Ways to Give

Three women are outdoors, smiling and looking at a phone together.

Your support creates real impact. Here’s how you can make a difference!

YWCA Evanston/North Shore encourages you to get involved and make a difference in our community through its mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. One of the easiest ways to contribute is with an online donation. Learn more about YWCA’s work and impact fueled by your support here.

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Ways to Donate to YWCA Evanston/North Shore

  • YWCA Evanston/North Shore encourages you to get involved and make a difference in our community. An easy way to support our community is by making an online donation today.

    YWCA provides a variety of opportunities for you to make an individual gift.

    ONLINE: Donate securely online using your credit card. You can make a one-time gift, or become a monthly donor. Monthly donations will be automatically charged to your credit card and can be changed or canceled at any time.

    BY PHONE: Contact the Development Office at  847-864- 8445 (2108) to make a credit card donation over the phone.

    BY MAIL: Donate by check and indicate your donation in the memo line, then mail to:

    YWCA Evanston/North Shore

    1215 Church St.

    Evanston, IL 60201

    BY PAYROLL DEDUCTION:

    Many companies and organizations offer their employees an opportunity to make charitable gifts using payroll deductions. Check with your Human Resources department to see if this is an option for you.

    FOR MORE INFORMATION: If you have questions about any of our giving programs, please contact our Development Office at development@ywca-ens.org.

  • Your monthly gift will have a lasting impact and provide year-round support for the individuals we serve.

    The work of YWCA Evanston/North Shore has never been more important! By giving monthly, you provide dependable financial support for critical YWCA programs that help families.

    EFFECTIVE – your monthly gift helps support programs that provide safety and shelter, financial education and job training, swim scholarships, and racial equity training.

    POWERFUL – your monthly gift helps fuel innovative programs and new initiatives to meet the changing needs of our communities.

    CONVENIENT – your monthly gift is automatically charged to your credit card and can be revised or cancelled at any time!

    SIMPLIFY YOUR GIVING – BECOME A MONTHLY DONOR TODAY!

    Simply select “I WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A MONTHLY DONOR” on our donation form.

  • Gifts to Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) have become popular vehicles for charitable giving due to favorable tax benefits.

    DEFINITION

    DAFs are named charitable giving accounts that are set up under a public charity, most often a sponsoring financial or community institution. To set up a DAF, donors make a gift of cash or other assets to the financial institution, receive a tax deduction, and as a “donor advisor” are then able to make grant recommendations to the charities you care about.

    HOW TO MAKE A GIFT

    Giving through your DAF is easy. There are two ways to make a gift to the YWCA Evanston/North Shore:

    Option 1 – Simply contact your financial institution to recommend a grant to YWCA Evanston/ North Shore. Our tax identification number is 36-2193618.

    Option 2 – Click here to complete the process online using FreeWill.

    RECOGNITION

    We are happy to recognize your donations to YWCA Evanston/North Shore, whether made via a DAF or other sources, in our Annual Impact Report.

    DISCLAIMER

    This information is not intended as legal or tax advice. For information on how your philanthropic giving may affect your tax situation, please consult with your financial advisor.

  • When you transfer gifts of appreciated stock or other securities to YWCA Evanston/North Shore, you are eligible for a tax deduction for fair market value. You can designate your gift for a specific fund or purpose.

    You can transfer gifts of stock online using FreeWill. Click here to get started. If you prefer not to use this online tool, see these instructions:

    For more information about donating stock or other securities to YWCA Evanston/North Shore, contact us at development@ywca-ens.org.

  • Our Leadership Circle is comprised of donors who make annual contributions of $5,000 or more to YWCA Evanston/North Shore. It is our premier donor community, offering opportunities for donors to connect more deeply with our mission and our programs. Leadership Circle gifts provide critical operating support for all YWCA programs, and impact thousands of women, children and families throughout our service area. These annual gifts are an important investment in the well-being of our communities.

    By giving $5,000 or more, you are automatically included in our Leadership Circle.

    Click here to make a gift online today, or contact us at development@ywca-ens.org.

  • You can invest in YWCA’s future by making a planned gift to the YWCA Evanston/North Shore Legacy Circle.

    Legacy Circle planned gifts help to ensure the future growth and sustainability of our organization and ensure that future generations of women and families can benefit from YWCA Evanston/North Shore programs and services.

