Donations

The German Society of Pennsylvania continues to offer new and different programs as well as various cultural experiences with the help of dedicated and generous members and volunteers. With rising energy and other operational costs our financial challenges continue to grow.


Therefore, we encourage you to become a German Society donor. There are many ways to give your time, talents, and treasures. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and therefore, your monetary donations and gifts in-kind are tax-deductible.


Please consider one of the ways to give below. Donations can be made via cash, credit card, or check made payable to "German Society of PA".

Celebrating Heritage, Securing Our Future

Ways to Give

Annual Fund

The annual fund is a vital income source for the Society; the fund drive occurs from December to April. Your support of the annual fund helps create new and inventive programming, maintain the collections in our library, support scholarships, and preserve our historic building.


We also offer monthly giving plans.

Capital Campaign

For more than 130 years, 611 Spring Garden Street has been more than just a building. It has been a symbol of the German Society of Pennsylvania's rich history, hosting countless concerts, language classes, cultural events, and gatherings. This building has been the heart of our community, providing a gathering space for German culture and connections through the generations. But now, time has taken its toll. 

Endowment Fund

We established the first endowment fund in the history of the German Society in 2011 and the Haverford Trust Company currently manages the fund. The purpose of this fund is to supplement current income, provide support for special projects, and to help with unexpected needs for major capital items. There are many options to participate, which you can read about here; please contact the office for more information. A well funded endowment will help insure the future of the Society for generations to come.

Legacy Gifts

Donations through estate plans or wills are expected to be a significant source of future gifts to the Endowment Fund. There are simple ways to include the Society in your giving plans without altering your will. If it is your intention to benefit the Society by way of your will, please contact the office for further detail, and we will include your name in the Linden Society.

German Society Memorial Gift Funds

The program is designed to complement our endowment fund. Donations are typically made to honor or memorialize persons. These gifts are listed in the Linden Society, which recognizes contributions to the endowment fund.

Buy a Brick

This program allows you to personalize a brick on the Leidy Terrace with a message of your choice. All funds raised from this program will be put in the German Society Recognition Fund.

Volunteering

If you have a few free hours per week or month, we welcome those with a passion for cleaning, painting and light maintenance projects, as well as ushering, ticket selling, bar-tending, and more.

Whenever you have any questions about donating, money, treasures, or time, we would love to speak with you.

The Board of Directors has recently approved the establishment of the German Society Recognition Fund. This fund will receive the revenue from the personalized brick fundraising so it can be used on activities for longtime German Society members and volunteers.


Several committees (Membership, Volunteer, Stiftungsfest) will submit ideas for the use of the funds as well as the recipients.


The placement of the bricks will be on a first come, first served basis starting in the area closest to the building. We hope you will consider supporting the German Society by adopting your own personalized brick.The Board of Directors has recently approved the establishment of the German Society Recognition Fund. This fund will receive the revenue from the personalized brick fundraising so it can be used on activities for longtime German Society members and volunteers.

Several committees (Membership, Volunteer, Stiftungsfest) will submit ideas for the use of the funds as well as the recipients.


The German Society is continuing its fundraising efforts by offering a personal way to support our mission. Our personalized brick campaign allows you to design and purchase a custom made brick for our Leidy Terrace entrance. The cost is $150.00 for a standard 4”x8” brick paver that will be engraved and installed as soon as an order comes in. Proceeds will support the newly established German Society Recognition Fund, a fund dedicated to honoring our volunteers and members. Thank you in advance for your continued support.


*Due to space limitations, please limit text to 18 characters per line. You may use one, two, or three lines of text. The German Society will review all brick designs prior to engraving and installation.

Buy a Brick

The German Society of Pennsylvania has a long tradition of volunteering. Our organization has only one full-time employee and a handful of part-time employees, so much of the work here is done by volunteers. Our volunteers help with any and all tasks needed to keep the Society running and keep our 19th century building maintained. These tasks include (but are certainly not limited to):

  • Shredding old documents
  • Serving food and tending bar at events
  • Performing minor, routine maintenance on our building
  • Setting up for and cleaning up after events
  • Assembling mass mailings for our membership


Although our business office is only open on weekdays from 9am to 5pm, many of our events take place in the evenings and on weekends, so we can accommodate virtually any schedule.


Volunteering

More Ways to Give

Direct gifts to GSP

(cash or stock)

Benefits and Other Considerations:

  • Immediate benefit to GSP
  • No associated costs
  • Each donation receives a tax benefit

IRA Funds

Benefits and Other Considerations:

  • Use IRA funds to benefit GSP during your lifetime
  • Significant tax savings since GSP receives funds free of tax obligations

Gifts at Death (Bequests)

Benefits and Other Considerations:

  • Assets retained during lifetime
  • Donations to GSP are deferred
  • Easy to arrange; include GSP in wills and trusts

IRA Funds as Bequests

Benefits and Other Considerations:

  • Designate GSP as beneficiary of IRA funds
  • Significant tax savings since GSP receives funds free of tax obligations
  • Easy to arrange yourself

Insurance Policy

Benefits and Other Considerations:

  • GSP beneficiary of life insurance policy
  • Simple to activate; specify GSP as beneficiary
  • Donations to GSP are deferred

