Country Dance and Song Society

In addition to becoming a member of CDSS, here are some additional ways of supporting our programs and mission:

Respond to our Annual Fund Appeals

Currently our annual fund appeal contributes a significant amount to our operating fund. Each year we approach our membership directly, asking for any amount that members are able to contribute beyond their regular membership support. Donations are welcome at any time and are fully tax deductible. Contribute when you can!

Respond to our Special Project Appeals

Currently our annual fund appeal contributes a significant amount to our annual operating fund. Occasionally we find we have a project or program that requires additional support and in addition to seeking outside funds, we ask our friends and members for help.

We recently appealed for help in funding some long overdue upgrades to the aging database that allows us to keep in touch with all of you - and the response has been wonderful. We have raised $13,200 of our $15,000 goal to date. Donations have come in many sizes from many, many sources and we are very excited! These monies will play a crucial role in helping us move forward with this project and in raising additional outside support.

Contribute to the Special Funds

Special Funds, some treated as endowed funds, some based on annual donations, provide the majority of funding for our scholarship, outreach, and publications programs.

Make a gift of Stocks and/or Securities

Another way to give to the Country Dance and Song Society is to make a transfer of stocks or bonds. Giving stocks that have increased in value (and that you have owned for more than one year) provides greater tax benefits than giving cash from the sale of that stock: not only is the market value of the securities deductible (subject to applicable limitations) but you also avoid paying capital gains tax on the appreciation.

For specific instructions on handling a gift of appreciated stock, please contact

Explore Matching Gifts

Some corporations offer to match the charitable donations their employees make. This can as much as double the impact of your donation. Check with your company's human resources office to see if your membership or other donation can be matched.

Consider Planned Giving

Planned Giving is a way to offer future support to CDSS through estate planning.

Provide Material Gifts

Material gifts, or "gifts in kind," provide CDSS with important resources and may help you find both a home for something you no longer need and a tax deduction. We have received gifts of technology, office supplies, sales stock, and valuable additions to our library collections. The most helpful materials are those for which we have a current need, but if you have something you would like to donate that you do not see on our list please contact us; we may just not have thought to ask!

Volunteer time and talents!

The most important resource we have is you. Do you have time or talents you can share with us? Volunteers can be enormously helpful not only to our everyday operations, but to the long term health of our dance and music community. These gifts are more difficult to quantify but no less important to us! Can you (or your local group) host a meeting? Help us spread the word about our programs? Transport our equipment to and/or from camp? Research or write grants? Volunteer in our office? Help us with graphic design? Take photographs of CDSS events? Visit our CDSS wish list to see our current priorities.

413-268-7426 FAX: 413-268-7471

Country Dance and Song Society 132 Main St/PO Box 338 Haydenville, MA 01039-0338 Office Hours M-F 9:30am - 5:00pm EST

http://www.cdss.org/