Many ways to give…

Donate to Keep the Music Coming

  • Give a Tribute in Honor or in Memory of someone dear to you.

    Give a Recurring Donation which sustains Harmonium thoughout the year.

    Give to an Annual Appeal or Event:

    “Buy a Note” Campaign - Winter

    Cabaret Fundraiser - Spring

    End of Year Appeal - Fall

  • Donations of a variety of items and services are welcome both for direct use and as donations to silent auctions or raffles. Please call 973-538-6969 to inquire how your in-kind donation can most effectively benefit HCS.

  • The gift of your time to help Harmonium is always valued and appreciated as we are an organization that has endured more than 40 years from the kindness of people’s generosity with their time.

    We have many volunteer opportunities from working with the marketing committee to writing press releases, to ushering at concerts and events to board of director positions. Please contact manager@harmonium.org or call 973-538-6969 to discuss the possibilities.

  • Give from your IRA

    If you are aged 70½ or older and have a traditional IRA you may transfer up to $100,000 each year to Harmonium directly from your IRA, (or up to $200,000 per married couple) without it being treated as a taxable distribution. The gift must be distributed directly from the plan administrator to Harmonium.

    Gifts of Appreciated Securities may enable you to give more with less and save on taxes by donating appreciated stocks, bonds or mutual funds to Harmonium. You may receive a charitable income tax deduction for the full market value of the stock (up to a maximum of 30% of your adjusted gross income) and avoid paying the capital gains tax on any increase in the value of the stock.

    Give from your DAF

    Donor Advised Funds allow an individual or family to make a tax-deductible transfer that qualifies as a charitable contribution, and then recommend grants to favorite charities from that fund. It operates like a checking account for charity, and it’s established according to IRS guidelines that provide tax advantages for you, as well as administrative efficiencies. Recommending a one-time or regular grant from your donor-advised fund annually, quarterly or monthly is a meaningful way to support and sustain Harmonium.

  • There are a number of ways to create a lasting legacy that offer you flexibility. Naming Harmonium Choral Society in your will or trust costs you nothing now but expresses your commitment to Harmonium’s ideals, mission and impact on your life. There is no minimum gift required. Every gift makes a difference. You make this an inseparable part of your life story.

    Gifts by Will or Living Trust

    You name Harmonium as a beneficiary in your will or trust, designating the gift of your choice (for example, cash, real estate, personal property, or securities). You maintain complete control of your assets during your lifetime.

    Gifts by Beneficiary Designation

    Request a change of beneficiary form from the company holding your assets (for example, your IRAs, 401(k) and other retirement plans, bank accounts, commercial annuities, life insurance policies, and other assets) and include Harmonium as a full or partial beneficiary.

This “Ways to Give” information is intended to provide ideas for your charitable gift planning. It is not intended as legal or tax advice and should not be relied upon as such. For advice or assistance with your particular situation, or the tax implications of any specific gift, please consult with your attorney or tax advisor. To discuss your giving to Harmonium, please call 973-538-6969 or email Jody Marcus at jody.marcus@harmonium.org. Harmonium Choral Society is a 501(c)3 organization under the Internal Revenue Code (EIN #22-2204418).

Your Investment, Your Impact

Giving Questions and Answers

  • Give to hear the music. As a non-profit organization, Harmonium relies on donor generosity. Your gift enables HCS to perform inspirational concerts.

    Give to your community. Harmonium provides joyful music and motivating instruction to more than 100 volunteer vocalists and instrumentalists, and scores of children and seniors through our school and senior center programs. Your gift enriches our community.

    Give to be a part of the arts. The arts are fundamental to our quality of life. Music, in all its diversity, is vital to a vibrant community. For more than 40 years, Harmonium has been an innovator in New Jersey’s musical landscape Your gift expands the arts.

    Give to cultivate a love of music. Harmonium regularly performs in schools and invites school choruses to participate in our concerts. We encourage high school students to audition and sing with us. We celebrate and guide young composers through our annual, award-winning composition contest. Your gift brings the joy of creating music to the young.

    Give to promote cultural understanding. Harmonium programs music from all over the world, from every language, genre and time period. In addition, Harmonium singers travel every few years to sing with choruses in other countries, to share the universal language that we all love. Your gift fosters cultural appreciation and unity.

    Give to express love. The love of music, the love of community, the love of the arts. Your gift shares the artistry of Harmonium throughout the region, bringing the highest quality music to our community connecting our shared humanity.

  • We ask as often as we do because we need everyone’s help to fund our annual budget of about $130,000. We hope that singers and audience members can support the organization that they love, so that we can continue to sing and perform.

    Ticket sales generate 17% of what we need, and about 10% of our income comes from member dues. More than 40% of the budget income is from individual and corporate donations and grants. The remaining 33% comes from our outreach performances, fundraising events and a PPP grant.

    We are not asking you to reach into your pocket each time, but to invite others to attend our concerts, fundraisers and workshops; to contact businesses to advertise and to approach friends for donations.

  • A general donation, which can be matched by an employer.

    Goods and services as in-kind donations.

    Sponsorship of an event.

    Donate to our End of Year Appeal . A great time to give to a non profit and still get tax credit before the end of the year.

    A gift of securities or IRA distributions, which have additional tax benefits.

    A recurring monthly donation gives us a dependable base of support. Your credit or debit card will be billed each month and you can cancel or change that at any time.

  • We need help in all capacities – volunteers to usher or aid in marketing and lots of liking and sharing of Harmonium content on social media. Referrals are another great way to help. If you know a business or an individual who may have funds to donate – connect us.

  • Advertisers in our program book buy visibility to our concert-goers for their message, and can write off the cost as a business expense.

    Sponsorships are donations that may include a cash value benefit (like 2 tickets to the event) as well as visibility, the benefit of advertising. The portion above the cash value will be tax-deductible for individuals or corporations. We always explain how much of a sponsorship is tax deductible.

  • Even a ten dollar donation shows that we have participation of our members which is important to granting foundations and helps us win grants. Harmonium positively impacts the lives of the singers and community by bringing the joy and health benefits associated with singing and listening to music. And you get the satisfaction of being a part of something bigger than yourself to keep Harmonium singing for the community. Each contribution helps sustain the musical experience for singers and our audiences.

  • Where does my money go when I make a donation?

    All donations are deposited in our operating accounts and used to pay rehearsal and concert venue rental costs, professional staff, programs, website, marketing and other expenses. Money donated for special purposes like the Composition Contest Fund is set aside until those events occur. The Treasurer’s reports of these accounts are reviewed by the Board and the Finance Committee on a monthly basis.

    Does Harmonium have fundraising events to raise money?

    Yes, Harmonium’s biggest fundraiser is the Broadway Cabaret. It’s an evening of wine and songs by Harmonium singers with a passion for musical theater. We also hold smaller events such as trivia night and “give a note,” that crowdsources a new musical work composed by a Harmonium member.

    Don’t you make a lot of money through ticket sales?

    With rising cost to put on concerts, only about 17% of our revenue is from ticket sales. But we want to keep our concerts affordable, so raising ticket prices isn’t a promising approach.

    Where can I find financial information about your nonprofit?

    Feel free to speak with any of our board members or the executive director for more information. You can look up our annual IRS form 990 on GuideStar’s website. GuideStar Search

    Is it safe to give online?

    Our electronic forms follow Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) to keep your credit card and personal data secure and safe.

    How will you acknowledge my donation?

    Your donation will be acknowledged in our program book and posted on our website.

    You will also receive an annual tax letter to use if you itemize charitable donations on your taxes.

Our Donors