Giving / Support Cushing

Donations and Capital Gifts provide the tools and resources needed for participants to learn new skills, maximize independence, cultivate friendships, and create lasting memories.

Cushing Center icon

“Whether you give financially, or with your time and talents, Cushing would not be able to do their great work without donors, volunteers and partners. For all that you do, Thank you!”

Jansi Chandler

Jansi D. Chandler
Chief Development Officer

Financial Donations

There are many ways to give financially - today, or in the future.

Cushing Center Students Holding Dr. Seuss Books

The Opportunity Fund

Credit Card & Check Donations

The Opportunity Fund is our “unrestricted” fund, and can be used for various improvements across all our locations where the need is greatest.

  • iPads
  • Musical instruments
  • Repairs to our transportation vans
  • Recreational spaces
  • And more
Donate Online

Checks payable to Cardinal Cushing Centers and mailed to: Cardinal Cushing Centers - Attn: The Opportunity Fund, 405 Washington Street, Hanover, MA 02339

Restricted Gifts

If you’d prefer to fund a specific need or program rather than donate to the “unrestricted” Opportunity Fund, please contact us to learn about our most current wish list.

Requests are ever-changing, but examples of Major Gifts include:

$102,000 - Hanover School entrance enhancements

$65,000 - Repair work to the iconic Portiuncula Chapel

$10,000 - Repairs and Enhancements to Cushing Greenhouse

A newly renovated residential home for Cushing Adults

To learn more about the many ways to give, notify us of a gift, or ask a question...

Contact Laurie Maranian, Director of Development or call (781) 829-1247.

Fundraising Events

Cushing hosts many annual fundraisers, and we’d love to see you, your friends and family at our Springtime Gala, golf tournaments, Cushing Fun Run, and many more.

What better way to show support for Cushing than to attend the most wonderful evening of the year? For over 20 years, our supporters have come to the Springtime Gala to hear from our CEO, the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, and most importantly - to meet some of our exceptional students and adults and watch them perform. Dinner, music, auctions, a display of art made by our extraordinary artists, and a fabulous fashion show are just some of the highlights.

Learn more at www.springtimegala.org

Student and celebrity guest at Annual Springtime Gala
Erin from the Cushing Marathon Team Collage

Boston Marathon

Cardinal Cushing Centers typically qualifies for five bib numbers yearly through the Bank of America Boston Marathon Official Charity Program.

If you are interested in a bib number, please contact us and explain your connection to fundraising for people with disabilities.

If approved, you will receive an invitation to officially apply. Bib number requests will only be viewed between September and December each year.

Update: Nov. 2024 Our marathon team is full, and we are no longer accepting applications for 2025. Thank you for your interested.

More Ways to Give to Cushing

Donor Advised Fund

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Stocks & Bonds

Stocks, mutual funds, bonds, or any other publicly traded securities can be transferred as gifts to Cardinal Cushing Centers.

Retirement Assets

If you are 70½ or older, you can make a charitable gift directly from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) to Cushing. This gift will not be taxed and can satisfy your required minimum distribution.

Memorials

If you would like to honor someone who has passed, you may use this language in the obituary. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations made to:

Cardinal Cushing Centers
Attn: Memorial/Tribute Program
405 Washington Street
Hanover, MA 02339

Please make checks payable to Cardinal Cushing Centers.



Mass Cards

Purchase a Mass card in your name or someone else's, and the name will be added to a list of people that the Sisters of St. Francis pray for.

Suggested donation amounts:

  • $10 for one-year enrollment
  • $30 for perpetual enrollment

Please contact us to request cards

Honor Someone Special

All financial gifts can be made in someone’s honor or to celebrate or show gratitude to someone special in your life.

Complete and mail us a tribute form or make your gift online, and Cushing will acknowledge the donation to the person in whose honor it was made. The gift amount remains confidential, and a separate receipt will be sent to the donor.

Annual Reports

2023 Cushing Center Annual report

Annual Reports

2023 Cardinal Cushing Annual Report Cover
Download 2023
Read Online
2022 Cardinal Cushing Annual Report Cover
Download 2022

Planned Gifts

Planned gifts are gifts that are made now but will be received at a future point in time, usually through a will bequest, retirement fund, life insurance policy or charitable trust. These options provide a lasting impact on future generations of individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities, without affecting your daily finances.

Will Bequest

A bequest is the simplest and easiest way to make a significant gift to Cardinal Cushing Centers after your lifetime. A bequest offers flexibility because you can retain use of your assets now, and make changes at any time.

  • Cash Bequest - A specific amount of Cash
  • Residuary Bequest - all or a percentage of your estate, after payment of cash bequests and estate-related expenses.
  • Bequest of Property - a particular asset, such as real estate, securities, or tangible personal property, such as an antique or valuable art object

Contact your legal advisor and use the following language to create a bequest to Cardinal Cushing Centers:

“I give and advise to Cardinal Cushing Centers, of Hanover, Massachusetts, free of all trusts, the sum of $____(or a description of the specific asset), or ____% of my estate, for the benefit of Cardinal Cushing Centers and its general purposes.”

