SUPPORT STUDIO 23/THE ARTS CENTER

Donor Relations Mission Statement
Studio 23/The Arts Center provides the Bay Area with a visual arts center and embraces creative educational activities involving the community.

Donor Bill of Rights
Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good.  It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life.  To assure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the not-for-profit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:

• To be informed of the organization’s mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
• To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization’s governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.
• To have access to the organization’s most recent financial statements.
• To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
• To receive appropriate acknowledgment and recognition.
•  To be assured that information about their donation is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.

How you can support Studio 23/The Arts Center?

Many people who support the mission of Studio 23/The Arts Center say they derive satisfaction from their generosity and would like to do more.  We can suggest creative ways to support us that might not have considered.

Cash Donations
Nothing can be easier than making a gift of cash.  It is the most common gift and the one you probably think of first.  All cash donations are deductible, if you itemize in the year of the contributions, up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income.  There are several types of cash contributions you can make:

Annual or year-end gifts.  Many people make a once-a-year charitable donation

“In Memory Of” gifts.   You can make a gift in memory of a friend or loved one.  This can be done at the time of death or on the anniversary of a significant date, such as a birthday or holiday.  By honoring the memory of a loved one who has passed away, you can capture the essence of what made him or her special-an endearing personality trait or a dedication to special cause or love in their life such as the arts and Studio 23.   Gifts in memory of a loved one who has passed are given special treatment by Studio 23; a special card and letter of acknowledged is sent to the family of the deceased. 

“In Honor Of” gifts.  A cash donation can be made in honor of anyone you choose on the occasion of her or his birthday, graduation, anniversary or other event in her/his life.  Gifts in honor of a friend or family member are given special treatment by Studio 23; a special card and letter of acknowledged is sent to the individual who is being honored.

“In Lieu of Flowers” gifts.  You may decide to make a gift to us in lieu of flowers when someone who know has passed away, because that person appreciated the arts, appreciated the work of Studio 23 or had some connection to us.  Sometimes, the family of a donor requests that donations be made to us instead of sending a floral arrangement.  

Friends of the Art Center - $500
All the benefits of a Patron plus:
• Name recognition in mailings, publications and signage
• One Black and White event ticket

Master of the Arts - $1,000
All the benefits of Friends of the Art plus:
• One time use of Studio 23 Gallery for free
• Two Black and White event tickets

Benefactor - $1,500
All the benefits of a Master of the Arts plus:
• One time use of Studio 23 Gallery for free
• Four tickets to the Annual Black and White Gala

Sponsor - $3,000
All the benefits of Benefactor plus:
• Major sponsor of an event or exhibition
• Logo and name will be included in all mailings, publications and signage for the sponsored event or exhibition
• Special Recognition at the event or exhibition
• Six tickets to the Black and White Gala

Endowment Fund
The Endowment Fund provides for the future needs of Studio 23/The Arts Center.  Gifts are invested through the Bay Area Community Foundation and only the interest earned on the investment can be applied to general operational expenses.

An Endowment Fund ensures that the principal is always available for investment purposes.

Planned Giving

Your Will
A will is the cornerstone of your estate plan.  It manifests your hopes, ideals, dedication, compassion, concerns, interests, judgments, thoughtfulness, vision…in sum, the essence of “you”.

A will is a legal document that tells your executor how you want your estate to be divided at your death. 

An attorney who specializes in estate planning can provide you with side counsel as you write your will.

Trusts
A Trust is a relationship is which a person transfers something of value to another person.  The person, a trustee, then manages and controls this asset for the benefit of a third party, the beneficiary.  Individuals, banks, trust companies or corporations may all serve as trustees.

Bequests
A bequest is the most popular type of planned gift.  Anything you leave to a charitable organization will reduce the size of your taxable estate while helping a good cause.  A bequest may be executed through your will or your trust.  You can leave a specific bequest of a specified sum of money.  Other options are to leave a percentage of your estate or a percentage of the residue to an organization after making provision for family and friends.

Charitable Gift Annuity
This is a simple contract between you and Studio 23/The Arts Center that pays you a fixed dollar amount (an annuity) for your lifetime based upon your age at the time of your gift.  The older you are, the higher the annuity.

Charitable  Remainder Annuity Trust (CRAT)  A CRAT is a trust that will pay the donor (additional beneficiaries, if desired) a specified annuity income either for life or a period of time not to exceed 20 years.  The amount of the annuity is a fixed amount chosen by the donor at the time the trust is established and is paid at least annually.  The annual payments cannot be less than five percent of the initial fair market values of the trust.

Legacy Society
The course of the future can be chartered by the actions of the present.  We encourage you to speak to a professional advisor, such as a financial or estate planner, lawyer, accountant or insurance agent about leaving a planned gift to Studio 23/The Arts Center.  A professional advisor can tell you about the tax benefits of planned gifts and ensure you receive the maximum tax and legal advantage allowed for your gift.

The Legacy Society was established to ensure the ongoing financial stability of Studio 23/The Arts Center.  The Legacy Society presents a way for friends of Studio 23/The Arts Center to make planned gifts, assuring that Studio 23 will be available to future generations.

If you would like to join the Studio 23/The Arts Center Legacy Society we encourage you to meet with your lawyer or financial advisor.

Let us know if you have left a planned gift to Studio 23/The Arts Center.  Often it helps us to know in advance so we can recognize your generosity and prepare for the future.  We can also work with you and your financial advisor to develop opportunities for giving for a specific purpose or project

Interested?
If you would like additional information please fill out the form below and we will contact you.