overview

• Cocatalyst has always been a supporter of nonprofits.

• Use donations wisely for vulnerable groups. 

• The Boys and Girls Club is a national organization of local chapters that provide voluntary after-school programs for young people.

• By donating stocks, you have the opportunity to help thousands of young people around the United States in different aspects such as educational, nutritional, physical activities, so that the next generation can reach their maximum potential.

• Cocatalyst is a cause-agnostic stock donation platform. From time to time, we will share areas that we believe are under-resourced relative to the scale of their mission to raise awareness.

Why Donate to US Boys and Girls Club Programs?

The Boys and Girls Club of America gives youths access to new experiences, opportunities, and educational support. Their mission is “to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.” They seek to help young people graduate from high school, plan for their futures, and begin healthy habits. They are dedicated to supporting all children to reach their utmost potential.

As the creators of Cocatalyst, many of us are beneficiaries of stable adolescent environments, decent schools, and highly-rated after/summer school programs. Many of us also had access to financial resources that could give us strong overviews of the milestones we had to hit to reach adulthood. While not perfect childhoods (whose is?), we had many barriers removed for us. Whether they were donors, parents, or teachers, others had an impact on us growing up. We hope that we can help the next generation across the US “reach their utmost potential as well”.

In order to achieve that mission, the Boys and Girls Club offers a wide variety of programs throughout the nation. As a quick overview, they offer mentorship programs, academic programs, health programs, leadership training, and spaces for young people to grow and learn. Their programs are for children of all ages, with special programming for children 6-9 years, 10-12 years, 13-15 years, and 16+. An overview of topics they focus on include Education, the Arts, Health & Wellness, Career Development, Character & Leadership, and Sports & Recreation.

This national organization has a long history. The first Boys’ Club was founded in 1860. By 1906, 53 Boys’ Clubs joined together to form The Federated Boys’ Clubs, a national organization. The organization changed its name to Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 1990 to better reflect its service to all children. They now have autonomous chapters in all fifty states.

Like most other charities, they could benefit from financial giving. You can impact the work of the Boys and Girls Club by becoming a donor. You can make a one-time cash or credit card gift through their donation form on their website. You can also become a regular monthly member of the Boys and Girls Club, and include them in your estate planning, or giving a gift in the name of a loved one or mentor.

However, the way to have the most impact is to donate to the Boys and Girls Club with appreciated stock.

The Most Effective Way To Give and Help US Programs

There is a simple way to make your assets do more for you and for the organization. More and more people are waking up to the fact that cash donations are not actually the most tax-efficient method of making their charitable contributions.

Donating appreciated stock is up to 37% more tax-efficient than donating cash. When you donate appreciated stock, you bypass capital gains tax. Instead of up to 37% of your gains going straight to taxes, the full amount goes to the charity of your choice, allowing you to save money and earn yourself a bigger deduction thanks to your larger charitable contribution. When you donate stock to a charity, no one has to pay capital gains tax. You can start a stock donation today by filling out this form.

Let’s take an example to see just how much you can save through donating appreciated stock. Every year, Leah donates $15,000 to the Boys and Girls Club as her year-end contribution. She is also a long-term investor, and owns shares in Apple. Last year, she purchased 30 shares of AAPL for $213 per share, for a total of $6,390.   

Today, those same 30 shares are now worth approximately $15,000, the amount Leah regularly donates to the Boys and Girls Club. Leah has seen a gain of $8,610. If she sells her 30 shares in order to make her donation, she will be liable to pay up to 37% of her gain in capital gains tax. In this case, she would owe $3,185 in taxes. She would have $11,815 left to donate, and she would be able to write off $11,815 on her taxes.

Instead, Leah can donate the stock directly to the Boys and Girls Club through Cocatalyst. She and the charity save that $3,185. The charity keeps the full $15,000, and Leah is able to write this off on her taxes. That can make a big difference: both for the operations of the charity, and for Leah! An extra $3,185 can mean needed building repairs, hiring of extra staff, seed money for additional programs, and more. For the Boys and Girls Club, this difference can impact a child’s ability to reach their full potential.

When you make a stock donation through Cocatalyst, we will also check whether your employer offers any matching contributions. Many employers match employees’ donations, and this is automatically checked for you when you donate through Cocatalyst.

The Cocatalyst system is simple and quick to use. Just visit our Start Donation page to begin the process!

Your Impact on the US Clubs

Boys and Girls Clubs change the lives of young people across the country. 97% of teens who participate in Club activities expect to graduate from high school. 76% of low-income Club members from 12-18 make mostly A’s and B’s in school, compared to 67% nationally.

Each chapter of the Boys and Girls Club is autonomous, and they release their own impact reports. You can find a location near you if you would like your donation to help youth in your area, or donate to the national organization to support their work! Your donation will help create a positive environment for all children to reach their full potential and lead happy, fulfilling lives. 

Boys and Girls Clubs across the country have many programs. Triple Play provides physical activity, information about nutrition, and advice on developing healthy relationships. Diplomas2Degrees is a college readiness program that helps participants work toward graduation and think about their future education and career goals. Play Ball helps youth improve their fitness and learn the skills needed for baseball and softball. The National Photography Program offers youth a creative outlet and cultural awareness.

Each of the programs offered by the Boys and Girls Club enriches the lives of youth and teaches them valuable skills for daily life and planning for their futures. Whether youth participate in artistic programs, academic programs, skill-based programs in computer science, or college readiness programs, the Boys and Girls Club offers them resources in order to reach their full potential. By donating to the Boys and Girls Club, you become part of their crucial mission and help change the lives of youth across the nation.