Businesses and individuals who meet the qualifications of an accredited investor can reallocate PA state tax dollars to help provide scholarships and financial aid to Berks Catholic students through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC). The EITC and OSTC programs allow businesses and accredited individuals to receive a 90% tax credit (if donating for two consecutive years), for a donation that provides tuition assistance for families at Berks Catholic. Business owners can view information at www.newpa.com/eitc or www.newpa.com/ostc. For more information about qualifications to donate as an individual through our. Special Purpose Entity (SPE) please contact Bob Birmingham at 610-374-8361 ext 224 or rbirmingham@berkscatholic.org. 

Please click on the pamphlet to learn more on the EITC/OSTC program.

If you have owned a stock for more than 12 months and it has appreciated in value during that time, you would incur a capital gains tax by selling it. However, if you give that stock to Berks Catholic as a gift, you avoid the capital gains tax and can also claim an income tax deduction for the full fair market value of the gift up to an amount equal to 30% of your adjusted gross income. Any unused deduction may be carried forward for up to five years. Electronic Transfers of Shares of Publicly Traded Stock and Mutual Funds Shares of publicly traded companies and mutual funds may be transferred electronically to Berks Catholic.

Matching gifts are a very important source of support. Thousands of companies and corporate foundations match gifts to non-profit institutions such as Berks Catholic. Also, matching gifts are a great way to increase support of Berks Catholic without additional out-of-pocket expense. You can double or even triple the value of your donation and enhance your total for giving society membership by simply notifying your employer of your gift to Berks Catholic. You may be eligible to submit matching gift claims from both your own and your spouse’s employer for the same gift. Contact the human resources office at your employer, your spouse’s employer, or even your former employer if you are retired to inquire about their matching gift program.

Leave your mark on Berks Catholic! A planned gift is a “forever gift,” one that will live on for generations. It doesn’t affect your current cash flow of assets and it is easy to change if your circumstances change. Plus, it may save you estate taxes later.

You can make a planned gift in several ways:

• Bequest

• Charitable Gift Annuity

• Charitable Remainder Trust

• Charitable Lead Trust

• Life Estate Reserve

• Insurance Policy Beneficiary

If you have already included Berks Catholic in your estate plans, please let us know.

Individual retirement arrangement (IRA) owners age 70½ or over can transfer up to $100,000 to their charity tax-free each year. These transfers, known as qualified charitable distributions or QCDs, offer eligible older Americans a great way to easily give to charity before the end of the year. And, for those who are at least 73 years old, QCDs count toward the IRA owner’s required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year. Any IRA owner who wishes to make a QCD for 2024 should contact their IRA trustee soon so the trustee will have time to complete the transaction before the end of the year.

Advertising/Sponsorship Opportunities include the Gym Banners, the Swing Fore the Saints Golf Outing, the Fall Program Book, Extravaganza, and the Spring Musical.