The most important ways you can help us:
Meaningful gifts of any size are the heart of support for Chatham Literacy’s programs. No gift is
too big or too small, a gift of any amount will support our work and the programs that our community needs most. Thanks to the generosity of people who live and work in Chatham County and around the Piedmont, Chatham Literacy is expanding its programs and helping more and more adult learners each year. Here are some of the ways that you can help.
Become a Friend of Chatham Literacy by making a tax-deductible donation. Your gift will help to provide classes and learning materials our students need to improve their lives.
Here are other ways you can be of service:
Make a Financial Gift, Online or By Mail
- Donate Online. Click on the “Donate” button below to make a secure donation by credit card or your bank account (ACH). You will be able to add a special instruction to tell us what your donation is for.
- Mail a check to Chatham County Literacy Council, PO Box 1696, Pittsboro, NC 27312.
- Use online banking (ACH withdrawals). On your bank’s website, in the section where you pay bills, add Chatham Literacy (P.O. Box 1696, Pittsboro, NC 27312) as a vendor.
- To support our programs monthly visit our webpage to register
at https://chathamliteracy.org/donate.
Become a Sustainer
Meet community needs throughout the year by signing up for Chatham Literacy’s Monthly
Giving Program. To support our programs monthly visit our webpage to register
at https://chathamliteracy.org/donate.
Planned Giving
A simple way to arrange for a future gift to Chatham Literacy is through a bequest. This can be accomplished by simply naming Chatham Literacy as a beneficiary in your will or trust. You can specify which assets we’ll receive such as cash, securities, real estate or other non-cash assets, or designate that we receive a percentage of your overall estate or percentage of the residual of your estate.
Please call our office at 919-742-0578.
Corporate Gift Matching
Charitable giving is often matched by many employers. To double the impact of your gift, check
with your employer about gift matching today. If your employer requests more information,
please reach out to Chatham Literacy directly, at admin@chathamliteracy.org.
Donor-Advised Fund
Donor-advised funds are the fastest-growing charitable giving option because they are one of
the easiest and most tax-advantageous ways to support your favorite programs. Make meaningful contribution and receive immediate tax deductions by giving through your donor-advised fund.
Make a Charitable Stock Donation
Donating appreciated stocks or mutual funds directly to Chatham Literacy, rather than selling the assets first, can provide significant tax benefits. When you gift appreciated securities you have held for more than one year to a qualified public charity, you get a tax deduction for the full fair market value and avoid paying capital gains taxes on the appreciation. This allows you to support the causes you care about while potentially saving more on taxes than if you donated cash proceeds after selling the stock. Charitable stock donations can be a tax-smart way for investors to give more at a lower cost.
Make a Donation to Meet Your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from your IRAs / 401ks
If you are age 72 or older, you are required to take minimum distributions each year from your traditional IRAs and 401(k) plans (Roth IRAs are exempt). Rather than taking the full RMD as taxable income, you can satisfy part or all of your RMD by making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) – a direct transfer of funds from your IRA to an eligible charity. This allows you to meet your RMD obligation while excluding the donated amount from your taxable income, providing tax savings. QCDs can be a tax-efficient way for charitably inclined retirees to meet their RMDs while supporting their favorite causes.
Donate Your Time As a Tutor
If you enjoy working with people and can spare two hours of your time each week, you can make a huge difference in a neighbor’s life. You don’t need a teaching background or a foreign language skill to become a tutor. We’ll provide the training.
Please visit our Tutor FAQ page for more information. If you would like to tutor, download and completed our Volunteer Application Form, and we will be in touch. Or, to discuss your involvement, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at 919-742-0578.
Become a Board or Committee Member
Chatham Literacy relies heavily on the talents and guidance of dedicated board and committee members to drive their missions forward. As a board member, you provide governance oversight, strategic planning, and fiscal accountability to ensure the organization operates effectively. Committee members focus on specific areas like fundraising, marketing, programs, etc. and lend their subject matter expertise. Serving on our board or on a committee allows you to apply your professional skills and experience in a meaningful way while learning about the inner workings of the nonprofit sector. It’s an excellent way to get hands-on experience in leadership, team collaboration, and working towards social impact goals. Our organization seeks members from diverse backgrounds to contribute fresh perspectives.
See our Board Committees list for more details.
Become An Event Sponsor
Each year Chatham Literacy conducts four events that provide a significant amount of the funding needed to produce our free adult literacy programming. We offer popular literacy luncheons in North Chatham and Siler City as well as Literacy Swings big band nights in Pittsboro and Siler City. To learn more about how you can partner with us and our students, please visit our Become a Sponsor page.
Shop Online Through iGive.com
iGive.com is a free online shopping portal that allows you to raise money for your favorite causes simply by shopping at over 1,900 popular online retailers. When you start your shopping journey at iGive.com and click through to your desired store, a percentage of your purchase amount gets donated to Chatham Literacy at no extra cost to you. From clothing and electronics to travel and home goods, iGive partners with major brands across numerous categories. It’s an easy way to generate donations by doing something you already do – online shopping – while supporting the organizations and missions that matter most to you.
Become a Special Events Volunteer
Work on fundraising events like our annual Spring for Literacy luncheon or promoting Chatham Literacy at community events and information fairs.
To speak with someone about volunteer opportunities with Chatham Literacy, please call 919-742-0578 or send an email to admin@chathamliteracy.org.
Donate Supplies
Help us to keep our costs down and to make learning more affordable for students by donating office and educational supplies. We welcome supplies including (but not be limited to) pens, pencils, dry markers, spiral notebooks, three-ring binders, notebook paper, calculators, dictionaries, reams of paper, envelopes, flip charts, and small portable CD players. Before donating supplies, please contact us at 919-742-0578 or at admin@chathamliteracy.org.