Gambit's Guide to Giving 2014-15 by Gambit New Orleans

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LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

GIFTGIVING OF

THE

here are so many holiday traditions that make New Orleans a special place to live. Extraordinary cuisine and beautiful music and art always are part of any Crescent City tradition, along with spending time with family and friends. And, of course, right now is an especially fitting time to be thankful. Since the federal flood of 2005, New Orleanians have stepped up like never before to meet the challenges that confront all of us. Progress is apparent on many fronts, and we have welcomed so many new (and very energized) citizens to our city. But much work remains to be done — and that’s the inspiration for our inaugural Guide to Giving.

for those who want to give back during this special season. The hard work of our nonprofit community truly makes a difference for New Orleans at a time when government resources are scarce. It speaks volumes about a community when individuals and organizations answer the needs of others.

All of us at Gambit say “Thank you!” to our many readers who give so generously to the community. We hope our inaugural Guide to Giving inspires others to follow your example — and we hope the gift of giving will continue to rank among New Orleans’ most honored traditions.

The following pages highlight much of the good work being done already — and the wonderful opportunities those efforts offer

INDEX OF CHARITIES AND NON-PROFITS Advocacy Center ..41 Alzheimer’s Association ........ 31 American Cancer Society................40 American Heart Association ........42 ARC Enterprises of Greater New Orleans .....34 Autism Society of Greater New Orleans ..............43 Bastion Community of Resilience ......43 Benjamin Franklin High School .......30 Better Than Ezra Foundation ........35 Books 2 Prisoners...........43 Breakthrough New Orleans .....38 Bridge House ...... 8 Brother Martin High School ....... 14 Community in Schools of Greater New Orleans .....44

Community Service Center ..40 Community Visions Unlimited ...........32 Concordia Lutheran School41 Easter Seals ......43 Educare New Orleans .....25 Emeril Lagasse Foundation ........36 ENCORE Academy ............20 Families & Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children .............26 FestiGals............43 First Tee of Greater New Orleans ....... 2 Foundation for Entertainment Development and Education........... 16 Friends of City Park ............37 George Rodrigue Foundation ........ 17

Girls on the Run New Orleans .....38 Girls Scouts.......36 Goodwill Industries of Southeast Louisiana ............. 4 Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center ................39 Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra ..........39 Green Light New Orleans .....43 Grow Dat Youth Farm ........42 Hike for KaTREEna.......... 41 Jefferson Ballet Theatre...............37 Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana ............. 9 Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans .....39 Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans ..............22

Junior League of New Orleans .....23

Lowernine.org ..24 Luke’s House Clinic................... 10

New Orleans Police & Justice Foundation ........ 21

Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation ......................43

Mary Queen of Vietnam Community Development Corporation................42

Lakeview Shepherd Center ....... 41

NO/AIDS Task Force ..................24

Mercy Family Center ................42

Leading Educators ..........38

Metro Center for Women and Children .............43

Planned Parenthood........35

KidSmart ...........42 Kingsley House..22

Levees.org.........32 Liberty’s Kitchen ...............28 Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp ........... 7 Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools ..............27 Louisiana Children’s Museum .............37 Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra .......... 31 Louisiana SPCA 18

Monumental Task Committee.........38 NAMI New Orleans .....29

New Orleans Recreation Department....... 19

Press Street ......42 Priority Health Care .................... 11 Providence Community Housing ..............25

Neighborhood Housing Services .............40

Raintree Children and Family Services .............42

New Orleans Charter Math and Science High School ................33

Regina Coeli Child Development Center ................27

New Orleans Council on Aging.................43 New Orleans Mission............... 12

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater New Orleans ................ 3

New Orleans Museum of Art..........39

St. Bernard Project................34

RicRACK Inc. .....40

Start the Adventure in Reading (STAIR) ...............42 Team Feed the Children .............42 The Green Project................ 15 The Innocence Project................26 The Lens ............43 The Pro Bono Project................29 The Roots of Music..............42 Unity of Greater New Orleans .....23 University of New Orleans Foundation ........ 13 Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans .....30 YMCA of Greater New Orleans .....28 Youth Empowerment Project .....33

