for helping change
a family’s future!
- Donate
- Donate Now
- Annual Gala Sponsorship & Tickets
- Back to School and Holiday Programs
- Join our Circle of Impact
- Planned Giving
- Help Supply Our Food Pantry
- Donate Furniture or Household Items
- Shop and Donate
- Thank You to Our Donors
- Corporate Partners
- Become a Housing Partner
- Donor FAQ
Donate
Your financial or in-kind gift will help a family find a stable home and raise their children in a safe environment. Your support will have a lasting impact.
Why give?
Families Forward is a nonprofit agency that depends upon the support of the community to provide homeless families or families at risk of homelessness with tools and education to maintain self-sufficiency. The primary goal is to move families in crisis to stability.
All donations remain in our community to help local families. We are proud to report that 90% of donations go directly to support programs and services.
Additionally, Families Forward makes every effort to respect our donors and their information.
- Please click here for our “Donor Bill of Rights”, adopted through the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Orange County.
- Please click here for our Donor Privacy Policy.
Every gift helps.
Ways to Give
Give Now by Credit Card
Donate by Check
Please make checks payable to Families Forward and mail to 8 Thomas Irvine, CA 92618.
Donate Appreciated Assets
Gifts of stock, bonds, mutual funds, real estate and other appreciated property are one of the most tax-efficient ways to make a charitable donation. Click here for donation instructions or click here to learn more about the benefits of donating appreciated assets.
Redirect Your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)
The investment firm managing your retirement account can make a direct contribution to the charity of your choice with all or part of your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) to reduce your ordinary taxable income. Click here to learn more.
Apply for Employee Matching Gifts
Many employers will match a charitable donation to a non-profit organization, which can double, even triple the value of your donation. Ask your employer about its matching grant program.
| Elect Payroll Deductions
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Select Gifts Through Affiliations
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| United Way: Donations to the Orange County United Way can be designated to Families Forward as a direct recipient of your gift! | Thrivent Choice: Help support Families Forward through Thrivent Choice! If you’re a Thrivent member, please consider directing you Choice Dollars to help homeless families. |
Donate Now
For questions regarding the form below, or to report errors, please contact info@families-forward.org, or (949) 716-5870.
Annual Gala Sponsorship & Tickets
Each September, Families Forward hosts its annual fundraising gala with more than 400 generous attendees from our community! You can help support our vital mission to prevent and reduce homelessness in Orange County.
2018 Gala: An “Anchor of Hope”
Back to School and Holiday Program Giving
Back to School
Grade-appropriate school supplies and backpacks, along with new and like-new clothing will be distributed to low-income elementary, middle, and high school students in July-August. These supplies will help students start on the same foot as their peers and build their confidence for the coming school year.
- See our list of needed school and clothing items
- Volunteer for the Back to School Program
- Host a Back to School/school supply drive
Thanksgiving Basket Program
Each year, Families Forward holds a Thanksgiving-themed grocery distribution for local families in need. The weekend before Thanksgiving, families come to our program center to receive all of the traditional Thanksgiving fixings to cook a warm, delicious holiday meal. While parents pick up their baskets, children participate in fun-filled activities such as face painting and arts & crafts.
Information on how to be involved in 2018 will be added in October 2018. Please note that the information below relates to the 2017 year.
- See our list of needed food items
- Volunteer for the Thanksgiving Basket Program
- Host a Thanksgiving food drive
Adopt-a-Family Basket Program
Holidays can be a very stressful time for families who struggle to make ends meet. Imagine passing by all the new shiny toys, your child’s eyes aglow, realizing that you can’t afford to give them a special holiday gift. The Adopt-a-Family Program gives individuals, companies and community organizations the opportunity to spread warmth and bring holiday joy to families in need. Donations are accepted from the beginning of November through early December, so that children’s “wish lists” can be filled. In order to participate in this program, you must be able to deliver donations to our office in Irvine.
Information on how to be involved in 2018 will be added in October 2018. Please note that the information below relates to the 2017 year.
- Click here to Adopt-a-Family. Please note that the form will be available in October 2018.
- See our list of most requested wish list toys/items. Please note that gifts for teens are especially needed each year.
- Volunteer for the Adopt-a-Family Program
- Host a toy drive. Toys collected through collection drives will be used to fill the wish lists of children who have not been adopted yet.
Other Ways to Give During the Holidays
Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the holidays? This year, consider sharing the mission of Families Forward with friends or colleagues.
Join our Circle of Impact
If you’d like to learn more about joining the Circle of Impact, contact info@families-forward.org or click here for additional information.
Become a Member of Our Legacy Society with a Planned Gift:
Families Forward has a network of advisors with experience across a range of charitable giving techniques. They are available to provide guidance and charitable gift planning support. If you have any questions or would like more detailed information about this process, please contact info@families-forward.org.
Bequests
A simple form of planned giving is to remember Families Forward in your will. The bequest can be specified as a fixed amount, as a percentage of your estate, as the residual, or as specific items.
Retirement Plans and Life Insurance
You can maximize the impact of your retirement funds or life insurance policy when you name Families Forward as your beneficiary. Because retirement funds directed to heirs are often subject to a high level of both federal and state income and estate taxes, donating your retirement plan to a nonprofit can eliminate these taxes. Simply obtain a designated beneficiary form from your retirement plan administrator and name “Families Forward” as one of your beneficiaries.
