Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the difference between HIAS Foundation and HIAS?

  HIAS Foundation and HIAS are separate nonprofit organizations with distinct purposes, yet both exist to create a world in which refugees find welcome, safety, and opportunity. HIAS Foundation is building an endowment through bequests and planned gifts to support HIAS' work providing vital services to refugees and asylum seekers around the world. Every year, income from HIAS Foundation’s endowments is made available to HIAS to advocate for refugees’ fundamental rights and to help them rebuild their lives.

  As a donor, you decide when and how your money is used. While donations to HIAS are put to immediate use, gifts made to HIAS Foundation are invested for the future so that our shared mission of welcoming the stranger can continue for generations.

• How do I make a donation?

  HIAS Foundation gratefully accepts donations via stock or wire transfer or via regular mail.

  Checks should be made payable to “HIAS Foundation.” Please mail your donation to:

  HIAS Foundation
  1300 Spring St., #500, Silver Spring, MD 20910

  To speak with someone before you make your gift, please contact us at leavealegacy@hiasfoundation.org or (301) 844-7990.

• Can I make a donation of stock?

  Yes. HIAS Foundation accepts donations of publicly traded securities and mutual funds. A donor can make a gift of publicly traded securities directly to HIAS Foundation and may receive several tax benefits such as bypassing capital-gain tax and receiving an income-tax charitable deduction. Gifts of publicly traded securities and mutual funds may be used to establish charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts. You may instruct your broker to make an electronic transfer to HIAS Foundation’s account using the Securities Transfer Form.

  Please notify us by phone at (301) 844-7990 or by email at leavealegacy@hiasfoundation.org to ensure your donation is processed quickly and your tax receipt issued promptly. Please send us your full name, address, phone number, the name of the company, and the number of shares you are donating.

• Can I make a donation of real property?

  Yes. HIAS Foundation accepts donations of unencumbered real property. Gifts of unencumbered real property may be used to fund charitable remainder trusts and provide donors with significant tax advantages. For more information on donations of real property, please contact us at (301) 844-7990 or leavealegacy@hiasfoundation.org.

• Are my gifts tax deductible in the United States?

  Yes. Each gift to an endowment is tax-deductible, as are portions of charitable trust or annuity gifts.

  HIAS Foundation is exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, therefore your gift is tax deductible to the full extent of the law. HIAS Foundation is a nonprofit charity. Our federal tax identification number is 87-4477821. You should consult your financial planner or tax advisor to determine the exact tax advantages of any gift you are considering. We provide a receipt for all gifts that can be used to claim a tax deduction.

  If you need a copy of the receipt or need a receipt for your gift, please call (301) 844-7990.

• Who manages the endowment funds? Are the funds managed internally or through an investment or banking firm?

  The HIAS Foundation Executive Director is responsible for investment of all funds under the governance and guidelines of the Board of Directors. A professional investment consultant advises the Executive Director.

• Can I designate my gift to a specific country or project?

  HIAS Foundation cannot predict where funds will be needed in 20 or 50 years. Since gifts to HIAS Foundation are invested in endowments that are designed for long-term support of HIAS, gifts to HIAS Foundation’s endowment may be designated only for either general use or programmatic (i.e., for use in the field but not for overhead) use.

• Can I create a “named” endowment for my business, family, or loved one?

  Named endowments can be created with a gift of $100,000 or more. Please contact us at leavealegacy@hiasfoundation.org or (301) 844-7990 for more information on how to set up a named endowment.