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CHARITABLE GIVING 101:

Tips for year-end tax planning BY CHERIE FISCHER THOMPSON, CPA CONTROLLER, GREATER NEW ORLEANS FOUNDATION

Impact on your return Your tax reduction as a result

of charitable gifts will be proportional to your marginal tax rate. Charitable gifts postmarked or otherwise received by the nonprofit organization by December 31 can be used to reduce taxable income as an itemized deduction on your return. This means, however that filers who opt for the standard deduction will not be allowed further deductions for their donations. Deductions are generally allowed for donations of cash, the fair value of certain types of investments (such as stocks or bonds held for at least one year) or the estimated value of clothing or other property deemed to be in good condition. You may not deduct the value of time or volunteer services donated in kind, although you may deduct any expenses incurred on behalf of that volunteer work, such as travel costs and automobile mileage.

Types of qualifying organizations Generally, qualifying organizations include religious, educational

and social welfare organizations. To find out if a specific organization qualifies for charitable deductions, potential donors can use the IRS Exempt Organizations Select Check tool for a list of qualifying orgs at www.irs. gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/ Exempt-Organizations-SelectCheck or call 1-877-829-5500. Another good source for scoping out worthy causes is www.charitynavigator.org. This site is free and contains not only an A-Z directory of organizations and a search engine but also offers browsing by category (such as animal welfare and arts) and rates each charity on an overall scale of 0-4 (4 being the best) as well as providing a score of 0-100 on financial stability, accountability and transparency. It should be noted that deductions cannot be made for gifts to organizations such as civic or social clubs, labor unions, lobbying organizations, political campaigns, or individuals. One great option for potential donors who may have a little extra cushion in their charitable budgets is the donor advised fund. For a nominal fee and a minimum initial gift to the fund, these are especially useful for donors who are looking for an immediate tax break but are not yet ready to direct funds to a specific organization. Donor advised funds can be established through some wealth advisors or very commonly through a community foundation, such as the Greater New Orleans Foundation. Although the foundation administering the fund retains exclusive legal control over the assets contributed (and it is

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P H OTO C RED I T: W IL L C R O C K ER

s 2014 draws to a close, so does your window for reducing taxable income. One of the simplest and most rewarding ways to hack away at your upcoming tax bill is to make charitable contributions to qualifying nonprofit organizations. Keep in mind that these are general guidelines and that there are exceptions to every rule. Please consult your tax advisor before making a contribution to determine how it will impact your tax position.

important that this language be included in the fund agreement), donors who are named as advisors (typically the establishing donor) hold fund naming rights and advisory rights for charitable distributions from the fund. For more information on establishing a charitable fund visit www.gnof.org or call Allie Betts, Development Officer at 504-598-4663.

What to do if benefits are received When claiming deductions it is important to distinguish between donations where no benefits were received and those where a benefit exists such as a ticket to a fundraiser where dinner and drinks may be served. The estimated value of any benefit must be deducted from the claim. For example, if you paid $150 for a gala ticket where the estimated value of the meal was $60, you only should report $90 as a charitable contribution on your tax return.

What records to keep “Cash donations including check, credit card, and transfer of funds of any

amount require some type of substantiation,” says Sharon Cassiere, Director at Postlethwaite & Netterville. “Individual donations under $250 can be substantiated with a canceled check or receipt from the organization. Gifts of actual cash (not a check or credit card) are not deductable unless a receipt is received. An email thanking you for your donation for an online contribution will work.” For amounts of $250 or more, donors should retain an acknowledgment letter stating the dollar amount or estimated value of goods donated. It is very important that specific language be included in the letter stating that “no goods or services were received by the donor in exchange for this gift.” If a benefit was received, then its estimated value should be stated in the letter. Such acknowledgment letters are not to be filed with the return, but would need to be provided by the taxpayer in the event of an IRS inquiry. IRS rules require that this letter be in hand by the date the return is filed or the return due date (including extensions) whichever is earlier.

Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN THROUGH MUSIC

124 Roselyn Park Place | New Orleans, LA 70131 | (504) 715-9295 | www.louisarmstrongjazzcamp.com

he Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp has 20 years of service providing expert music instruction by Jazz greats to students between 10 - 21 years old. Youngsters must be actively involved in music education at school or through private instructions. Classes are offered in brass and woodwind instruments, acoustic and electric bass, guitar, strings, piano, drums, percussions, vocals, music composition and swing dance. Jazz Camp is presented by the New Orleans Arts & Cultural Host Committee (NOACHC) whose mission is to promote, present and make accessible to the community-at-large, the arts and cultural heritage of New Orleans. The Committee seeks to further its mission by augmenting the lack of music education in schools and by providing an opportunity to students who otherwise would not have access to a program of this caliber. NOACHC also hosts the Louis Armstrong Jazz Academy.

WAYS TO GIVE: PayPal and credit cards online, check and money orders mailed to address above.

2015 EVENTS: June 16 & 17: Auditions at Loyola University June 29 - July 17: Jazz Camp at Loyola University GAMBIT’S > > > G U I D E T O G I V I N G 2 0 1 4

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Luke’s House Clinic 2023 Simon Bolivar Ave. | New Orleans, LA 70113 | (504) 444-7879 | www.lukeshouseclinic.org

he mission of Luke’s House is to be a place of medical and spiritual hope, health, and healing for the people of Greater New Orleans, and a doorway to longterm healthcare solutions. Luke’s House Clinic opened in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina when the medical services of the city were severely compromised and the numbers of those who found themselves homeless and uninsured skyrocketed. Since then Luke’s House has been delivering healthcare to the medically underserved two nights per week. Every Tuesday and Thursday evening Luke’s House sees an average of 15-20 patients. Our completely volunteer medical staff sees patients suffering from chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure, conducts pre-employment physicals for the unemployed, offers free psychiatric services (by appointment only), and provides care for patients with more complicated health issues. In addition, we offer prescription assistance to our patients, administer free vaccines and provide Spanish translators and providers for our Latino patients. Starting in 2015, we will also be offering an eye clinic in partnership with Tulane Medical School. Tuesdays 5:30pm - 8:00pm Thursdays 6:30pm - 9:00pm Se habla español

WAYS TO DONATE AND VOLUNTEER: At Luke’s House, we welcome donations of time & money.

DONATE ONLINE: www.lukeshouseclinic.org

DONATE BY MAIL: 2023 Simon Bolivar Ave., New Orleans, LA 70113

INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING? Please contact Lisa Lynde, Executive Director at llynde@lukeshouseclinic.org

UPCOMING EVENTS: BRASS BASH 2015! We’re getting ready for our FOURTH ANNUAL BRASS BASH! Brass Bash is our signature fundraising event featuring New Orleans Brass Bands! Brass Bash is quickly becoming a not-to-miss event so Save The Date!

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March 13, 2015 One Eyed Jacks 6:30pm - 9:30pm www.brassbash.com

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eople frequently ask,

over 6 tons of usable

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NORD Foundation

925 Gravier Street, Suite 820 | New Orleans, LA 70112 | 504-658-3000 www.nola.gov/nordc/nord-foundation

public-private partnership created by voters in 2010, the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission is building a quality recreation system for all New Orleanians.

The City of New Orleans

• Has currently invested $150 million (largely from FEMA reimbursements) to renovate playgrounds, restore public pools and reopen recreation centers that create safer environments and spark neighborhood revitalization • Supports the management and maintenance of this infrastructure through public funding for NORDC, with a budget determined by the Mayor and City Council.

The NORD Foundation

• Raises funds for recreation programs, athletic equipment and uniforms, volunteer coaches training, youth and teen summer camps, cultural programs and outdoor education. • Reports to its donors how their funds were used.

YOUR DONATION WILL HELP • Residents of all ages engage in physical activities and sports and learn new skills • Youth and teens develop practical, constructive life skills through teamwork and self-discipline • Adults and seniors stay healthy and build community through fitness and recreation programs.

Swimmers at Joe W. Brown Pool

Please join community leaders by supporting the NORD Foundation at www.nola.gov/nordc/ nord-foundation (all funds go directly to the NORD Foundation) or send a check to: NORD Foundation 925 Gravier Street, Suite 820 New Orleans, LA 70112 Learn more by contacting Executive Director Annie LaRock at anniel@nordfoundation.org or 504-919-6059.

