Bank Transfer (EUR & GBP)
Please follow the instructions to fill out the Gift Indication Form and return by post to:
Friends of Ridhwan
P.O. Box 10174
Berkeley, CA 94709
as an email attachment to: contact@friendsofridhwan.org or by fax to: +1 510 528 5311
Please consider a monthly donation to invest in the school that brings the teaching to those who resonate with it around the world and help us continue to do so for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
I don’t have a lot to give. Will my gift even make a difference? Absolutely! Currently, there are 185 monthly donors, the majority of whom give smaller gifts of $10 - $20 per month, finding a monthly donation is easier financially than one larger gift. This collective provides a significant monthly contribution that we know we can count on to help bring the teaching to you and thousands of other people around the world.
Isn’t it complicated to give a gift every month?
No, you can sign up in 5 easy steps:
- CLICK HERE
- Choose the amount you’d like to donate each month
- Click the box that says: “Yes, I would like this to be a monthly gift.”
- Enter your payment info
- Click the contribute button
That’s it! You can discontinue at any time.
Is my gift tax deductible? Friends of Ridhwan is a tax-exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Donations to Friends of Ridhwan are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law, and no goods or services have been or will be exchanged in consideration of this gift. Our tax ID number 47-3365579.
You will receive a letter from Friends of Ridhwan at the end of each calendar year to submit with your taxes.
Not ready for a monthly commitment?
Legacy Giving
Students of the Ridhwan School and other friends of the Diamond Approach have increasingly asked for information on how they might make planned gifts. Planned gifts are recognized both in the United States and in other countries as ways in which individuals may make significant charitable contributions that can also provide themselves and/or their heirs with significant tax and other financial benefits.
Scott Vachon Answers Key Questions About Legacy Giving
There are many ways to include Friends of Ridhwan in your long-term planning.
Bequest - A charitable bequest is the most familiar type of legacy gift. As a donor, you are able to direct an executor or trustee to make a gift to Friends of Ridhwan through a will or trust. You maintain complete control over the assets during your lifetime, and you can change your instructions for their ultimate distribution at any time. For an estate, a charitable bequest is the simplest means of obtaining an estate deduction.
Life Insurance Policy - A life insurance policy can become a powerful and simple way to support the Diamond Approach teaching in the world. You can name Friends of Ridhwan as a primary beneficiary for a percentage or a specified amount of the policy, or you can make us a contingent beneficiary. Donating a policy outright is another strategy for creating significant impact in supporting the ongoing manifestation of the Diamond Approach teaching.
Retirement or Pension Plan - You can designate Friends of Ridhwan as a beneficiary of your retirement or pension plan. Depending on your tax situation, your plan assets can be transferred to Friends of Ridhwan tax free and your heirs may be able to avoid income tax on the distribution from your plan. As a qualified charity, Friends of Ridhwan will pay no taxes on the proceeds and will have more funds to continue to support the ongoing manifestation and unfoldment of the Diamond Approach teaching in the world.
In addition to the general information above, Friends of Ridhwan offers donors the following documents that are easily downloaded and printed for your use:
- Planned Gift Intention Form – Please use this form to indicate to FOR your planned giving intentions.
- Planned Giving Flyer – With additional information on why and how to make a planned gift.
- Sample Language for a Bequest – Simple, standard wording to use in naming Friends of Ridhwan as a bequest beneficiary.
- Gifts of Retirement Plan Assets and Insurance – Information you will need in giving to Friends of Ridhwan through one of these vehicles.
If you would like to discuss donation via a planned giving arrangement, please contact us at contact@friendsofridhwan.org
Donor Advised Funds
Individuals or couples who have established donor-advised funds (DAF) may support the Diamond Approach at any time by recommending that their fund support Friends of Ridhwan. Because you have already received applicable tax benefits by making donations to your DAF, you will not receive additional benefits in making such a recommendation.
Friends of Ridhwan asks that you mail or fax to us a signed copy of an “Intent to Recommend” form provided to you by your fund manager for this purpose:
Friends of Ridhwan
P.O. Box 10174
Berkeley, CA 94709
Fax: (510) 528-5311
Stocks & Mutual Funds
Stocks - Many people find making a gift of securities to be both easy and often financially beneficial. Stock gifts are valued based on the mean price of the stock on the date of the gift. No capital gain taxes are due on stock that is gifted to Friends of Ridhwan. However, it is important to follow some simple steps to expedite the transfer of the stock to Friends of Ridhwan.
If you would like to transfer shares electronically, please:
- Complete the Stock Transfer Form provided by FoR and email a PDF to contact@friendsofridhwan.org, fax it to (510) 528-5311 or mail to:
Friends of Ridhwan
P.O. Box 10174
Berkeley, California, USA, 94709
- Provide your broker with the Stock Transfer Information on the Stock Transfer Form.
Please note: You must be sure the broker does not simply sell the stock and then transfer the proceeds. Such a step triggers a taxable transaction for you. If you have the stock certificate, please simply send the certificate(s) to:
Friends of Ridhwan
P.O. Box 10174
Berkeley, California, USA, 94709
- Do not sign the certificate(s).
- Rather, sign a blank stock power form (provided by your broker’s office or, a bank) and then use the signed stock power form to receive a medallion signature from your bank. The medallion signature is certification of your identity. After the stock power form has the medallion signature, mail the form to Friends of Ridhwan
- If your stock certificate is for more shares than you want to gift, Friends of Ridhwan will have the certificate split, re-issuing to you the number of shares you designate.
Mutual Funds - A gift of mutual fund shares needs to be handled carefully. It often takes several weeks, months sometimes, to accomplish the transfer and usually requires a signature guarantee. Please contact your mutual fund representative for a form that may be available to you for making charitable gifts. Such forms may be available on a web site but generally require downloading and mailing with original signatures and guarantees.
IRA Donations
In 2015, the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act made permanent the IRA charitable rollover provision, giving individuals age 70 1/2 or older the ability to transfer up to $100,000 a year, tax-free, from an IRA to one or more qualifying charities.
A charitable IRA rollover (from a traditional or Roth IRA) can be a significant way for individuals to make a generous donation to Friends of Ridhwan, while avoiding or mitigating income tax and tax treatment on appreciated assets. The rollover is not subject to the usual percentage limits for charitable deductions.
The qualified charitable distribution (rollover) can satisfy the required minimum distribution (RMD) from the IRA, and may offset most or all of the taxable income recognized through the RMD. Please consult with your financial or retirement advisor about this and contact Friends of Ridhwan for any additional information you may need.
Property & Real Estate
If you would like to discuss donation of real estate or other personal property, please contact Friends of Ridhwan or contact one of the board members directly.
