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How to Donate to HomeFirst
There is more than one way to support HomeFirst. Find your giving options below. Every contribution, regardless of size, makes an impact.
Donate Monthly
When you become a monthly HomeFirst donor, your gift is automatically charged to your card each month—no renewals, no reminders, and no extra steps. Even $25 a month adds up to $300 a year, enough to fund critical services for someone on the path back to stable housing. Monthly donors are the backbone of our work because they give us predictability, something as valuable as the dollars. Set it once, and your commitment works every single month.
Stock Donations
If you own stocks, mutual funds, or other securities that have increased in value, donating them directly to HomeFirst can be a meaningful and tax-efficient way to support our mission. Depending on your individual circumstances, you may be eligible for a charitable income tax deduction based on the fair market value of your gift and may avoid capital gains taxes on the appreciated assets.
If you initiate a stock transfer, please notify Chief Financial Officer Shantel Weingand at shantel.weingand@homefirstservices.org so we can properly acknowledge and process your gift.
Donor-Advised Funds
Giving through a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) is an easy and tax-efficient way to support HomeFirst's mission. Your grant helps provide housing, stability, and hope for individuals and families working their way toward stability.
To recommend a grant, contact your DAF sponsor and designate HomeFirst as the recipient. Please contact us if you have questions or need additional information to complete your gift.
Qualified Charitable Distributions
A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) allows people 70½ or older to make a gift directly from an IRA to HomeFirst. A QCD may satisfy all or part of your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) and can be one of the most tax-efficient ways to support our mission.
To determine whether a QCD is right for you, consult your financial advisor or IRA custodian. If you choose to make a QCD, please contact us for the information needed to direct your gift to HomeFirst.
Matching Gifts
Many companies will match an employee donation to charitable organizations, letting you double, or in some cases, triple your impact. An estimated $4-$7 billion in matching funds goes unclaimed every year. Matching gifts are set up through your employer, so talk to your HR department to find out if you—and in turn HomeFirst—can benefit.
Legacy Giving
Leaving a legacy gift is a lasting way to ensure our work continues. By including a gift in your estate plan, you are joining HomeFirst to ensure stable, safe housing for generations to come. There are a few different types of legacy giving:
Bequests
A bequest is a gift made through your will or living trust. It can include cash, securities, personal property, real estate, or other assets.
Retirement Plan or Life Insurance Beneficiary
You can name HomeFirst as a beneficiary to your retirement plan, IRA, 401(k) or 403(b), or life insurance. This can be a tax-efficient way to support our programs and services.
Before making a legacy gift, please meet with your financial planner or wealth advisor to decide what works best for you. If you include HomeFirst in your estate plans or would like to learn more about this type of giving, please contact Chief Development & Marketing Officer Amy Pizarro at amy.pizarro@homefirstservices.org.
In-Kind Donations
We rely on generous in-kind donations of clothing, household items, cleaning supplies, back-to-school items, and more to support our program participants on their journey to stability. People across our programs need basic, everyday items that many of us take for granted. You can make a significant impact by dropping these essentials off at our donation center.
Please review the items we accept before making your drop-off.
Donation Center
Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm
1718 Stone Ave. Unit E, San Jose, CA 95125