Charitable Gift Annuity*

Benefits and Other Considerations:

  • Contributions partially deductible in current year and subsequent years
  • Income stream to donor

Pooled Income Fund*

Benefits and Other Considerations:

  • Contributions partially deductible in current year
  • Income stream to donor
  • Easy to arrange, fees and expenses are low

Charitable Gift Fund*

Benefits and Other Considerations:

  • Ability to consolidate charitable giving with one account
  • Provides tax benefit in current year
  • Donor directs amounts and select times when funds are to be given
  • Fees and expenses are low

Charitable Remainder Trust*

Benefits and Other Considerations:

  • Contributions partially deductible in current year
  • Income stream to donor or other beneficiary, but not to GSP
  • Residual assets eventually transferred to GSP
  • Fees and expenses likely substantial

Charitable Lead Trust*

Benefits and Other Considerations:

  • Assets return to donor or other beneficiary upon death, but not GSP
  • Ongoing income stream for GSP
  • Tax treatment is complicated
  • Fees and expenses likely substantial

* Please contact the office to explore your options: info@germansociety.org

Donation FAQs

  • Who will manage my donations?

    The expanded German Society Finance Committee, which includes two elected member representatives, manages Designated Use funds; The Haverford Trust Company manages the Endowment Funds.

  • How often will investments be reviewed?

    At least quarterly. Investments will be managed conservatively, and professional managers will be used as warranted.

  • Who provides oversight for these programs and what reports / information will be given to the membership?

    The Board receives detailed information at each meeting, and we expect to provide summary information to the full membership at least once per year.

  • Can I designate my gift for a specific cause or project?

    Yes, provided it fits within the mission of the Society and scope of current or planned activities.

  • If the project takes a number of years to complete, what will happen to my designated donation?

    Funds will be kept in a reserve account, such as a Vanguard or Fidelity account, and used as the project proceeds and funds are required.

  • Will I still be asked to make a donation to the annual fund drive?

    Yes. We will use our annual fund drive to help cover yearly operating expenses, and this drive will remain very important to the Society’s financial well-being.

  • Is my donation tax deductible?

    Yes. Since your donations benefit our Society, a 501(c)3 organization, your contributions are generally tax deductible under IRS provisions as long as you itemize your deductions.

  • Will my non-restricted donation be used to meet current expenses or operational needs?

    Possibly, but most of the funds will be directed towards major initiatives or capital projects.

  • I would like to make a larger donation, but need some income stream to meet current expenses. Can this be done?

    Yes. We recommend the Fidelity Pooled Income Fund which has been designed to meet this purpose.

  • Is a Charitable Gift Annuity offered by Society?

    Yes, please contact our office to discuss your options.

  • My father left me shares of stock in a well-known company. Can this be used for a donation?

    Yes. These shares are an excellent donation, especially since there should be a significant tax saving available to you when they represent stocks that have greatly appreciated in value. (The Society receives the shares at current market value and your tax benefit is calculated on that basis).

  • Can I use funds in my IRA account to make donations to Society?

    Yes. In fact such donations will offer significant tax savings to you, and the Society will receive these funds at current market value.

  • Can I list the Society a beneficiary in my will, or trust?

    Yes, and it is a great way to make donations or honor someone in your family.

  • Can I list the Society as the beneficiary of my life insurance?

    Yes. This is another excellent vehicle, especially for insurance policies that are no longer needed to meet possible family emergencies.

  • Can I establish an endowment in honor of my wife to benefit German language students at the high school or college level? Can I sponsor a lecture series, a music program or other activities of interest to the Society?

    Yes. A number of possibilities come to mind. We suggest you contact the Society to discuss various options.

  • We have been very fortunate in life. Can we establish a Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT)?

    Yes. These can be complex and are typically prepared by your personal lawyer. A bank, an insurance company, or an investment firm would manage the trust, prepare tax returns and pay you a monthly annuity. The Society would receive any residual assets upon your death. Again, we suggest you contact the Society to discuss various options. CRT’s can be complicated to arrange and administer and for this reason, this option may be feasible only for major donations.

  • Could we consider a Charitable Lead Trust (CLT)?

    Under this option, the assets are returned to a designated beneficiary upon death. A lawyer usually drafts key documents, and also functions as trustee. The Society receives an income stream from the trust, but never receives the assets. Again, we suggest you discuss this possibility with the Society.

  • We would like to consolidate our charitable giving and give us the flexibility to make routine donations to the Society. How might this work?

    Donor-Advised Funds or Charitable Gift Funds are available from Vanguard, Fidelity, and other institutions and these are designed to give you the flexibility you may desire. Once you have established such a fund, all you have to do is to designate the Society as the beneficiary of any donations from the fund.

  • May we donate appreciated assets?

    Yes. The Society will work with most appreciated assets, real estate or other assets. For more detailed guidance contact the Society.

  • Can the Society be a beneficiary of retirement or pension benefits?

    Yes. You can designate the Society as a beneficiary of pension or retirement payments.

  • What happens to any unused funds or commitments by the Society, should the Society close its doors and go out of business?

    We hope this would never happen. However, if it does happen, any unused funds or commitments made to the Society would transfer to a successor non-profit organization with a mission similar that of the German Society of Pennsylvania. Preference will be given to organizations in the surrounding states.