Ways to Donate
Thank you for your interest in supporting ALS care and research through the Les Turner ALS Foundation. There may be no better way to celebrate the life and memory of a loved one than a gift in support of their dream of finding a cure for ALS or providing hope and help to those currently battling the disease.
These are a few of the needs your donation could support:
- $25 can purchase 10 blood sampling kits for ALS research.
- $100 covers two hours of respite care for an ALS family.
- $500 will provide one four-hour RN visit for patients on a ventilator.
- $1,000 provides a specialized shower chair or a Hoyer Lift to transfer a person from one place to another.
- $2,500 covers safe, reliable, handicapped-accessible transportation to and from the Lois Insolia ALS Clinic at the Les Turner ALS Center at Northwestern Medicine for one year.
- $10,000 funds the construction of a customized wheelchair ramp, a home modification not often covered by insurance.
Your donation will be handled safely and securely, and your information will never be shared. Learn more about how we protect your privacy.
For questions about donations to the Les Turner ALS Foundation, please contact Laura Freveletti, Chief Executive Officer, at 847-679-3311 or development@lesturnerals.org.
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Donate by Phone
Call the Foundation at 847 679 3311 to make a donation over the phone.
Our office is open Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Donate by Mail
If you prefer to make your donation by mail or hand-deliver it to our office, the address is:
Les Turner ALS Foundation
5550 W. Touhy Avenue, Suite 302
Skokie, IL 60077-3254
Our office is open Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Honor or Memorial Gifts
You can make an online donation in memory or in honor of a loved one.
We will send an acknowledgement of your gift to the person you designate, and you can send a personalized e-Card from our donation form.
Gifts of Stock and Appreciated Assets
Gifts of appreciated stocks and securities are an excellent way to support the Les Turner ALS Foundation. Making a gift of publicly traded stock that has increased in value and that you have owned for more than one year may provide greater tax benefits than giving cash.
Your charitable income tax deduction is equal to the fair market value of the stock and you avoid paying the capital gains tax on any increase in the current value over the original cost of the stock. You may also save by not incurring brokerage fees because you are transferring ownership rather than selling the stock.
To make a gift of stock, please provide the following information to your broker:
Brokerage House: Charles Schwab & Company
Account Name: Les Turner Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Foundation, LTD
Account Number: 2706-9946
DTC Clearing #0164 Code 40
Please notify us with the details of your transfer, as brokerage firms do not include donor information with stock gifts. In order for your gift to be acknowledged and to receive a tax receipt, email development@lesturnerals.org, call 847-679-3311, or fill out the form below:
Gifts of Stock Form
Planned Giving
You can provide under your will, trust, or other estate plan not only for your loved ones, but for organizations that have made a difference in your life. When making or revising these documents, you should obtain the assistance of an attorney.
Your attorney will tell you how you can:
- Give a specific dollar amount
- Give a share or entire residue of your estate
- Give personal property
- Give real estate
You can use this sample language for charitable bequests to discuss with your attorney.
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from an IRA
If you are age 70½ or older, you may be able to make a meaningful gift directly from your IRA—while reducing your taxable income.
A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) allows you to transfer funds from your traditional IRA directly to the Les Turner ALS Foundation, without recognizing the distribution as taxable income.
A QCD can be a powerful and efficient way to give:
- Reduce taxable income
Your gift is excluded from your federal taxable income (unlike most IRA withdrawals). - Satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)
QCDs count toward your annual RMD, if applicable. - Give more effectively
Because the distribution is not taxed, you may be able to give more than you would through a standard cash gift.
To qualify for a QCD:
- You must be age 70½ or older at the time of the gift
- Transfers must be made directly from your IRA to the Les Turner ALS Foundation
- The gift must be outright (not to a donor-advised fund or private foundation)
- Gifts must come from a traditional IRA (not from active SEP or SIMPLE IRAs)
Annual limit:
You may give up to $111,000 per year (2026 limit) through QCDs.
How it works
1. Contact your IRA administrator and request a Qualified Charitable Distribution
2. Instruct them to make the distribution payable directly to:
Les Turner ALS Foundation
(EIN 36-2916466)
3. Notify us of your gift so we can properly acknowledge it and ensure your intentions are honored
Example
A donor with a required minimum distribution of $25,000 directs $20,000 to the Les Turner ALS Foundation through a QCD and takes the remaining $5,000 as income.
- The $20,000 gift is not included in taxable income
- The full $25,000 RMD requirement is satisfied
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim a charitable deduction?
No. Because the distribution is already excluded from income, it is not eligible for an additional charitable deduction.
Can my spouse also make a QCD?
Yes. Each individual with an IRA may make QCD gifts up to the annual limit.
Can I support a specific program or initiative?
Yes. You may direct your gift to support the area of greatest need or a specific program aligned with your interests.
You may benefit from a QCD if:
- You do not need all or part of your RMD for living expenses
- You do not itemize deductions
- You are seeking to reduce your taxable income in retirement
- You want to make a meaningful impact for people living with ALS
We would be honored to work with you to ensure your gift reflects your intentions and creates lasting impact.
Contact our Development Team
📧 development@lesturnerals.org
📞 847.679.3311
Please consult your tax advisor or financial professional to determine how a Qualified Charitable Distribution may apply to your individual situation.
Workplace Giving / Matching Gifts
Did you know your contribution could be doubled or tripled with just a few minutes? If your employer offers matching contributions, just obtain the paperwork from your human resources department, complete the donor section, and send it to us along with your gift.
Search our database below to see if your company participates in matching gifts. If you've already sent in your gift to us, it can still be matched! Contact us and we'll help.
CHC: Creating Healthier Communities
The Les Turner ALS Foundation is a member organization of Community Health Charities (CHC), a group of premier non-profit health organizations that provide patient services, public and professional health education, and medical research throughout Illinois and the country. CHC raises funds on behalf of member organizations through employee payroll deduction programs.
If your employer does not participate in a workplace giving program, we can help you get one started. please contact Laura Freveletti, Chief Executive Officer, at 847-679-3311 or development@lesturnerals.org.
Combined Federal Campaign
United Way
