Donate

There are many ways to donate to the First Unitarian Society of Ithaca. Your donation will help us to live out our principles and put our faith into action on a daily basis. Every gift supports our important ministries and congregational life as we answer the call of justice, love, and peace.

Make an Online Donation

  1. Click here.
  2. If you already have a Breeze account, click on “sign in” If you don’t have an account, you can create one, or donate without creating an account.
  3. Choose which fund you are donating to. If you are fulfilling a pledge, choose the operating fund for the fiscal year that you are donating to.
  4. Choose if you would like to donate one time, or make this a recurring gift.
  5. Choose if you would like to pay by credit card or a bank transfer.

By Check

Checks can be mailed to First Unitarian Society of Ithaca, PO Box 6, 14851. If the check is to be put toward your pledge, please indicate what fiscal year it is for in the memo line.

Through Auto Withdrawals/Payments

  • Go to the Giving Page.
  • Change “Give this one time” to “Give monthly.”
  • Choose what day you would like the contributions to begin.
  • Choose if you would like the money withdrawn from your account or put on a credit card.

Through a Qualified Charitable Contribution

A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) is an IRA owner’s transfer of funds directly to a qualified charity, which can be used to satisfy the required minimum distribution (RMD). To be eligible, you must be at least 70½ years old, and the distribution is excluded from your taxable income. This can lower your tax bill because the money is not counted as income, and you don’t have to itemize deductions to receive the benefit. 

Age requirement: You must be 70½ or older at the time of the distribution. 
Annual limit: You can give up to $108,000 per year ($216,000 for married couples filing jointly) in 2025. 
Tax benefit: The amount of the QCD is not included in your taxable income. This can help you avoid being pushed into a higher tax bracket and may help lower Medicare premiums that are based on income. Satisfies required minimum distribution
Non-deductible: You do not get a charitable deduction for a QCD, as the tax benefit comes from the amount being excluded from your income. 
Direct transfer: The money must be transferred directly from your IRA to the First Unitarian Society. If you receive the money first and then donate it, it will not be a QCD. 

Contact your IRA administrator to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution. Email office@uuithaca.org if you intend to donate in this manner as it does require a specific receipt process.

Through Stocks

  1. Submit the “Delivery Information” document to your broker.
  1. Your broker will then contact Tompkins Bank using the information on the delivery information document and arrange for the stock transfer.
  1. Email office@uuithaca.org to let the Administrator know that you have started the process of donating stocks.
  2. The Administrator/bookkeeper will let you know once the stock transfer process is completed.

Through Grants from Donor Advised Funds

A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a charitable giving program that allows you to combine tax benefits with the flexibility to support your favorite causes. If you have a donor-advised fund, DAF Direct enables you to recommend grants to the First Unitarian Society, directly from your DAF (as long as your DAF’s sponsoring organization is participating).

How does it work?

  • Establish your DAF by making an irrevocable, tax-deductible donation to a public charity that sponsors a DAF program.
  • Advise the investment allocation of the donated assets (any investment growth is tax-free).
  • Recommend grants to the charities you support, with the option of being recognized or remaining anonymous.

Thank you for your generosity. It is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, email Michelle at office@uuithaca.org.

Estate Planning

Consider sustaining the long-term future of the First Unitarian Society of Ithaca through planned giving. Ways to give include –

~Gifts of Life Insurance

~Appreciated Securities

~Bequests

~Donations of Property

~Gifts of Retained Income

Contact Rich Dolge, head of our Endowment Committee at rdolge@yahoo.com to discuss these Planned Giving Programs.