Benefits of Giving.
Giving to the Foundation provides donors, tax advantages, benefits the future recipients of the Foundation’s work, and will promote the important role of professional counselors. The VCA Foundation is an endowment fund holding a tax status of 501(c) 3 nonprofit with all contributions being 100% tax-deductible for eligible taxpayers.
Since 1991, the Foundation has supported counselors in their professional development, including funding for:
- grants to individual counselors for special projects
- financial support for the VCA Leadership Academy
- selection and awarding of Pete Warren Student Fellows Scholarships to encourage leadership development.
- sponsorships to attend the annual conference
- support of graduate work
- memberships to VCA and its Divisions and Chapters
- sponsorship of the VCA Journal
- sponsorship of the John Cook Keynote Speaker at the annual conference
- mentoring activities
- awarding the prestigious John R. Cook Award
The VCAF aims to be the alumni association for professional counselors in all settings.
Ways to Give to VCA Foundation.
The Foundation relies on the generosity of its benefactors to achieve its goals. Its ongoing support to counselors and the organizations that serve the counseling profession can only be accomplished with the continued generosity of its supporters.
There are many ways for you to give to the Foundation:
- The Foundation may be included in your annual plan of charitable giving.
- A life insurance policy can be arranged with the Foundation named as beneficiary. This would allow you to deduct the premiums paid on the policy as a charitable contribution.
- The Foundation might be named in your will for a specific amount. Perhaps specific stocks or bonds can be directed.
- Contributions can be directed for a specific purpose or fund.
- You may be able to provide items for a raffle or silent auction at a future VCAF event.
- Tangible property may be transferred to the organization.
No amount is too small, and larger amounts will go far in addressing the endless possibilities to advance the work of the Foundation. When the spirit moves you, or when you are making your annual decision about charitable contributions, we hope you will keep the VCA Foundation in mind.
Other Ways to Help.
As counseling professionals, our focus in our work has been in “giving” to others. At the same time, we know from our experience that “it is in giving that we receive,” as well. Though VCAF by definition exists to raise money and to serve the counseling profession in Virginia, we also need non-monetary assistance to do our work.
The VCAF Board is regrouping this year, adding a total of 6 Directors and energized to take the Foundation into a more prominent place in the minds of professional counselors. To that end, we not only added new Board members, but a diverse group of people who bring a variety of skills and talents. Furthermore, we want to include more people in our efforts to spread the word about the Foundation and its goals.
We would like individuals and organizations interested in VCAF to offer their skills to contribute to our success. To achieve that, we offer counselors and community members in Virginia a chance to help in in a variety of ways. Here are some of the ways you can play a part:
- Participating in the events sponsored or supported by the Foundation.
- In-kind donation of time and skills that can become a part of Foundation events.
- Volunteer to serve on our committees. “Meetings” may only be virtual – by phone, via Skype, by email, etc. At the moment, we are reviewing our By-Laws and would be receptive to your input if you happen to have previous experience or skills. Perhaps, you can help us when we sponsor events like our fundraiser.
- If you have previous experience working inside a foundation, we welcome your expertise and advise. Let us know if you would like to be considered as a VCAF Board member in the future, in an official capacity or as an adviser.
- To raise funds, VCAF has conducted raffles and silent auctions in the past. We welcome items donated to our cause.
- VCAF would like to create a list of mentors from the growing ranks of our retired counselors. We will be providing more information about this in the future.
- VCAF needs to expand its financial base in order to expand its programs. Do you know an individual or an organization who would like to like to help us enhance our financial resources?
We welcome your suggestions and ideas about how you would like to serve the VCA Foundation. Send us an email to let us know how you would like to contribute: vcaf@vcafoundation.org