    Joining the Legacy Circle

    The YWCA Legacy Circle recognizes individuals that include YWCA Evanston/North Shore as a beneficiary in their will or estate plans, as well as those individuals that make a direct gift to the YWCA Evanston/North Shore Legacy Fund.

    These gifts help strengthen our future by:

    • Contributing to the long-term financial health of YWCA Evanston North Shore.

    • Providing security in times of uncertain funding from public funding sources.

    • Ensuring that YWCA will continue providing essential services to women, children and families in the communities we serve for many years to come.

    The most common type of Legacy Circle gift is a bequest gift. In addition to helping to secure our future, bequest gifts enable donors to create a lasting expression of their own personal legacy.

    You do not need to have great wealth or a complex estate plan to make a bequest gift. You can get started online using FreeWill today. Click here to learn more and get started.

    Making a bequest gift is as easy as adding this suggested language to your will, along with our legal name and Tax ID:

    I give and bequeath to YWCA Evanston/North Shore, Evanston, IL 60201 the sum of $____ , (or ____% of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate) for the general purposes of supporting YWCA Evanston/North Shore.

    Legal name: YWCA Evanston/North Shore

    Tax ID: 36-2193618

    A bequest gift can be made through your original will or in a codicil. It is revocable and you can amend anything you choose. In addition, we will not receive anything during your lifetime.

    If you have already included YWCA Evanston/North Shore as a beneficiary in your will or estate plans, please let us know so that we may thank you and acknowledge your generosity.

    For more information, please contact us at development@ywca-ens.org. To learn more about all YWCA planned giving options available via Freewill, the online legal will maker, click here.

    *Planning your estate requires careful consideration. Please consult your attorney or tax advisor for professional advice.

Other Ways to Give ↘

Support YWCA’s mission to eliminate racism and empower women!

Employer Matching Gifts

Many employers offer matching gift programs through which the company will make a separate gift that is equal, double, or even triple the amount of your gift. You can use the search engine below to see if your company has a matching gift program. It will also direct you to any forms you may need to fill out and let you know which gifts apply for matching.

You can also contact your company’s Human Resources Department to learn more about your employer’s matching gift program. If available, they will provide you with the necessary forms to be completed and submitted along with your gift. One-time gifts, gifts of securities, tributes, and special gifts are all eligible for matching funds from employers.

Here’s how you can double your donation! See if your employer will match your gift to YWCA Evanston/North Shore!

Matching Gift and Volunteer Grant information provided by
Powered by Double the Donation

Tribute Gifts

Your gift can be made in honor or memory of someone special in your life. Tributes and special gifts can serve to acknowledge a meaningful event, such as a birthday or graduation, or to send a special message to a loved one on a meaningful occasion, such as Mother’s Day. If provided a mailing address, we will send a notification card of your gift to your designated recipient.

You can make a Tribute gift using our online donation form. Make sure to click the “I would like to dedicate this donation” checkbox, which will allow you to fill out the person you are dedicating your donation to, as well as where we can send a notification card of your tribute gift.

If you have any questions, please contact our Development Office at development@ywca-ens.org.

Bricks with engraved messages in front of a YWCA building, celebrating women and memorials.

In-Kind Gifts

In-kind donations to YWCA Evanston/North Shore do a community of good! Here’s how:

  • They provide survivors and their children at our Mary Lou's Place domestic violence shelter with essentials to help rebuild their lives. Many survivors come to us with nothing.

  • They help keep expenses down so we can focus on essential programming.

  • Sales of donated women’s clothing help support our programs through our Shop for Good resale shops for women. 100% of profits from both shops support our domestic violence and economic empowerment programs for women across northeastern suburban Cook County.

YWCA’s main building (1215 Church Street in Evanston) only accepts in-kind donations during our regular business hours, however we do have a 24-hour donation box available for used clothing only attached to our parking lot. Unfortunately, YWCA cannot accommodate pick-up in-kind donation requests at this time.

We ask that donations of new and gently used clothing be made to our YWCA Shop for Good resale shops. YWCA Shop for Good is a non-profit enterprise owned by YWCA Evanston/North Shore. The shops accept new and gently used women’s clothing, shoes,
accessories and jewelry during store hours.