Retirement Assets

Naming Cardinal Cushing Centers as a beneficiary of your retirement plan or IRA account after your lifetime is easy, and because distributions may be subject to income tax, consider using these assets for charitable bequests and leave other assets to heirs.

Contact the administrator of your plan to complete a Designation of Beneficiary Form, and consult your legal, financial or tax advisor when making charitable gifts.

Life Insurance

Donors who wish to use life insurance to support Cushing have two options.

  1. The simplest way is to name Cardinal Cushing Centers as the beneficiary of the policy. This option is attractive because it reduces the donor’s estate by the amount of the death benefit.  In addition, this type of gift is flexible - the donor can always make adjustments to the beneficiary designation.
  2. Donors may also choose to gift the policy outright. Gifting a life insurance policy can reduce your taxable estate and yield a current income tax deduction of the policy’s fair market value. Cushing will receive the entire face amount of the policy upon the death of the insured.

We recommend consulting with your legal, financial or tax advisor when making charitable gifts.

Charitable Trusts

Donors who wish to support Cardinal Cushing Centers while also providing for themselves or a beneficiary may wish to establish a charitable trust.  Two common forms of charitable trusts:

  • Charitable Lead Trusts - Designed to generate an income stream to Cushing during the life of the trust, with the remaining assets going to the donor or beneficiaries. Donors may choose the term of the trust as well as the payout to Cardinal Cushing Centers.
  • Charitable Remainder Trusts - Designed to generate an income stream to a beneficiary during the life of the trust, with the remaining assets going to Cardinal Cushing Centers.  

We recommend consulting with your legal, financial, or tax advisor when making charitable gifts. 

Donors who make a planned gift to Cardinal Cushing Centers are invited to join the Cardinal Cushing Founders Society.

The Cardinal Cushing Founders Society honors all donors who have named Cardinal Cushing Centers as the beneficiary of a planned gift.

By making this very special gift now, supporters are expressing their long-term commitment to Cardinal Cushing Centers' mission, ensuring that the highest-quality programs, services, and facilities will be available to individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism for many generations to come.

Society members may choose to be recognized or to remain anonymous.  Membership includes:

  • An invitation to our annual appreciation event
  • Recognition on our Founders Society Wall
  • Invitations to attend other special events throughout the year
  • Complimentary lunch at the Iron Kettle Restaurant for you and three guests each year

To learn more about the many ways to give, notify us of a gift, or ask a question...

Contact Laurie Maranian, Director of Development or call (781) 829-1247.

Additional Giving Resources

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Young Professionals Network

Our network provides a platform for emergingr nonprofit leaders (aged 22 to 40) to connect, support a respected organization, and network with like-minded peers.

Learn More & Get Involved 

Planned Giving Advisory Committee

A group of Professional Advisors from the South Shore oversees the Planned Giving Program at Cardinal Cushing Centers, to ensure that the money is properly invested in order to grow the organization’s endowment and ensure long-term financial stability.

Meet the Planned Giving Advisory Committee

Founder’s Society 

The Cardinal Cushing Founders Society honors all donors who have named Cardinal Cushing Centers as the beneficiary of a planned gift, and therefore their long-term commitment to Cushing’s mission.

Society members may choose to be recognized, or to remain anonymous.

Membership includes:

  • Invitations to special events throughout the year
  • Recognition on our Founders Society Wall
  • Complimentary lunch at Cushing Cafe for you and three guests each year

“I volunteer in the Greenhouse and Garden Shop every week and find it’s the perfect way to stay engaged with others and give back to my community.”

Volunteer

Volunteers contribute their unique talents, skills, and knowledge to enhance our programs - whether working directly with individuals with special needs, behind the scenes, or at our many MarketPlace stores. No matter how much time you have to give, we want to hear from you.

Volunteer Opportunities Include:

  • Supporting staff in programs for students and adults
  • Assisting at retail outlets such as the Cushing Cafe, Take Two, the Greenhouse & Garden Shop, or Unique Boutique
  • Helping with maintenance, landscaping, and beautification projects
  • Helping to coach one of our athletic teams
  • Providing office support
  • Assisting with skills such as woodworking, music, or cooking

Next Steps

Individuals - Complete our online volunteer application or contact us at volunteer@cushingcenters.org

Groups / Corporate volunteer opportunities - Contact volunteer@cushingcenters.org

Please Note: Volunteers over the age of sixteen are required to complete a CORI (Criminal Offenders Record Information).

Email your completed copy to volunteer@cushingcenters.org

Download the CORI Form
A group of teenage volunteers in front of the Cushing Greenhouse sign
Two young volunteers holding signs at the Cushing Fun Run
Volunteers pose after picking up
A group of volunteers at a Cushing center event
Volunteers from State Street Bank working at the Cushing Center Greenhouse

“I love my volunteer days at Cushing.  The participants are all so friendly, and help me stock shelves, weed the garden, create art - the possibilities are endless!”

Take The Next Step

To learn more about the many ways to give, please contact Laurie Maranian, Director of Development, at (781) 829-1247