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WAYS TO GIVE, DONATE, & SUPPORT
GETTING INVOLVED
AS A DONOR
Opportunity Knocks is almost completely privately funded. We count on support from individuals to keep our programs going.
Please consider getting involved as a donor.
GET INVOLVED
Other Ways to Support
RECURRING DONATIONS
Monthly or recurring gifts let you spread your giving throughout the year, easily budget for charitable contributions and make an ongoing commitment to Opportunity Knocks. To set up a recurring donation, click on the Recurring Donation link below. Then select your donation amount, check the box ‘Create Recurring Donation’ and set your donation frequency (weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc). It’s that easy!
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!
You can support our effort by spreading the word to your network. Click the button below to take a look at our Sun-Raiser Outreach Toolkit. This toolkit features instructions for social media fundraisers, a customizable email/letter template, and downloadable campaign photos to enhance those posts and emails.
DONATE STOCK, BONDS, MUTUAL FUNDS
Donation of appreciated shares of marketable securities like stocks, bonds and mutual funds is an attractive, tax-wise alternative to a cash contribution.
Donate through Donor-Advised Fund
A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a centralized charitable account. It allows charitably-inclined individuals, families and businesses to make tax-deductible charitable donations of cash, publicly-traded stock and in some case, certain illiquid assets, to a public charity that sponsors a DAF program.
Donate Tax-Free from Your IRA
You can donate some or all of the amount of your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from an IRA directly to a charity, tax-free. If you’re eligible to do so, you can use a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD).
Mail or call it in!
To make a gift by mail, send your check made out to
Opportunity Knocks, 8020 Madison St., River Forest, Il 60305
To make a gift by phone, call 708.771.6159 ext. 204.
Thank you for your support!
Memorial Gifts
Honor or remember a loved one with a gift to Opportunity Knocks—supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in your community through meaningful tribute donations.
Host a Fundraiser or Celebration
Hosting a celebration or memorial is a great way to bring together family and friends or honor a loved one, and can also be an opportunity to increase awareness and support of organizations such as Opportunity Knocks. If you are interested in Opportunity Knocks as an “In lieu of gifts” or “in lieu of flowers” option, please contact Kelsey Hayes at Kelsey.Hayes@opportunityknocksnow.org to set up your campaign.
Corporate Match
Corporate matching gifts are a type of philanthropy in which companies financially match donations that their employees make to nonprofit organizations.
When an employee makes a donation, they’ll request the matching gift from their employer, who then makes their own donation. Companies usually match donations at a 1:1 ratio, but some will match at a 2:1, 3:1, or even a 4:1 ratio.
Check if your employer matches below!
YOUR DONATION MATTERS
SEWING SEEDS OF GROWTH
We understand that this mission is powered by the funds that support it. We appreciate your support. We appreciate the trust and responsibility that come with your support. The value of your donation is tremendous. Here are some important details to express the importance of our work and your support.
01. FINANCIAL HARDSHIP
We have committed ourselves to the endeavor of overcoming any barrier that keeps Warriors from coming to our program. As an organization, we work together with families to create agreements that overcome financial constraints in order to get Warriors to programs.
%
of families with a child having I/DD scale back work hours & lose earnings on avg of $18K/yr
02. PROGRAM ENGAGEMENT
Our approach to programming centers on engagement. Every participant is supported and engaged. This approach requires us to invest in planning and personnel. On average, we have 20 Warriors in a program block. Of those 20, at least 4 require a 1:1 staffing designation to reach the level of engagement we aim to deliver.
%
of our budget is dedicated to direct support staff
03. SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT
Our approach to vocational initiatives centers on engagement. Every Warrior at Work is supported and engaged in a productive, growth-oriented workplace. That support varies based on the preparation, but always requires significant staffing investments to maximize the mission.
%
Individuals w/ I/DD in supported employment successfully advance into competitive employment opps
04. FOOD IS UP!
A typical day in OK Programs includes a communal meal. Warriors will plan, prepare, serve and eat together. The meal is infused with wellness and social growth opps. Nutrition and social connections are absolute essentials in OK Programming
Warriors Cook & Eat in Programs Each Day
05. WARRIOR WELLNESS
We keep it moving. Programs are embedded with wellness activities in the community and hosted at home in the fitness room at the River Forest Community Center. This year’s facility improvement plan includes upgrades to equipment. New rowers, treadmills, weights, flooring.
