Final call for charitable giving in tax year 2024!
Hello, SafeBears!
We hope everyone is enjoying the holidays and winter break with family and friends!
As 2024 draws to a close, we wanted to give you a quick update on the fundraising campaign launched last month. Since Nov 18, we’ve raised $5,885, with the following breakdown: (1) $1,050 to personal safety classes; (2) $685 to nighttime events; (3) $4,150 to the general fund.
While we’ll continue to fundraise for our new programs in 2025, now is a great time to give as the current tax year ends. SafeBears is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Thank you for your support!
Personal safety classes – Berkeley students contend with high levels of street harassment and predation. Help us fund convenient and free personal safety classes where students will build confidence and learn self-defense strategies. Learn more & donate
Safe socializing after dark – Many Berkeley students want to de-stress and make friends outside of the party scene. SafeBears and UC Berkeley student government are joining forces to create a grant program to help student organizations host nighttime events that are inclusive, fun and safe. Learn more & donate
General fund — If you’d like to support our work with a non-earmarked donation, please give to our general fund.
Click here for a message from the SafeBears leadership team highlighting our recent work and explaining our current fundraising priorities.
Happy New Year to you and yours and . . . Go Bears! 🐻
FAQs
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Yes, almost certainly, as SafeBears is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. But we can’t give tax advice, so you should consult a tax professional if you have any questions about your specific situation.
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Yes, you will get an immediate confirmation by email, and we will send a separate letter for tax preparation purposes ahead of the April ‘25 filing deadline.
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We strive to keep our overhead expenses as low as possible. But certain costs are unavoidable, such as web site hosting, tax preparation, insurance, and Zoom hosting, among other items. Our annual overhead is currently about $5,000.
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NO. The five board members are volunteers. There is no paid staff. Our by-laws require each board member to make at least a $100 donation annually, and most of our past and current board members have contributed more than that, not just in significant volunteer hours, but also in the form of additional cash donations as well as donated expenses (i.e., not asking for reimbursement for legitimate expenses).
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Yes. SafeBears has been tax exempt since May 2023. You can view our ‘23 tax filing here.
