About Our Team

To expand the definition of “Respite” and develop Respite and Crisis Care services that addresses the diverse, yet, unique needs of caregivers within Illinois communities. We will serve as a resource and create systemic supports to care for those who care for others while strengthening, and stabilizing families. This allows them to be healthy emotionally, physically, psychologically, and financially while they continue to nurture and care for our most precious jewels.

Board of Directors Kathleen Robbins Hull House Small Business Development Center  Rolinda Robinson Lawrence Hall Youth Services Diane M. Shelly, esq. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Advisory Board Elvrid Lawrence, MSW E. Lawrence Wellness Concepts Anthony Stoll, CPA, MBA South Side Help Center Jeremy L. Woodson Student (Fisk Univ.) / Author

Estate planning:
Making a planned gift to Diamonds in the Ruff Children's Society (DIR) offers you an extraordinarily flexible and simple way to combine philanthropy with financial planning. In fact, a planned gift may help you give more to conservation than you thought possible while still providing you or someone you designate with favorable financial and/or tax benefits.

Planned gifts to DIR are about planning for the future: your future and the future of Children & Youth (C&Y) yet unborn. We hope that this page will reveal how planned giving can help you accomplish multiple goals with your donation.

Bequest
Bequest are provisions in your will or revocable living trust that designate how your assets will be distributed after your lifetime. Charitable Bequests can eliminate or reduce federal estate tax and are one of the most flexible ways of giving: you have the option of changing your mind at any time. You may also be pleasantly surprised at the peace of mind that comes with completing your estate plan.

Life-Income
If you would like to support DIR, but still need a source of income for yourself or loved ones, a life-income gift may be an attractive solution. In exchange for an irrevocable gift of cash, securities, or real estate, you can receive an income tax deduction and reduce or eliminate federal estate tax.

Name a Beneficiary
Simply designating DIR as a beneficiary of your retirement plan, insurance policy, or financial account is one of the easiest ways to realize your charitable goals while continuing to enjoy the benefits of your asset during your lifetime and you may benefit from income tax savings and reduce or eliminate federal estate tax. As with Bequests, you may change your mind at any time.

Outright Securities
Gifts of long-term appreciated stock or mutual funds offer a quick, easy, and tax-efficient way to support DIR, avoid capital gains tax, and receive an income tax deduction.

Outright Gifts of Real Estate
DIR accepts many types of real estate gifts, including homes, buildings, condominiums, vacation homes, commercial property, and farms called trade lands. These gifts allow you to avoid capital gains tax and receive an income tax deduction, while making a significant gift to conservation. Trade lands are donated to DIR with your explicit understanding that they will be sold and the proceeds will be used to support our mission. (Please contact our office if you are interested in donating a natural area "preserve quality" land.)

Retained Life Estate
A retained life estate gift gives you the satisfaction of making a significant contribution to DIR while allowing you to use your property for the rest of your life or a term of years. Advantages also includes an immediate tax deduction at the time of the gift contribution. After your lifetime, the institute will sell the property and use the proceeds to support its conservation work.

Gifts of Personal Property
When you donate tangible property such as jewelry, artwork, or rare stamps and coins, you receive an income tax charitable deduction and reduce your taxable estate. DIR will either use your property for children and youth services (i.e. a van) or sell your property and use the proceeds to fund various C&Y related efforts.

Donor Advised Fund
A donor advised fund is a unique way to simplify and/or streamline all of your charitable giving by allowing you to support DIR as well as other charitable organizations from the same fund. The fund allows you to manage all of your charitable giving simply and efficiently while receiving an income tax deduction.

Charitable Lead Trust
A charitable lead trust accomplishes two goals with your money: supports DIR while providing for your heirs. The trust provides an annual income to DIR typically for a period of years. After the term ends, the principal transfers to your beneficiaries. Benefits include an immediate tax deduction on the present value of the trust as well as potential estate tax deductions.

Information provided on our site is not intended to be tax or legal advice. Please consult a qualified financial advisor before making a gift.