FAQ's

Question:

How can I include the American Foundation for the Blind in my estate plans?

Answer:

A gift by will or trust is the method most frequently used to make a planned gift. Many AFB supporters and friends have already informed the American Foundation for the Blind of plans for gifts of this kind. Undoubtedly, many others have also made plans to benefit AFB in their will and we would like to hear from them and you.

Please give AFB the opportunity to thank you for your generosity. Please contact Karen Azeez, Director of Individual Giving at 212 502-7627 for more information.

Question:

Does AFB meet the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance Standards?

Answer:

The American Foundation for the Blind was last evaluated in December 2004 and we were found to meet all of the BBB standards. There are 20 BBB standards that are used to evaluate:

• How the organization is governed,
  
  
• The ways we spend our money,
  
  
• The truthfulness in how we represent ourselves to the public, and
  
  
• Our willingness to disclose information to the public.

For a copy of AFB's current evaluation or for more information on the BBB Wise Giving Alliance please go to www.give.org.

AFB is proud of the way we manage our funds. Follow these links for a copy of our most recent Annual Report or to find other financial information. Be sure to also visit AFB's web site at www.afb.org or contact Karen Azeez, Director of Individual Giving at 212 502-7627.

Question:

Dear AFB,

My mother's birthday is coming up and she doesn't want us to buy her anything. My sister and I would like to make a gift to AFB in her name. Do you accept these kinds of donations and how will she know that we made this gift?

Answer:

Donations made to AFB to celebrate a loved one's birthday, anniversary, or special occasion often make the perfect gift. We welcome these special gifts in honor of or in memory of, friends and family.

When sending your donation, please clearly indicate the name of the person you wish to honor or memorialize, the occasion, and to whom you would like the gift notification sent. A letter from AFB President Carl Augusto will be sent to the honoree (or a third party designated by you) informing them of the gift.

To make a commemorative or memorial gift, please contact Audrey Taylor at 212-502-7626; mail your donation to American Foundation for the Blind, 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300, New York, NY 10001; or visit our web site at www.afb.org, and click on the Donate button.

Question:

Dear AFB,

You often mention your employment programs. This makes me wonder, does AFB hire blind and visually impaired individuals?

Answer:

At AFB, we have blind and visually impaired people working in a wide range of positions across all departments—including our President and CEO, Carl R. Augusto, as well as vice-presidents, directors, members of our Web department, help desk and information center, and interns who spend a few weeks a year at our organization. AFB's hiring policies are similar to those of any other organization. We seek to hire the person with the best abilities for the position in question. In practice, however, the abilities we seek may require a first-hand knowledge of technology, education and the blindness field that may be best embodied by a blind or visually impaired individual.

Being blind or having a visual impairment does not guarantee a job at AFB. Because AFB promotes the hiring of qualified blind and visually impaired individuals throughout Corporate America, we seek to be an example of an organization that hires candidates who will meet the challenges of their intended positions whether or not they can see.

Question:

Dear AFB,

I am interested in making a gift to the American Foundation for the Blind. I own some stock and would like to know if it is possible to donate this stock rather than give a cash gift?

Answer:

Not only is it possible to make a stock gift to AFB, it is a wise strategy that may enable you to avoid unnecessary income taxes! If the stock is worth more now than when you first obtained it, you would be responsible for paying capital gains tax if you were to sell the stock outright. The IRS encourages contributions to AFB and other non-profit organizations by waiving the capital gains tax on stocks contributed directly to charities.

Making the stock gift is very simple:

Call Karen Azeez at (212) 502-76257 or go to Stock Gifts page of AFB's web site.

Question:

Dear AFB,

During the holiday season this past year, I received many mail solicitations from organizations that I had never heard of! How is a person to know which organizations are charities and which organizations are just trying to take advantage of people?

Answer:

As a donor you have the right to be certain that you are giving money to a legitimate organization that can prove it is a charity. Charities are organizations that have been granted "501(c)3" status by the IRS and are able to offer donors an income tax deduction commensurate with the donor's contribution. There are several ways of finding out if an organization is a charity—the easiest is to contact the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Guide at (703) 276-0100 or writing to 4200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 800, Arlington, VA 22203-1838, or you can visit their website at www.bbb.org. The Better Business Bureau offers information on how a charity does business as well as their IRS status. You can also visit www.guidestar.org to obtain an organization's address, names of their governing body, and copies of their income tax filings.

Almost all states require charities to register on an annual basis if the charity wishes to solicit the citizens of that state. If you are not able to locate information about an organization, you should immediately contact your Secretary of State or Attorney General to determine if the charity is registered.

Question:

Dear AFB,

My mother lives alone and is rapidly losing her sight. I've asked her to move in with us, but she refused. What can we do for her at home?

Answer:

The following are a few simple changes to her home that should help.

• Use evenly distributed lighting; it will help her eyes feel less tired and irritated. Increase lighting on steps, use more than one light in a room with dimmer switches on each, and use night lights to ease adjustment from total darkness.
  
  
• Use contrasting colors to make objects easily distinguishable from one another. Paine doorframes/cabinets and stair rails a different color from the walls. Use different color keys for quick and easy entry.

For more information, please contact AFB's National Aging Center at (214) 352-7222.