This page tries to answer all your questions about giving to the ARS. If you have additional questions, please ask us!. Click on any question to reveal the answer.
Please make a gift to the American Recorder Society today and support the future of the recorder!
General Questions
Yes, ARS has been a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization since 1962.
We work daily to promote the visibility, improve the image, and enhance the enjoyment of the recorder. Your gifts help us provide the services and benefits that are important to recorder players.
Yes, the ARS is a 501(c)3 organization, so all donations made to the ARS are tax-deductible for United States citizens. We provide you with a receipt for tax purposes. Our tax ID number is 13-2930296. ARS has a Platinum Level profile on Guidestar/Candid, which rates charities based on their transparency (see the footer on each webpage and click to view the profile). Charity Navigator has given ARS their top score of 4 stars. Nearly 80% of expenses incurred by ARS go toward programs rather than overhead.
For over 75 years, the ARS has awarded hundreds of scholarships and grants and delivered valuable opportunities, programs, and resources to our large recorder community:
Scholarshipsto members to attend recorder workshops and festivals
Fundsfor recorder professionals for professional development programs
Educational outreach to support the use of the recorder in music education, including the purchase of adaptive instruments for special-needs players
A searchable databaseof performers and educators presenting educational programs in schools
Dues cover only 40% of the funds needed for ARS. To fill that gap, we rely upon those who appreciate the value of the recorder and its music.
Although we encourage undesignated gifts, you may direct your gift to assist any of our programs. Consider establishing an endowment to provide perpetual funding for the program in which you have an interest.
The ARS will accept your cash gift (through check or credit card), gifts of shares of stock and mutual funds. We are honored to accept planned gifts such as bequests, life insurance policies, 401Ks, IRA’s and other retirement plans.
Next time someone asks you what you would like for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthday or other special occasion how about asking them to donate to American Recorder Society in your name?
“I recently asked my daughters to make a donation in my name to American Recorder Society as a Mother’s Day gift. Don’t get me wrong, I love gifts but I realize that I don’t need more “things”. I asked them to support an organization that is near and dear to my heart. Being good daughters they readily agreed.” Ann Stickney
You can also suggest that gifts to Chapter leaders, conductors, special performers, or others special to your group be monetary. Perhaps these gifts could add to the existing ARS scholarship or professional development funds. Being a part of providing for continuing recorder education will benefit the many lives of students and amateur players touched by those persons.
Over the years, the ARS has received many of your charitable gifts in memory of loved ones - teachers, parents, students - who have passed on. We will acknowledge your gift and inform family members of the donation. If you would like to make a gift in memory of someone, simply include a note to that effect with your gift.
Likewise, if you would like to make a gift in honor of someone or to celebrate a special occasion, simply include a note with your gift and we will be sure to notify that person of your gift.
The ARS staff is available for questions by phone or email; we welcome the opportunity to work with you and your financial advisor(s). We always recommend you contact your financial and legal advisors when considering large charitable gifts to any nonprofit organization, including the verbiage to be used in any legal documents.
Legacy Giving
Not at all. Whatever amount you specify will be gratefully received. ARS is eager to establish planned giving as a means of securing support for our organization in the future.
ARS is not encouraging restricted gifts at this time. The flexibility to use your gift where it is most needed is of great value to the ARS.
ARS accepts recorders from estates and then sells them through recorder vendors. But unless you have an instrument(s) of high value, it may be best to donate it to your local ARS chapter. While ARS accepts recorders, cash is what is being sought in the planned giving initiative.
ARS lacks the resources to sell tangibles like land or housing. An exception to that is stocks or other financial assets which can be easily sold.
Yes, ARS would welcome this arrangement.
Once you have arranged a planned gift to ARS, you can choose how you’d like to be recognized. We will list your name in our list of contributors published in the ARS Newsletter under the category of Planned Gifts with no amount specified. If you do not want to be publicly recognized, just let us know. We would love to acknowledge your planned gift because it may inspire others to give.
Yes, really! You will need to include a clause in your will or trust, or call your IRA or life insurance administrator.
If you feel strongly about our programs and vision of the future and would like to join with other recorder enthusiasts who share your passion, we hope you will consider becoming a member of the ARS Legacy Circle.
Many of our supporters understand just how important they are to securing the continued development of the ARS for generations to come. They trust us to be good stewards and to use their gifts in a way that helps us to effectively fulfill our mission.
Any of the following gifts provide not only personal benefits for you, but also a future donation to the ARS.
A bequest, a gift included in your will or living trust, is a flexible, relatively easy way to establish a lasting legacy. One gift every ARS member should consider is a charitable bequest, or leaving the ARS as a recipient of your estate in your will.
A gift of retirement assets, such as 401K plans or IRAs, may allow you to give more than you thought possible while reducing taxes that may otherwise drain these assets.
A life income gift can be an important way to give you and/or a loved one income for life and provide unique tax benefits.
Gifts of life insurance policies you no longer need may help fund programs and services.