Obesity rate for adults with disabilities (compared to 30% for those w/o)
06. WARRIORS AT WORK
Pickling, Catering and farming are in full swing! We aim to employ and support Warriors at Work in all areas of the business with a growth-oriented approach focused on abilities, building skills and growing the business together. We added 12 Warriors to the Knockout work team last year!
%
People with I/DD who are employed (compared to 62% for those w/o)
Data Sources
Relias, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Center for Disease Control and Prevention & National Institute of Health, Disability Scoop
PLANTING SEEDS, GROWING TREES
YOUR DOLLARS AT WORK
We understand that this mission is powered by the funds that support it. We appreciate your support. We appreciate the trust and responsibility that come with your support. The value of your donation is tremendous. Here’s a quick glimpse into the impact your dollars create in the mission.
$5,000
Deep Roots Donor
NEED 10
The Fitness Center needs new equipment! $5K provides new treadmills, a recumbent bike and a rower! OR… The Farm needs new raised beds. $5K provides 10 new 8’x2’ – galvanized & accessible growing containers + soil.
Total to Raise: $50,000
$2,500
Farm to Table Donor
NEED 10
Support culinary programming, which includes shopping, preparing, serving and socializing through the lunch hour for 20 Warriors for one full day of programming for one full session.
Total To Raise: $25,000
$1,000
Community Grower Donor
Need 25
Provides lift-assist and transfer equipment to help staff assist Warriors with varying mobility to manage their day to day activities and hygiene. Or… cover the costs of a group outing in OK Programs for 20 Warriors.
Total to Raise: $25,000
$500
Farm Hand Donor
NEED 10
A special sauce ingredient of OK Programs is engagement. Many Warriors need 1:1 support from staff. A donation of $500 provides 1 Warrior with 1:1 support for a full session of programming. Or… the engagement provided by one supported employment assignment in a week of enterprise work shifts.
Total to Raise: $10,000
$250
THE GOAT Donor
NEED 20
A donation of $250 sponsors an epic session of Goat Yoga for 10 Warriors. Or…
Account for all supplies and materials required to offer a therapeutic art program for 10 Warriors in each day of programs for a week.
Total: $5,000
$100
Seed Starter
NEED 100
A donation of $100 will provide a set of new Uniforms for one Warrior at Work in the Knockout Kitchen. OR… A set of supplies and materials to stage a seed starting activity that will produce trays of plants to go to the Knockout Farm.
Total to Raise: $10,000
THE ANNUAL GIVING FUND | 2024
GROWTH ROOTED IN COMMUNITY
The Annual Giving Fund is a critical fundraising campaign for Opportunity Knocks. This year’s campaign theme is about roots and growth. We are planting new seeds while we also nurture our roots and admire the individual and collective growth among the trees in our mission. Please consider sowing some new seeds in the Warrior Mission.
Our mission for this year’s campaign is to raise $150,000 between now and December 31st. We’re calling out to our community to help us hit the mark and we believe with the individuals and foundations that have come around this mission that we can do it! Read on to learn more about how why your support is important and what it creates in the Warrior Mission.
OUR EVENTS
The OK mission was built through connections & funds raised via our special events. Over the years, we have aimed to take the financial pressure off of these events, while also aiming to maximize their potential as a forum to connect with our community.
We host two marquee events annually, along with many other smaller events throughout the year!
Semi-formal gala benefit | April
OK Gala
With the coming of Spring also comes the OK gala. Watch for the gala each year in April. First class food and drinks, great live music, and exciting auctions highlight this semi-formal affair.
Softball Tournament | September
OK Classic
When Summer ends we are hitting up the diamond for our Annual Softball Tournament! The much-anticipated event is home to friendly competition & fundraising for our spectacular Warriors.
Neighborhood Event | October
Knocktoberfest
Autumn brings fallen leaves & our beloved annual event where local kids work together to raise funds to help Warriors at Opportunity Knocks. Enjoy Apple Cider, great company & fundraising!