Store Hours (Both Locations)
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 12 pm – 5 pm
Friday and Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday and Monday: Closed

  • Evanston location
    2122 Central Street
    Evanston, IL 60201
    Chanelle Brown, Store Manager
    Phone: 847-475-1135

  • Wilmette location
    1107 Central Avenue
    Wilmette, IL 60091
    Tracy Liepert, Store Manager
    Phone: 847-853-8888

If you are interested in dropping off a significantly large number of items or an in-kind donation over $1,000 in value, please e-mail development@ywca-ens.org or call 847-864-8445 (ext. 2110) with the item(s) you would like to donate. Thank you for thinking of us!

Donations We Cannot Accept at the Shelter

We cannot accept every donation. Upon occasion, it might be necessary for our staff to help you redirect your donation to other organizations where it can be put to better use.

ITEMS WE CANNOT ACCEPT:

  • Used toys and stuffed animals: The dust and allergens carried in used toys and stuffed animals pose a health risk to an allergic child.

  • Home baked goods and homemade meals: Health codes dictate that the shelter cannot accept homemade food of any kind.

  • Furniture: Our new campus is housed with all the furniture needed for the families that stay at Mary Lou’s Place. We will update if there is a specific furniture need that arises.

  • Sample-size toiletries: The families that stay at Mary Lou’s Place do so for up to 90 days, so sample-sized toiletries do not meet their needs. We ask that donated toiletries be full-size.

  • Medium-sized luggage/overnight bags: We have a surplus at this time, though past donations were appreciated.

  • Menstrual products: We have a surplus at this time, though past donations were appreciated.

Again, we are deeply grateful for the generosity of our donors, even if we occasionally have to say “no thank you”. We appreciate your understanding.

Mary Lou's Place Wishlist

FGift Cards

  • We accept gift cards of all monetary levels from Visa, Jewel Osco, Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Dollar Tree/Family Dollar, Ventra, Gas Stations

Clothing and Accessories
We ask that donations of new and gently used clothing be made to our YWCA Shop for Good resale shops. However, we can accept the following items at our main location:

  • Hats, scarves, and mittens (adult and child)

  • Winter jackets (adult and child)

  • Winter boots (adult and child)

  • Underwear - new and unopened only

  • Socks - new and unopened only

Hygiene & Personal Care Items

  • Bar soap

  • Body wash

  • Bath and hand towels

  • Lotion (unscented)

  • Sunscreen

  • Deodorant

  • Haircare products (specifically for textured hair)

  • Hair brushes (specifically for textured hair)

  • Nail polish

  • Toothpaste

  • Toothbrushes

  • Bathrobes

  • Pajamas

  • Slippers

  • Journals

  • Puzzle and coloring books for Adults/Teens

  • Bath gift sets

  • Make-up sets

  • Manicure/pedicure kits

Non-perishable food items

  • Individual/snack size food items (nut-free, pre-packaged only)

    • Granola bars

    • Cookies

    • Chips

    • Fruit snacks

    • Fruit cups

    • Crackers

  • Juice boxes

  • Small water bottles

Household Items

  • Blanket throws

  • Umbrellas

  • Bath linens

  • Clothing hangers

  • Clorox disinfectant wipes

  • Toilet paper

  • Trash bags (bathroom size, kitchen size, and heavy-duty larger bags)

  • Swiffer mops and pads

  • Kleenex tissues

  • Laundry baskets

  • Laundry detergent pods (no liquid or powder detergent)

  • Paper towels

Toys & Games

  • African-American Barbie dolls & baby dolls

  • Legos and Duplo blocks

  • Medium or small size trucks, cars, trains & airplanes

  • Puzzles and Board games

  • Rhythm Instruments: Maracas, small “finger” drums, tambourines, bells, etc.

  • Play food and cooking sets

  • Coloring and Puzzle books

  • Dress-up Play Clothes

  • Washable Arts & Crafts Kits

  • Science Kits

  • Magic Kits

Buy a Brick

Buy a brick — in honor or in memory

Donate a personalized brick engraved with the name of your family, in honor of a special person in your life, or in memory of a loved one. Your brick donation will support the mission of YWCA, to eliminate racism and empower women.

Newly engraved bricks are installed every summer on the walkway near the Main Entrance at the south end of YWCA’s campus where hundreds of people will see it every day for years to come.

Donate a brick