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Leave a Lasting Impact with Planned Giving

Planned giving allows you to create a meaningful legacy that extends your support for children and families beyond your lifetime. Through thoughtful estate and tax planning, you can maximize your impact on PA KidsFest and your loved ones, ensuring that your generosity continues to make a difference for future generations. There are many ways to give, each designed to honor your commitment while minimizing the effect on your estate.

Plan Today, Impact Tomorrow: Charitable Gift Planning for PA KidsFest

No matter where you are in life, it’s wise to think ahead about how your legacy will be handled. Taking a few simple steps today can bring peace of mind, knowing you’re protecting your loved ones while supporting the causes you care about most.

Your estate plan is an opportunity to extend your impact by helping children and families through PA KidsFest. By including PA KidsFest in your will, donating assets, or creating an endowment, you help ensure that we can continue providing school supplies, educational support, and joyful experiences for children in need — for years to come.

A Simple Way to Support PA KidsFest: A Gift in Your Will

One of the easiest and most direct ways to make a lasting impact is by including a cash gift to PA KidsFest in your will. With just a simple paragraph, you can name PA KidsFest as a beneficiary and specify the amount or type of gift you’d like to give. Whether you’re creating a new will or updating an existing one, your attorney can help you include the proper language.

Gifts can be structured in several ways, including outright, residual, contingency, or restricted bequests — giving you the flexibility to make a gift that reflects your wishes.

Below is sample language to share with your estate planning professional:

“I, (name), of (city, state, zip), give, devise, and bequeath to PA KidsFest (specific dollar amount, percentage of my estate, or description of property) for its unrestricted use and purpose.”

Your generosity will help ensure PA KidsFest continues to bring joy, school supplies, and support to children and families for years to come.

Multiply Your Impact with a Gift of Life Insurance

Life insurance is a powerful way to make a significant gift to PA KidsFest, often larger than you might think possible. With relatively affordable premiums, you can ensure that PA KidsFest receives the full value of your policy’s death benefit — potentially a substantial gift that makes a lasting difference. As long as premiums are paid, PA KidsFest will receive the proceeds directly, free from income taxes, estate taxes, probate costs, and other fees.

There can also be tax advantages for you. Depending on how you structure your gift, you might be eligible for an income tax deduction based on the policy’s value or your cost basis. In some cases, ongoing premium payments may also qualify for deductions. If you transfer ownership of the policy to PA KidsFest, your charitable deduction is generally the lower of the policy’s fair market value or your adjusted cost basis.

The simplest way to make this type of gift is to name PA KidsFest as the beneficiary of your life insurance policy — ensuring your legacy supports children and families for years to come.

Maximize Your Impact with Retirement Plan Giving

Naming PA KidsFest as a beneficiary of your retirement plan is a simple and effective way to make a meaningful gift. You can give through a direct transfer from your traditional IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k), or 403(b), or by naming PA KidsFest as a beneficiary — primary, successor, or contingent — of all or part of your account. To get started, simply reach out to your retirement plan custodian.

This option allows you to defer your gift until the end of your lifetime, potentially reducing the size of your taxable estate. Even better, since PA KidsFest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, your gift comes to us tax-free — helping your gift go even further. While individuals like spouses or children typically owe income taxes on distributions from retirement accounts, PA KidsFest receives the full value of your generous contribution without tax obligations.

Your gift ensures that children and families in our community will continue to benefit from the support and joy PA KidsFest provides for years to come.

Make a Bigger Impact by Donating Stocks, Bonds, or Mutual Funds

Donating appreciated securities — such as publicly traded stocks, bonds, or mutual fund shares — is a powerful way to support PA KidsFest while enjoying valuable tax benefits. When you donate investments that have grown in value, you can claim a charitable tax deduction for the current market value of the securities, not just what you originally paid. Plus, you’ll avoid paying capital gains taxes on the transfer!

