• Gifts of Cash: The CARES Act allows taxpayers who take the standard deduction to make up to $300 of charitable contributions to qualified charities. Itemizers can deduct up to 100% of adjusted gross income. As of now, this only applies to 2020.
• Stock or Securities: Make a gift of stock or securities to Agassiz Village and avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation of your stock. Please call Lisa Carter, Executive Director, at 781-860-0200 ext.1006 to make your stock gift.
• Individual Retirement Account: If you or a family member are 70½ or older with an individual retirement account (IRA), you can make a tax-free gift to Agassiz Village directly from your IRA. This is called a qualified charitable distribution. Through the SECURE Act you can transfer any amount up to $100,000 per year directly to a qualified charitable organization without paying income tax on the distribution.
• Donor-Advised Funds: Give through your donor-advised fund to maximize your impact. Your fund sponsor handles all record-keeping, disbursements, and tax receipts.
WHO WE ARE
Agassiz (ag-uh-see) Village is a nonprofit organization that provides summer camp and year-round programming for children from underserved communities across the Northeast. Since 1935, we have given more than 45,000 children the opportunity to discover new interests, uncover hidden skills, make lifetime friendships, and connect with inspiring mentors to help them thrive in school, college, and the workforce.
About Our Kids
Each summer, more than 500 children are welcomed to our 330-acre summer camp on the shore of Thompson Lake in Poland, Maine. For these children, whose lives are typically filled with stress and trauma, time spent at Agassiz Village is a gift.
Issues facing our campers include:
Poverty. Over 90% of our campers are from families that qualify for federal assistance programs. For many, the annual family income is under $25,000. We provide scholarships for each family.
Homelessness. Many of our campers are homeless, staying in shelters, or in the foster care system. We provide a safe place and a warm bed to rest from the worries of their daily lives.
Domestic Violence. Too many of our campers are from households experiencing domestic violence, and several have incarcerated parents.
Food Insecurity. Many children suffer from food insecurity. We provide three meals a day in accordance with USDA regulations and the Maine Department of Education Summer Food Service Program.
Lack of Summer Programs. Children from low-income families typically do not have access to after-school programs and summer camps. After-school hours and summer days are when kids from low-income families face the greatest risks to their well-being. It’s also when they fall behind their wealthier peers academically.
Lack of Resources for College and Career. Children from low-income families typically do not have access to resources that will help them be college- and career-ready.
Lack of Transportation. We want all children who want to attend Agassiz to have the chance to come. Therefore, we pay for their transportation from Massachusetts and Maine.
