Thank you for including Polaris as you plan your year end giving. There are a variety of ways to give to Polaris and more information on each way can be found below. Please keep in mind important dates to ensure your gift counts in the 2021 calendar year.
While we are still working remotely, the Polaris “office” is closed Thursday, December 23rd – Friday December 24th as well as Thursday December 30th – Friday December 31st. A Development team member will be available to answer calls or emails between 9am – 5pm ET on those days. Regular business operations will resume Monday, January 3rd, 2022.
If you need assistance and wish to speak with a member of the Development Team by phone please call (202) 790-6300 and press 2, or contact us via email at giving@polarisproject.org.
Gifts by Check:
Gifts made by check must be dated on or before December 31, 2021 to be credited for the 2021 calendar year. Please mail checks payable to “Polaris” and mail checks to:
Polaris
Gift Processing Center
P.O. Box 392710
Pittsburgh, PA 15251-9700
Gifts by Credit/Debit Card:
Gifts made online by credit/debit card must be received, charged, and approved before midnight ET on December 31st to be credited for the 2021 calendar year. The credit/debit card is charged at the time the gift is made. Please visit our 2021 Year End Donation Page to make an online donation.
If you wish to speak with a member of the Development team to make your credit/debit card donation, please call (202) 790-6300 between 9am and 5pm ET. Credit card gifts made over the phone must be received before 5pm ET on December 30th.
If you wish to mail a credit card form, the gift must be received, charged, and processed before 5pm ET on December 31st, 2021.
Gifts by ACH or Wire Transfer:
You may also choose to make a gift directly from your bank account via ACH or wire transfer. If you choose to make a gift through this method, please also contact the Development department at (202) 790-6300 and press 2, or at giving@polarisproject.org to alert us of your gift. The donor name is not always included with the transfer and contacting the team will ensure proper gift acknowledgment. To make a gift via ACH or wire transfer, please use the following information:
Bank Name: Eagle Bank; www.eaglebankcorp.com
Account #: 200228401
ABA/Routing #: 055003298
Eagle Bank Address:
Eagle Bank
7815 Woodmont Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814
Gifts of Securities:
Polaris accepts gifts of stocks and securities that have appreciated in value. Gifts of securities must be received into our brokerage account by the end of the trading day prior to or on December 31st, 2021. Please note that December 31st is the deadline for the funds to appear in our account and this requires time for brokers to transfer the gift of securities which can take extra days. If you choose to make a gift of securities, please also contact the Development department at (202) 790-6300 or at giving@polarisproject.org to alert us of your gift, along with the name and number of shares you are transferring. The donor name is not always included with the transfer and contacting the Development team will ensure proper gift acknowledgment. To make a gift of securities, please provide the following instructions to your broker:
Bank Name: Charles Schwab
DTC #: 0164
Account Name: Polaris Project
Account Number: 97565251
Gifts made through Donor Advised Funds:
Polaris accepts gifts made through Donor Advised Funds (DAFs). DAFs allow donors to make a charitable contribution, receive a tax deduction at the time the gift is made, and then recommend gifts from that fund over time. Gifts made through a DAF must be dated on or before December 31st. If your DAF is set up through Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, or BNY Mellon you may use DAF Direct to make your contribution. DAF Direct takes donors directly to their DAF and from there donors can fill in the amount to complete your grant recommendation. Access DAF Direct here. Polaris’s EIN number is: 03-0391561
Gifts made through IRA Charitable Contributions:
You can make a tax-free gift to Polaris directly from your IRA. You may contribute up to $100,000 without incurring income tax on your withdrawal to a qualified nonprofit, such as Polaris, each year. To ensure your gift is processed and counted in the 2021 calendar year, please ensure the gift is dated on or before December 31st. If the donor name and address for acknowledgment purposes is not included with the gift, please contact a member of the Development team via phone at (202) 790-6300 and press 2, or via email at giving@polarisproject.org with the information so we know to expect your gift. Please mail checks payable to “ Polaris” and mail checks to:
Polaris
Gift Processing Center
P.O. Box 392710
Pittsburgh, PA 15251-9700
Non-cash Gifts:
If you wish to support Polaris, but do not wish to donate cash there are several other ways you can contribute to our mission:
- Amazon Smile: When you shop on Amazon.com and choose Polaris, we receive a portion of your purchase as a donation. Visit Amazon Smile and select Polaris as the charitable organization you wish to receive donations from your purchases. Amazon will remember your selection, and every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation. You can continue to shop as you normally would, knowing that your money is going to support Polaris programs and victims of trafficking who are seeking help and services.
- Hotel and Airline Points: To learn about how you can donate your Delta SkyMiles, Southwest Rapid Rewards, Marriott Rewards Points, Wyndham Rewards Points, or Choice Rewards points please visit our Donate Hotel Rewards and Airline Miles page.
- Fundraise for Polaris: Give the gift that gives back this holiday season by raising money to fight human trafficking. To learn more about how to fundraise for us, visit our DIY fundraising page and check out our DIY Fundraising Toolkit. In it, you will find tips and tricks on how to create a successful fundraiser including event ideas, imagery and language guidelines, and more!