If you were to sell the securities first and donate the cash proceeds, you’d owe capital gains tax — but by donating directly to PA KidsFest, your full gift supports our mission.

The IRS determines the market value of your gift by averaging the highest and lowest trading prices on the day your securities are transferred to PA KidsFest.

Please note: When securities are transferred electronically, donor information is not automatically provided. To ensure we properly acknowledge your generous gift, please notify our Development Team about your donation. You can make your gift by working with your broker to transfer securities electronically, by registered mail, or by naming PA KidsFest as a beneficiary of your investment account.

Your support helps us continue to bring smiles, supplies, and support to children and families in our community!

Create a Legacy with an Endowment Gift

Endowments are a lasting way to support PA KidsFest for generations to come. These dedicated funds are carefully invested to provide ongoing growth and annual support for our programs that bring joy, educational resources, and essential services to children and families in need.

An endowment can be created by an individual or a group of donors, and can be established in honor or memory of a loved one — ensuring a lasting impact. You can choose to contribute to an existing endowment fund or establish a new one, either for general use or to support a specific part of our mission that’s close to your heart. Gifts of any size are welcome to existing endowment funds.

To establish a new endowment, the minimum commitment is $25,000, which can be made as a one-time gift or through a pledge paid over time. Endowment funds can be named for the principal donor(s) or someone the donor wishes to honor. Once fully funded, the endowment will begin generating annual support, while the principal remains invested to sustain PA KidsFest well into the future.

Your endowment gift will help ensure that PA KidsFest continues to serve and uplift our community for years to come.

Drive for KidsFest!

Turn your old ride into bright futures!

