Support DRA

Why Does DRA Need Your Support?

DRA pursues high-impact, class-action cases on behalf of people with disabilities that other firms won’t. While DRA does receive attorney’s fees from defendants for some legal victories, these fees are not predictable or adequate to sustain DRA’s important legal work year after year. Charitable contributions ensure that DRA is able to consistently represent the most vulnerable citizens and create systematic change. Charitable contributions also ensure that DRA has resources to support building the next generation of public interest lawyers through its two-year legal fellowship program. DRA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and your donation is fully tax-deductible.

How Are Charitable Contributions Used at DRA?

Fueled by a balance of revenue from fees and charitable contributions, DRA is built to last. Attorney’s fees cover much of the organization’s overhead expenses. When you contribute to DRA, you can be assured that your contribution is applied directly to high-impact legal work that will protect the civil rights of hundreds of thousands of disabled individuals, their families, and their communities nationwide.

Stock Donation

Thank you for considering a gift of stock to support DRA. Your generosity enables DRA to accomplish our mission: advancing equal rights and opportunity for people with all types of disabilities nationwide.

Why donate stock?

Making a gift of stock is not just good for DRA, it is good for your bottom line. Donating stock to DRA allows you to realize tax benefits while supporting an organization you believe in. Giving a gift of publicly traded stock that you have owned for over one year and that has increased in value may provide better tax benefits than giving cash. Your charitable income tax deduction is equal to the fair market value of the stock when transferred so 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 on brokerage fees because you are transferring ownership rather than selling the stock.

How do you determine the value of my stock?

Gifts of stock will be recorded on the day the stock is received in our brokerage account, at the median market value on that day. You will receive a written acknowledgement to confirm receipt of your gift with the valued amount.

How do I donate stock?

If you have any questions please contact DRA’s Development Director, Kate Hamilton at (510) 665-8644 or via email at khamilton@dralegal.org

Legacy Circle

DRA is pleased to announce the launch of our Legacy Circle. Members of DRA’s Legacy Circle make a bequest to DRA because they believe in equal opportunity for all and want to leave a civil rights legacy. Legacy Circle members ensure DRA’s longevity: because people with disabilities will always need a good lawyer—protecting your rights to employment, education, commerce, transportation, healthcare, and all aspects of mainstream American life.

Join DRA’s Legacy Circle today and invest in a future where all of us—regardless of age or ability—can participate as contributing members of American society.

I would like some language to add DRA into my estate plan:

General operating support

I give ___ percent of my estate, or description of asset, or ___ dollars to Disability Rights Advocates, a nonprofit corporation for its general use.

Restricted to a specific program or area

I give ___ percent of my estate, or description of asset, or ___ dollars to Disability Rights Advocates, a nonprofit corporation for the restricted purpose of _________. If, in the future, the Board of Directors of DRA determines that the restriction placed herein would result in an impracticable use of the bequest, it may designate another pupose for its use that most nearly accomplishes my wishes.

Why DRA Needs Bequests

Bequests are one of the easiest, most effective ways of giving to DRA. They help DRA pursue the high-impact, class-action cases on behalf of people with disabilities that other firms won’t. While DRA does receive attorney’s fees for some legal victories, these fees are not predictable or adequate to sustain DRA’s important legal work year after year. That’s why your bequest is critical.

Your bequest allows DRA to consistently represent the most vulnerable citizens and, as society and technology evolve, continue creating systematic, inclusive change. Your bequest also ensures that DRA builds future generations of public interest lawyers through its two-year legal fellowship programs.

Through your estate, life insurance, or retirement plan, you can provide general support to DRA or fund a specific fellowship or program.

Why Mike Stanley Joined DRA’s Legacy Circle

DRA Board member and Legacy Circle member Mike Stanley

“I’ve been involved with DRA for more than a decade. This organization packs a punch! I’ve seen DRA improve access to health care, sidewalks, public transportation, and education—benefitting me and millions of people across the country. The world is evolving quickly and DRA is always ahead of the curve—ensuring accessible cutting edge technologies and training the brightest young lawyers to continue the work. There will always be a need for DRA. I made a bequest to DRA because I want to make sure that the civil rights of people with disabilities are protected—for generations to come.”

If you are looking for a lawyer in your area, we can assist you with names of experienced estate planning attorneys. Many will schedule a complimentary first meeting with you to discuss your needs.

Please contact Development Director, Kate Hamilton at 510-665-8644 or khamilton@dralegal.org for more information or to discuss other ways to leave a civil rights legacy.

Annual Fund

DRA’s Annual Fund keeps our lights on and our lawyers fighting the toughest, most important civil rights battles including: reading access for students with print disabilities, disaster preparedness plans in cities and counties to ensure people with disabilities are safe, and adequate healthcare accommodations for people with vision, mobility and hearing disabilities.

Fill out the form below to Donate to DRA’s Annual Fund Now.

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Wolinsky Fellowship Fund

DRA is finishing a campaign to fund an on-going, two-year Fellowship program named in honor of our Co-Founder and Director of Litigation, Sid Wolinsky. Visit the Wolinsky Fellowship page to learn more.

Cy Pres Distributions

What is a cy pres distribution?

When a class action is settled or tried and money recovered cannot be distributed to some or all of the class members, the cy pres doctrine allows the funds to be distributed to a nonprofit charitable organization to support work that indirectly benefits the class and advances the public interest. A cy pres distribution should be “as near as” giving money to the class members and cy pres distributions should relate to the purposes of the case. In a case involving seniors or people with disabilities, it might be appropriate for residual funds to be distributed to DRA.

Cy pres awards from class action settlements to DRA enable us to continue protecting the civil rights of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens through high-impact legal work.

If you have questions, need documents or information or are interested in designating DRA as a cy pres award recipient, please contact Development Director Kate Hamilton at 510-665-8644 or khamilton@dralegal.org.