Becoming a Donor
Donating to Camp Lake Stephens does not require great wealth and it isn’t complicated.
You can:
• Provide ongoing support to Camp Lake Stephens.
• Make your own choices! Take advantage of our staff’s expertise to help you address Camp Lake Stephens’ most pressing challenges.
• Distribute gifts during your lifetime or leave a lasting legacy – or both!
Reasons to Give
Becoming a member of our donor family offers a way for you to accomplish your charitable dreams. As our partner in giving, you receive the simplicity and tax advantages of a public charity combined with the personal recognition, involvement and flexibility of a private foundation. You also gain access to the highest level of strategic thinking on ways to meet camp’s challenges to help make your contributions as effective as possible.
Flexible
We take pride in our ability to customize services to meet your charitable objectives. You may give a donation that supports Camp Lake Stephens or programs you care about, the camp’s greatest areas of need, or a broad field of interest. You may also contribute by making an unrestricted gift that our Board of Directors will put to good use at camp on your behalf.
Ways to Give
We offer a wide range of gifting options and vehicles that you can use to establish or add to a named charitable fund. Since we are recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a public charity, donors are provided with the maximum tax benefits allowed by law.
Gifts of Appreciated Stock
Everybody wins when you make a gift of appreciated stock to Camp Lake Stephens. Your gains are put to good use. Your gift of stock is reinvested in camp and qualifies for an immediate tax deduction equal to the full fair market value. Here’s how it works:
You make a gift of appreciated stock to CLS. Your gift qualifies for a tax deduction based on the full market value of your stock; plus, you avoid the capital gains tax that would arise from the outright sale of the stock.
Levels of Giving
The Stephens Society
Established in honor of our founder, Dr. J.E. Stephens, The Stephens Society is a group of individuals and families who have generously pledged $10,000 and above over two or three years to fund Camp Lake Stephens’ capital campaign Keeping the Vision Alive: New Foundations for Another 60 Years.
The Vesper Society
The Vesper Society is a group of individuals and families who have generously pledged gifts of $5,000-$9,999 over two or three years to fund the Camp Lake Stephens Keeping the Vision Alive campaign.
The Campfire Society
The Campfire Society generously supports the Camp Lake Stephens Keeping the Vision Alive campaign with gifts of $1,000-$4,000 over two or three years.
Gift Planning Opportunities
• Gift through your Will or Living Trust
• Charitable IRA Rollover (the recent extension of the Pension Act of 2006) or other Retirement Plans
• Charitable Lead or Remainder Trust
• Life Income Gift
• Donor Advised Fund through a community or other organization
• Gift of Appreciated Stock or Real Estate
• Gift of Life Insurance
• Memorial gift to honor a loved one
Tips on Giving Wisely
Our staff is available at any time to assist with your giving. We have many ideas to share with you.
Ask About Matching Gifts
Many employers match gifts made by their employees or make grants to organizations recommended by employees. Be sure to ask your company if it can help your gift to stretch even further.
Remember, Your Gift Can Be Confidential
If you prefer to have gifts from your charitable fund remain confidential, please let us know.
Consider Alternative Forms of Giving
Don’t overlook the benefits you and your cause can receive from bequests, charitable gift annuities, gifts in kind, endowments and many other creative forms of giving.
Volunteer!
In addition to financial support, consider giving your time and skills. Not only will you help the organization, but you’ll also make contacts, hone your skills, and learn more about the charitable cause to which you’re committing your time and money
Camp Lake Stephens Donors — Making A Difference
Our donors make a major impact on the causes and organizations they support through their philanthropic work with Camp Lake Stephens. Whether it’s a donor supporting various causes, or someone funding scholarships for future campers, the result is clear — lives are improved and positive changes happen when donors connect with the causes that are important to them.
For additional information on how you can help, please call Kelli Long Jatta, Director of Development, at Camp Lake Stephens, 662-234-3350 or email kelli@camplakestephens.com.