What are your Hours of Operation?
• 5:00am – 7:00pm (PT), Mon – Fri
• 6:00am – 5:00pm (PT), Saturday
• 8:00am – 4:30pm (PT), Sunday
• Donating is easy and the pick-up is free.
• Donating skips the costs and hassles associated with selling a car, like paying for advertising and insurance, or for car repairs to keep your car in running condition while you wait for a buyer.
• Donating avoids the costs associated with keeping a car, such as registration, insurance, car repairs, and more.
• You can free up space at home and/or stop paying for extra parking.
• It’s better than a low trade-in offer.
• Vehicle donations are tax-deductible, and you could reduce your taxable income when taxes are itemized.
• Donating to a nonprofit feels good and makes a difference.
All vehicles are considered! We strive to accept all types of donated vehicles (running or not) including cars, trucks, trailers, boats, RVs, motorcycles, campers, off-road vehicles, planes, heavy equipment, farm machinery, and most other motorized vehicles. To find out if we can accept your vehicle, please complete our secure online vehicle donation form, or call us during regular hours of operation.
You will need a current and clear title. Any lien holder listed on the title must be cleared and/or released by the bank. This law varies by state.
There is no cost to the donor. All expenses are deducted from the gross sales price, and if the costs ever exceed the price, those costs are covered by our vehicle donation program provider CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services).
When you are contacted by the towing/vendor company, you will most likely be given a time period to choose from for your pick-up window. These windows are based on your needs as a donor and what fits the realities of the traffic and volume in the geographic area of the vehicle.
The entire sale process can take approximately four to 12 weeks. The net cash proceeds from your generous vehicle donation are sent to our nonprofit within five business days upon the receipt of the sale proceeds from the auction or direct buy vendors.
Yes! We can provide convenient pick-up and towing for vehicle donations just about anywhere in all 50 states. We provide vehicle donation processing in the contiguous 48 states as well as the District of Columbia, without limitation. In Alaska, we service the Fairbanks and Anchorage areas with a 50-mile service radius. In Hawaii, we service the island of Oahu and the island of Hawaii. If you are donating outside of the state or if you have questions about donating, get started via our secure online vehicle donation form or call us seven days a week during regular hours of operation. We would be happy to help you.
Yes! We can accept most vehicles, running or not. However, it must be in one piece and towable, have an engine, and be tow truck accessible. To find out if we can accept your vehicle, please choose a nonprofit, complete the secure online vehicle donation form, or call us. Our Donor Support Team is available seven days a week during regular hours of operation.
Vehicle donations considered accessible for safe towing are typically parked in the front driveway, in front of the home or apartment building, or on the street and without any other vehicles or other items blocking the intended donation. The tow operators typically cannot access areas that do not have a direct path to the vehicle backyards and back alleyways, nor underground structures or other. Usually, all four tires should be inflated as well. We strive to consider every vehicle donation, so if you’re not sure whether or not your vehicle is accessible for safe towing, please let us know and we will do our best to support you.
Do I have to pay for towing?
No. Vehicle Donors do not pay for towing; it’s free! The vehicles are picked up at no charge to you. All expenses are deducted from the gross sales price, and if the costs ever exceed the price, those costs are covered by CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services, our vehicle donation program provider.
Our vendor representative for your donation will be calling/texting and/or emailing you using the information you provided on the donation form for scheduling. Please be aware you will very possibly receive a call from a phone number that you don’t recognize pertaining to your donation; this is the vendor.
Please remove all personal belongings from the vehicle and have the title ready at the time of the pick-up (unless otherwise directed). The tow operator will pick up the title, keys and vehicle. Please wait to mark the title; the tow vendor will assist you in signing the title. In most cases, the tow operator will also provide a donation receipt. Should you not receive a receipt, please give our Donor Support Team a call and we will get one out to you.
This depends on the state in which your vehicle is registered. In some states, you are required to surrender or return the license plates after donating. If your state requires you to remove the plates before donating your vehicle, please do what you can to remove your own plates. We cannot guarantee the driver will be able to assist you with plate removal. To find out what’s expected for your state, give our Vehicle Donor Support Team a call and we’ll walk you through it. Or, you can check out what your state requires by clicking here.
You may ask the representative scheduling your vehicle pick-up with the vendor about this option.
Whether or not you need notarization depends on the state that holds your vehicle title. Currently, our vehicle donation program is currently aware that notarization is a requirement for the following states: Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming. However, each state’s requirements are subject to change. If you would like to confirm if your state requires notarized title transfers, go to your state’s motor vehicle department’s website and click on your state to see your state’s title transfer requirements. (Notarization is used to deter fraud by ensuring proper identification has been provided and approved prior to signing over the title, and some states require notarization of the title prior to donating).
What do I do after my vehicle is picked up?
Depending on the registered state of the vehicle, the next step for you after your vehicle is picked up is to notify the state about your recent vehicle donation and that you are no longer no longer in possession of the vehicle. Please only notify your state after the vehicle is picked up. Click here to learn the steps required for notifying your state that you’ve donated your vehicle.
State notification releases a donor from liability over the vehicle, including registration fees and from having to keep the vehicle insured. State notification is a way for the state to create a record that the owner is no longer in possession of the vehicle. The steps needed to release your liability of a donated vehicle vary by state. Depending on the state, this step may require surrendering your license plates, cancelling your registration, or submitting a report of sale or notice of transfer. State notification should be completed before cancelling your insurance. Click here to learn the steps required for notifying your state that you’ve donated your vehicle.
Only cancel your vehicle’s insurance AFTER you have notified the state that you’ve donated your vehicle. If your state requires notification, please be aware that you should never cancel your insurance prior to reporting to the state you are no longer in possession of the vehicle. This is a general rule for States/Motor Vehicle Departments that require Notification be submitted or license plates returned.
After we have picked up the vehicle, we take full responsibility. In the rare event that you receive any notification of a lien sale, DMV actions, infractions, evasions or other activity related to your donated vehicle, please contact us immediately for assistance. Please note that you are liable for all fines/fees related to your vehicle prior to the pickup. To get answers for your specific DMV questions, please refer to the DMV in your state for clear instructions.
What is the Title Transfer Process? Who takes care of that?
The title transfer is different in each state. Our vehicle donation program and our vendors/auction yards will help you take the correct steps to ensure that your title paperwork is transferred correctly at the time of your vehicle pick-up.
Please wait to mark the title until after you have discussed it with the tow vendor as they will assist you in showing you the correct location in which to sign the title.
The purchaser of your donated vehicle is not the charity. It will either be the vendor or Charitable Adult Rides & Services.
If the word “and/or” is not listed between the names of the parties/owners, then all parties will need to sign the title.
We are available seven days a week. Please call our donation number above or email donorsupport@careasy.org.
Once your vehicle sells, our Vehicle Donor Support Team will either email and/or mail a thank-you letter on behalf of the nonprofit receiving your donation, which serves as a copy of your tax receipt. Please note that if your vehicle sells for more than $500 and your tax identification number has been provided, an IRS Form 1098-C, ‘Contributions of Motor Vehicles, Boats, and Airplanes’, will be mailed to you within 30 days of the sale stating the amount of gross proceeds received from your donation.
Our vehicle donation program works with more than 400 vendors throughout the country to sell vehicles. Every donation is personally reviewed to determine the most effective sales process. In most markets, we have the flexibility of multiple sales outlets to route vehicles to the right buyer. Vehicles may be sold through the auction, to a private buyer, or to a salvage yard. Our expansive network of vendors allows us to be more competitive with your inventory as well as leverage our volume to increase prices, providing the nonprofit with maximum returns and maximizing the donor’s tax benefit.
The entire sale process can take approximately four to 12 weeks. However, there are times the sale process can exceed 12 weeks. This occurs if we are holding onto the vehicle for a better sales price, etc.
Are vehicle donations tax-deductible?
Yes; vehicle donations are tax-deductible. Individual tax situations vary. For specific tax- related questions, please consult your tax advisor or refer to IRS Publication 4303.
Most vehicles are sold through local wholesale auctions, and we work to get the highest return per vehicle for you and for our nonprofit. According to the IRS Guidelines, donors may claim fair market value for their vehicle donation up to the actual sale value. If a vehicle is sold for more than $500, the maximum amount of your deduction will be the sales price of the vehicle which will be listed on your IRS Form 1098-C.

