arts, 530 18th Street, Oakland CA 94612.
2) By Credit Card: To give via credit card www.oakarts.org/donate.
3) Recurring Gifts: Automatic, recurring monthly or quarterly contributions via credit card are possible using www.oakarts.org/donate. You may also mail in monthly or quarterly contribution checks to the Advancement Office. Email us at advancement@oakarts.org if you would like to set up pledge installments payable by check.
4) Payroll Deduction: Some employers offer the option of payroll deduction giving as part of their corporate community giving programs, and some of OSA's contributors prefer this method. Contact your Human Resources department if this option works best for you.
5) Matching Gifts: Did you know you can multiply your impact for Oakland School for the Arts? If you or your spouse work for or are retired from a company that offers matching gifts, you may be able to double, or even triple, your gift to OSA. Contact your Human Resources department to find out if your company will match your gift.
6) Automatic Check Withdrawals: Some OSA givers prefer to set up automatic withdrawals from their bank account, where their banks mail checks to OSA directly. Visit your bank’s online bill payment portal if this option works best for you. Note: As of now, OSA does not accept Direct Debit.
Other Ways to Give
Gifts of Securities
OSA welcomes gifts of stock. The best stocks to contribute are those that have appreciated greatly in value. Such gifts may provide a double tax benefit. You may receive a charitable income tax deduction for the full fair-market value of the property and may not pay potential tax on the capital-gain element of the gift.
For example, you might wish to give stock now valued at $25,000 that you purchased five years ago for $15,000. Your charitable contribution tax deduction for this year would be the full current fair market value of the stock, or $25,000. You also would avoid paying the capital gains tax on the $10,000 appreciated.
If you wish to give a gift of shares or stock, please speak with your broker or financial adviser and contact advancement@oakarts.org.
Donor-advised funds (DAFs)
Donor-advised funds let you set aside money or assets for future giving, get an immediate tax deduction, and then decide how, when, and where to contribute the resources. If you have a fund set up, work with your adviser to give from your DAF to Oakland School for the Arts or name Oakland School for the Arts as a beneficiary of your fund. Contact
advancement@oakarts.org for additional information.
Retirement Plans and IRA’s
For many of us, retirement plan assets may be the single largest asset in our portfolio. This is a form of gift that we may use both in our lifetime and afterwards as part of our permanent legacy.
The easiest way is to obtain a beneficiary designation form from the retirement plan administrator and name Oakland School for the Arts as the entire or partial beneficiary of your retirement plan. This may avoid federal estate-tax liability because of the inclusion of the charitable deduction.
You may make gifts directly to Oakland School for the Arts from your IRA. While no charitable deduction is allowed, the gift is excluded from gross income for tax computations.
You are eligible to contribute this way if:
¨ You are age 70 ½ or older.
¨ Your gift from your IRA is $100,000 or less each year.
¨ You transfer funds directly from your IRA.
¨ You transfer your gift outright to Oakland School for the Arts.
Wills/Bequests
A will, or living trust, is integral to your financial and legal planning and your estate may receive an estate tax deduction. Your will, or living trust, provides you the opportunity to distribute your estate according to your wishes. Your will, or living trust, expresses your values to your heirs and cares for your heirs according to their special needs.
Options for you to consider are a –
¨ Specific bequest for a stated amount.
¨ Percentage bequest for a percentage of your estate.
¨ Residual bequest for the remainder of your property.
Work with an Advisor
The information provided in Oakland School for the Art’s materials is not intended as legal, tax, or investment advice. Please consult your attorney, tax professional, or investment professional.
Federal Tax Information
Oakland School for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) public charity and is qualified under Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Service Code to receive gifts, grants, and contributions which are deductible for Federal income tax purposes. Oakland School for the Arts Inc.’s federal tax identification number is 68-0463892
Oakland School for the Arts 510-873-8819
530 18th Street, Oakland, CA 94612 advancement@oakarts.org