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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.
GIVING OPTIONS
Send a Gift by Mail or Call
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!
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!
Memorial & Honor Gifts
Remember the life of a departed one or honor a special person in your life through a donation to Opportunity Knocks. Donations made in remembrance or in honor of a loved one positively impact individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our community.
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.
DONATE STOCK
Donation of appreciated shares of marketable securities like stocks, bonds and mutual funds is an attractive, tax-wise alternative to a cash contribution. Benefits to you include the following:
– You will have lower out-of-pocket costs for your contribution.
– You may avoid capital gains tax by donating the appreciated securities to Opportunity Knocks.
– You may take a charitable income tax deduction, as defined by law, equal to the value of the donated securities on the date the gift is irrevocably transferred to Opportunity Knocks through its intermediary Stock Donator.
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).
CLICK HERE FOR MORE
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
- Ensure you’re eligible to make a QCD. You must be at least 70½ years old at the time of the donation, and the maximum annual QCD amount is $100,000.
Step 2: Choose a Qualified Charity
- Pick a qualified 501(c)(3) charity that can accept QCDs. Donor-advised funds and private foundations generally don’t qualify, so check with the charity if you’re unsure.
Step 3: Contact Your IRA Custodian
- Reach out to your IRA custodian (the financial institution that holds your IRA) and inform them of your intention to make a QCD.
- Request the necessary paperwork or online forms for a QCD. Most custodians will have a process specifically for QCD requests.
Step 4: Complete the QCD Request Form
- Fill out the QCD form provided by your custodian. You’ll need to specify the charity’s details, the donation amount, and confirm that it’s a direct transfer.
- Ensure you list the charity’s name exactly as registered and include any required tax identification numbers if requested by your custodian.
Step 5: Verify Direct Transfer to Charity
- For the distribution to count as a QCD, it must go directly from your IRA to the charity, not to you personally.
- Your IRA custodian will send the check directly to the charity, or in some cases, they may send the check to you to deliver as long as it’s made payable to the charity.
Step 6: Keep Records of the QCD
- Request a receipt from the charity confirming the donation. The IRS doesn’t require itemization for QCDs, but having a receipt is good for your records.
- Your IRA custodian will send you a 1099-R form at tax time showing the distribution, which you’ll need when filing.
Step 7: Report the QCD on Your Tax Return
- On your tax return, report the QCD as a non-taxable IRA distribution. You’ll indicate the gross distribution but show the taxable amount as zero.
- Write “QCD” next to the line on your tax return where you report IRA distributions to show it was a Qualified Charitable Distribution.
Important Notes:
- Make sure the donation is completed by December 31 if you want it to count for the current tax year.
- QCDs count toward your RMD but aren’t included in your taxable income, which can reduce your Adjusted Gross Income and, in turn, potentially lower your tax liability.
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 GENTLY USED SPORTING GOODS
Did you know that you can support OK by donating your gently used sports or fitness equipment to Play It Again Sports in Forest Park?
Whether gently used, too small, or just no longer needed, bring it in to Play it Again Sports! Anything they can re-sell, they will purchase and give you the option of donating your proceeds to OK.
For more information on the types of gear they purchase, visit their website via the button 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!