Kayla Neville, a graduating member of the NORDC Teen Council and a Chevron Future Leader, wrote in her award-winning essay titled “504 Violence Turnaround:” “Due to support received, I have developed into a teen that is a ‘difference maker.’ I sometimes wonder how much safer my city would be if every child and teen would have something positive to do when not at school, like I have. I think if parents give support and leaders and businesses continue to invest in activities and incentives for us, the community will be less violent.”

Teens who are difference makers… a less violent community. With your donation, you can help improve the quality of life for all of us. U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite addresses Teen Campers in July 2014 GAMBIT’S > > > G U I D E T O G I V I N G 2 0 1 4

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Kingsley House 1600 Constance St. | New Orleans, LA 70130 | (504) 523-6221 | www.kingsleyhouse.org

ingsley House educates children, strengthens families and builds community. Founded in 1896, KH is a United Way Community Impact Partner and serves more than 7,000 children and families per year.

WAYS TO GIVE • Annual Fund Campaign which provides direct support to our programs and participants (Head Start/Early Head Start Preschool, Senior Center, Counseling and Community Supportive Services) • Capital Campaign which will provide support for the construction of our new Patrick F. Taylor Campus allowing us to expand services to more than 200 children and seniors • Donate online, by phone or mail

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“MY FUTURE DEPENDS ON YOU!”

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Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools 1555 Poydras St., Ste. 750 | New Orleans, LA 70112 | (504) 274-3651 | www.lacharterschools.org

Give the gift of educational opportunityâ&#x20AC;Ś

n New Orleans, parents and teachers are working together to create a community where our students can now achieve academic excellence. Since 2007, the Louisiana Association of Charter Schools (LAPCS) has provided the support to ensure that parental choice in education thrives in New Orleans and across Louisiana. New Orleans has received national recognition for its innovative education structure and the amazing strides our students have made. Less than a decade ago, approximately 70 percent of public school students in New Orleans were attending a failing school.Now, 70 percent of students are in successful schools. Charter schools empower parents and teachers by providing educational options. This is what drives our remarkable progress. LAPCS is the only statewide entity dedicated to advocating for charter schools to make sure high quality options are protected.

HOW TO DONATE: This Holiday Season, help LAPCS as we help families in New Orleans access quality schools. To make a donation or to become a corporate partner, contact Toryah Cameron at tcameron@lacharterschools.org or 504.274.3625. GAMBITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S > > > G U I D E T O G I V I N G 2 0 1 4

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SOCIAL GIVING

Use your Gambit Guide to Giving to give the perfect gifts this holiday season. Here’s how:

Share this book with your friends, family and colleagues.

Let each pick a favorite cause.

Make donations in their names and know that your gifts will touch many lives.

SAVE THE DATE: IMPORTANT 2014-2015 GIVING DATES TUESDAY, DEC. 2, 2014

#GivingTuesday

TUES.

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TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

GiveNOLA Day

SUNDAY, NOV. 15, 2015

National Philanthropy Day® (NPD)

STATS

13.5

Overall charitable giving grew 4.9% in 2013, while online giving grew 13.5%.

4.9%

ONLINE GIVING

GIVING

OVER ALL GIVING

uide to Giving gifts this ere’s how:

A L L S TAT S A R E D E R I V E D F R O M BL A CK B A UD’S A NNU A L G I V IN G R E P O R T. BL A CK B A UD I S T HE L A R GE S T S O F T WA R E P R O V ID E R F O R N O NP R O F I T S IN T HE C O UN T R Y. INF O R M AT I O N P R O V ID E D B Y T HE A S S O CI AT I O N O F F UND R A I S IN G P R O F E S S I O N A L S O F NE W O R L E A N S CH A P T E R .

Online giving accounted for 6.4% of all charitable giving in 2013.

6.4%

ONLINE GIVING

More than one-third (33.6%) of overall charitable giving happens in the last three months of the year, with the highest percentage (17.5%) coming in December.

O C T.- D EC.

DEC.

33.6% 17.5%

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