Donate / Planned Giving
Sustain A Home Within’s Work With a Future Gift.
With a bequest, you can make a gift in support of future clients and volunteers and make a significant long-term impact. Read more about planned giving below.
About Planned Giving
Planned giving or legacy giving means planning future gifts to a nonprofit through a bequest. At this time, A Home Within is able to receive legacy gifts for unrestricted support.
Bequests are gifts that are made as part of a will or trust. A bequest can be to a person, or to a nonprofit organization, trust or foundation. Anyone can make a bequest—in any amount—to an individual or charity.
To make a bequest, you need to leave instructions, typically in a will. You can detail different types of bequests in your will and update it throughout your life as your family, priorities and wishes evolve.
How to Leave a Bequest to A Home Within
Step 1
Consult your financial or legal advisor, and add A Home Within to your will or trust.
Step 2
Draft and sign a letter to A Home Within indicating your intention to include A Home Within in your will or trust.
Step 3
Send your letter to Reed Connell at A Home Within by email to rconnell@ahomewithin.org or by mail to:
195 41st Street, #11172
Oakland CA 94611
All bequest intention letters will be formally acknowledged upon receipt.
Sample Language
"I give to A Home Within, a nonprofit corporation currently located at 195 41st Street, #11172, Oakland, CA 94611, or its successor thereto, _____ (written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property) for its unrestricted charitable use and purpose. The federal tax ID number for A Home Within is 94-3402610."
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why does A Home Within need planned gifts?
As we look to our next 30 years—and beyond—we’re building the financial foundation to continue our work for as long as it’s needed.
Planned gifts help us weather uncertainty when foundation priorities shift or economic conditions change; plan confidently for our long-term expansion, knowing committed future funding exists; and honor our commitment to those we serve: we will be there for as long as they need us.
Q: What types of assets can I use for a planned gift?
Many asset types can be used for planned giving, often with tax benefits.
Common options include: Cash bequests through your will or trust; Retirement accounts;
Life insurance policies; Stocks and securities; and Donor-Advised Funds.
For assets other than cash, we recommend consulting with your financial advisor to understand tax implications and ensure the gift structure works for your estate plan.
Q: What are the tax benefits of planned giving?
A: Tax benefits vary. Consult with your tax advisor or estate planning attorney to
understand how these benefits apply to your specific situation.
Q: How much should I leave to A Home Within?
There’s no minimum gift amount. Every planned gift—regardless of size—helps
sustain our mission and demonstrates your commitment to foster youth.
Common approaches:
- Percentage of estate (e.g., 5%, 10%, 25%), which adjusts automatically with your estate value.
- Specific dollar amount (e.g., $25,000, $100,000).
- Residual bequest – what remains after specific gifts to family.
- Contingent bequest – takes effect only if primary beneficiaries predecease you
Q: What happens if A Home Within’s mission or operations change?
A Home Within has served foster youth continuously for 30 years. Our mission is
enduring, though our programs evolve as we learn.
Protections in place:
- Our 501(c)(3) charter and bylaws commit us to our charitable mission.
- Individuals who have notified us of their intent to leave us a bequest.
- Our Board’s fiduciary responsibility to manage and use gifts according to donor intent.
- California law governing nonprofit dissolution – if we ever closed, our assets would be transferred to a successor organization chosen by the Board.
Q: Can I change my planned gift after making it?
A: Yes, in most cases. Planned gifts typically remain revocable during your lifetime, giving you flexibility as circumstances change. You can modify your will or trust and beneficiary designations at any time. Certain types of charitable trusts may be more difficult to change.
Legacy Donor Spotlight
A Home Within recently received a bequest from the estate of Dr. Shelley Fern Diamond. Dr. Fern Diamond was born in 1957 in the state of New York, and passed away in 2022. She moved to San Francisco in 1976, where she was involved in various organizations and activities. Dr. Fern Diamond worked as a reporter and producer for National Public Radio (NPR) and as a managing editor of the American Journal of Human Genetics, where she worked with UCSF professor in Human Genetics Dr. Charles Epstein. She was an activist for LGBTQ rights as well as the anti-nuclear movement and other issues. Dr. Fern Diamond published professional writing on various topics, and was also involved with alternative groups such as Processed World magazine, APA-50 zine, the SF Suicide Club, Photo Metro, and Mothertongue Feminist Reader’s Theater.
“This program has been life-changing for me, providing access to therapy that has helped me grow, heal, and better understand myself. The support is unmatched, and knowing it’s tailored specifically for former foster youth makes it even more impactful.”
– AHW Client
At a Glance
Over 18,000 hours of free therapy provided each year
Up to 600,000 youth in foster care nationwide need access to mental healthcare
Over 600 therapists in 23 chapters across 15 states