Become an UpLiFTer
There are lots of opportunities for you, your group and/or your business to get involved and help!
Become a Sponsor:
- Sponsor a LiFT event
- Sponsor an after-school activity
- Fund a field trip
- Underwrite a scholarship for a student
- Provide a free service based on your occupation/business (coupon for lunch, ice cream, school materials, etc…)
- Host a fundraiser
- Fund a registration or materials fee for a student
- Underwrite a special lunch (pizza, salad bar, award luncheon, etc.)
- Scholarships/funding for LiFT University students’ transportation to internships
Help the Students By:
- Volunteering in a classroom, or as a tutor
- Providing jobs or internships for the older youth
- Providing school supplies (paper, pencils, notebook paper, folders)
- Purchasing supplies for our microbusinesses
- Talking to your group or organization about sponsoring a student or an event
- Speaking to a class about your job or expertise
- Answering the school phone
- Assisting a teacher by grading, cutting out items, etc…
School and Classroom Needs
(This is an ongoing list)
We have made it even easier to support our teachers and students!
Other Ways to Support:
Gifts of Cash/Credit Card
Cash is acceptable in any form, including by check, money order, credit card, and on-line. All checks or other designations should be made out to Learning Independence For Tomorrow Inc.
Gifts of Securities or Appreciated Property
A gift of appreciated property – such as stocks, mutual funds, or real estate – may be accepted under appropriate circumstances. You may receive an income tax deduction for the fair market value of the property and avoid paying tax on the appreciation of the property or security.
Bequests and Beneficiary Designations
Donors are encouraged to make bequests to LiFT under their wills and to name LiFT as the beneficiary in trusts, life insurance policies, commercial annuities, and retirement plans. Sample bequest language: I give, devise, and bequeath ($___)(or a specific asset)(or %) to LiFT for its unrestricted use and purpose of general support of LiFT Inc. LiFT encourages donors to disclose their designations to the development office in writing.
Matching Gifts
Many employers match employee gifts to higher education. Companies may match dollar-for-dollar or more. Simply talk with our development office to see if your company participates in a matching gift program. The process is easy and usually requires filing out a short application. It is a simple way to increase your giving power to LiFT.
Scholarships
At LiFT, many students are able to attend the school on full scholarships provided by the local community. Tuition costs $11,500-$16,750 per year depending on grade level and the investment can be paid throughout the year.
Endowments
An endowment consists of funds that are kept intact and invested. A portion of the earning from the endowment is applied to undesignated and designated purposes that may be determined at the outset by the donor(s); the proportion of earnings applied in this manner is set in accordance with the endowment spending policies determined annually. Please contact our Development Director at jbrecher@liftfl.org for more information.
Restricted Gifts
These gifts have definite restrictions for their purposes or the conditions for which they may be disbursed and used.
Unrestricted Gifts
Unrestricted gifts are gifts upon which the donor has not placed definite restrictions as to the method or purpose of expenditure and allows LiFT Academy and LiFT University to use the gifts in the most appropriate manner.
Tax Exempt Status of Gifts
In addition to philanthropic motivation for gifts to LiFT Academy and LiFT University, donors are permitted to take charitable contribution deductions (deductions allowed with respect to a charitable contribution) on Federal tax returns to the extent permitted by Treasury Department regulations. LiFT Academy and LiFT University is recognized as a non-profit corporation under the Internal Revenue Services’ 501c3 guidelines and as such, gifts are tax deductible as allowed by law.
For more information on how to support LiFT, please contact Julie Brecher, Development Director at (727) 433-7298 or jbrecher@liftfl.org.