A special rule may apply if the donated vehicle sells for $500 or less. In this case, a deduction for the lesser of the vehicle’s fair market value on the date of the contribution may be claimed, or $500, provided you have written acknowledgment (i.e. the initial donation receipt or the thank-you letter you receive once the donation process is complete).
Please call during regular hours of operation, or email donorsupport@careasy.org, and we would be happy to help you.
In most cases, donors will receive an initial donation receipt from the tow driver at the time of the vehicle pick-up. This initial acknowledgement will indicate the donor’s name as well as the year, make, model and condition of the donated vehicle. Should you not receive a receipt, please give our donor support team a call and we will get one out to you.

Donors will also be mailed a thank-you letter on behalf of the receiving nonprofit within 30 days of the sale of the vehicle, which serves as a tax receipt. This will be the donor’s final tax document if their vehicle sells for $500 or less.

If the vehicle sells for more than $500 and the donor has provided their tax identification number, CARS will also mail an IRS Form 1098-C, ‘Contributions of Motor Vehicles, Boats, and Airplanes’, to the donor within 30 days of the sale stating the amount of gross proceeds received from their donation.
We would be happy to help you. Please call us during regular hours of operation, or you may email donorsupport@careasy.org, and simply let us know you need a replacement.
 

Donating is easy, the pick-up is free, and your gift is tax-deductible.

What Vehicle Donors are Saying…

“I wanted to take a moment to email the two of you to express how easy this process was to donate my car… [They] took the time to answer all my questions, allowed me to contact [them] directly when I had follow-up questions, and even helped me by phone fill out the necessary forms that I needed to complete the transaction with the DMV.” – Monica M.

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