Charitable Gift Annuities and Charitable Trusts
Charitable gift annuities allow an individual to retain income during their lifetime, while the principal can be designated to charity. This is a wonderful way for a donor to gain an annual income and generate a tax-deductible gift for Families Forward.
More information is available in our Legacy Society informational brochure. Additionally, if you’d like to share information about your planned gift with Families Forward, we have provided a form for your convenience.
If you are interested in naming Families Forward as a beneficiary in your will, bequest, trust or an estate planning instrument, please consult with your financial advisory or estate attorney.
Help Supply Our Food Pantry
Food Donations
When a family doesn’t have enough food – the most basic human need – stability in other areas is impossible. At Families Forward, we provide food to struggling families. Currently, the Families Forward food pantry serves over 6,000 low-income individuals each year. Families Forward relies almost entirely on community donations to feed these local families. Click here for a flyer listing our most needed food items.
There are three easy ways to contribute to the Food Pantry:
- Individual Food Donations: Families Forward welcomes food donations from individuals who want to help end hunger! Food donations can be dropped off at our pantry during our business hours.(Monday- Thursday 9:00am-5:00pm, Friday 9:00am-1:00pm).
- Host a Food Drive: We make hosting a food drive easy! Click here to learn moreIf you have questions about how to donate food, please send a message for our Food Drive Coordinator at fooddrives@families-forward.org.
Donate Furniture or Household Items
Thank you for your support of Families Forward! At this time, we are not accepting furniture donations and household item donations due to limited resources and storage space.
Other local organizations that may accept furniture and household good donations at this time include:
Other Donation Resources:
- Integrity House – 714-542-0855
- Salvation Army – 1-800-728-7825
- St. Vincent de Paul – 714-542-0448
- Laura’s House – (949) 361-3775
Please note that we are not affiliated with these organizations.
Shop and Donate
Support Families Forward and Make Your Shopping Count!
An easy way to support Families Forward is to sign up with our partners below. At no cost to you, a percentage of your purchases will be donated to Families Forward!
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Amazon Smile
How It Works: Visit Amazon via smile.amazon.com and select “Families Forward – Irvine, CA” as your organization. Shop as you normally would, and 0.5% of your purchase will go back to Families Forward! Note: Your Amazon orders are only eligible if you visit smile.amazon.com before purchasing. |
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Ralph’s Community Contribution Program
How It Works: Register online by signing into your Ralphs.com account, or by calling 800-443-4438, and selecting Families Forward as your designated non-profit. Note: Sign into your account every September to renew your contributions! |
Thank You to Our Donors
2016 -2017 Donors
Families Forward is grateful for every gift of financial support. Due to space limitations, the list below includes Circle of Impact donors who made gifts of $5,000 or more between October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list. If you believe we have made an error, please contact us.
Corporate Partners
Thank you to our Corporate Partners (during the period October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017). If your company is interested in learning more about how to get involved with Families Forward, please see refer to our Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities and Workplace Giving Programs for additional information. For inquiries, please contact: kszymczak@families-forward.org.
Between October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017
$25,000+
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$10,000+
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$5,000+
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Between October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018
$25,000+
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$10,000+
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$5,000+
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As of 6/6/2018
Become a Housing Partner
Together, we can help families in need create a secure environment to raise their children. With generous support from our Housing Partners, Rapid Re-Housing has helped numerous families obtain stable housing and regain self-sufficiency.
Rapid Re-Housing is a national initiative to provide housing placement, financial assistance, and support services to help families in need gain access to housing, and build stability for their family.
How Can I Help?
You can partner with us by leasing homes to families we have identified. Some Housing Partners have also agreed to waive certain fees, deposits, and credit restrictions, and to lower rents for the initial months of the lease.
What Can I Expect?
Families Forward assists families with the application process, financial support, and case management services. We will follow-up to ensure that the tenant-landlord relationship is working and that lease conditions are being met.
How Do I Learn More?
For more information, please email housing@families-forward.org or click here.
Thank You To Our Partners
California Apartment Association: Orange County Division
Irvine Company Apartment Communities
Orange County Community Housing Corporation
2017 – 6th Annual Housing Appreciation Event
In honor and celebration of the generous Housing Partners who work with Families Forward to provide access to stabilized housing for homeless families.
Honoring:
eaves Santa Margarita, An AvalonBay Community
Orange Housing Development Corporation
Thank you to our host:
Thank you to our sponsors:
Donor FAQ
1. Can I make a donation in honor of a friend or family member?
Yes! The process is simple. Just fill in the “Tribute Gift Information” section on our online donation page and we will send a card letting them know that you have made a contribution in their name. Tribute gifts are tax deductible and are perfect as a birthday, holiday, or wedding gift (check with your tax accountant for specific advice). To view a preview of the card, please click here.
2. What grocery items are most needed to donate to the food pantry?
Please review the flyer of our most needed food items.
3. Can I donate my used car?
We only accept cars if client families are in need of one. These cars must have passed a smog check within the past 90 days, and they must be clean and in good physical and working condition. Please call us at (949) 552-2727 to find out if your car can be used for donation.
4. Can I donate clothing?
Unfortunately, due to space limitations, we can only accept clothing donations during the month of July for our Back to School program. At that time, we will accept new or gently used clothing for school-aged children only (K-12 grade).
5. What household items or furniture can I donate for use in Families Forward’s homes?
We thank you for your support of Families Forward. However, at this time, we are not accepting furniture donations and household item donations due to limited resources and storage space. Please visit this page for information on other agencies that may accept furniture donations.
