Weddings and Special Occasions

Making a charitable donation on behalf of a loved one to honor a milestone occasion is the ultimate gift.

A wedding is among life’s happiest occasions, and your family and friends want to celebrate your marriage with a thoughtful gift from your registry. Many couples create charitable registries and ask wedding guests to give to a cause that they believe in, like the Cancer Research Institute, either in addition to or in lieu of traditional gifts.

Create a Charitable Registry

Of course, weddings aren’t the only special occasions in a person’s life. Milestone events like birthdays, anniversaries, bar/bat mitzvahs, graduations, and many special events may call for a charitable gift registry. There are several ways to support the Cancer Research Institute on your special occasion.

Create a Charitable Registry for your Special Occasion

Request Donations in Lieu of Gifts

Create a dedicated webpage as your charitable gift registry through our Classy fundraising platform. Upload a profile photo, set a fundraising goal, describe why CRI is your charity of choice, track donations, and update guests with text, pictures, and videos. Once you have created your CRI fundraising page, tell your guests about it through invitations or emails or by listing it on a personalized wedding website.

These websites—which can be set up through companies such as Zola, and The Good Beginning —inform guests about the logistics of your big day (accommodations, travel, etc.), as well as your gift registry preferences. It is also possible to list multiple gift registries on your website, allowing your guests to choose from a range of charitable and/or traditional gifts.

When sending out invitations to your milestone event, you can use Evite and make an impact by collecting meaningful dollars in lieu of gifts. It’s a simple way to get guests engaged in your cause and be part of your special occasion, whether or not they can attend. You can choose the Cancer Research Institute and have guests’ donations come directly to us; Evite does not charge a fee for this service.

CREATE A CHARITABLE REGISTRY FUNDRAISER

If you don’t wish to create a dedicated fundraising page, donations can be made directly to any of the charitable registry pages mentioned above. You may also call or mail in your donation.

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Create a Birthday Fundraiser on Facebook

Another great way to celebrate your birthday is to create a birthday fundraiser directly on Facebook. Your followers can give directly through a donate button on your personal Facebook page and leave messages on your fundraiser wall. In case you forget, Facebook will send you a reminder to create a fundraiser two weeks before your birthday!

CREATE A FACEBOOK FUNDRAISER

Personal fundraisers are a great way to celebrate those moments in your life worth remembering and dedicating to a greater cause. By asking your guests to support the Cancer Research Institute, you will be making a substantial contribution to the discovery and development of powerful immunotherapies for all types of cancer. We are dedicated to funding laboratory and clinical research aimed at harnessing our immune system’s power to treat and potentially cure all cancers.

Frequently asked questions

Who can donate to CRI?

Anyone who has an interest in helping to advance the fight against cancer is encouraged to donate to CRI. Individuals can make cash donations and also include CRI in their estate planning or planned giving. Corporations and foundations also can make donations.

Are there tax benefits for donating to CRI?

CRI is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, so your donations are deductible for federal or state tax purposes as allowed by law. Planned giving, which can encompass bequests and gift annuities, may offer other tax or financial planning advantages as well.

Taxpayers who do not itemize their returns may receive a tax deduction of up to $300 for cash donations to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Taxpayers who itemize returns may now deduct up to 100% of their Adjusted Gross Income on cash donations. Corporations may now deduct up to 25% of taxable income. Please consult your tax advisor for more information.

How do “charity watchdog” organizations rate CRI?

We consistently earn high marks from charity watchdog organizations, including an A or higher from the American Institute of Philanthropy. We are also a proud member of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, the most rigorous evaluator of charity activity with 20 standards of accountability and ethical practice. We have 4 out of 4 stars from Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest and most utilized evaluator of charities; an A grade from Charity Watch; and a Platinum Participant Seal from GuideStar.