Ways To Give

Your generosities creates opportunities.

By making a gift to Overbrook School for the Blind, you join alumni, families, faculty, staff, foundations, corporations and friends who believe in OSB’s mission and want to help ensure current and future students receive an exceptional educational experience.

Since 1832, OSB has empowered students who are blind, visually impaired or have additional disabilities to learn, grow and thrive. Your support helps continue that legacy.

Click here to Make a Gift

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A framed Lentz family photo, a vase of colorful flowers, and brochures sit on a white marble table against a teal wall.

Nicholas Lentz Technology Fund

Nicky Lentz was an OSB student who loved math, technology and helping others solve problems. His passion for accessible technology lives on through the Nicholas Lentz Technology Fund, which supports technology and opportunities for OSB students in his memory.

Through the continued support of his parents, Suzanne and Nate Lentz, Nicky’s legacy remains an important part of the OSB community.

Click here to Support the Nicholas Lentz Technology Fund

Give to the Annual Fund

The Annual Fund provides essential support for OSB’s students, faculty, programs and daily operations. Your contribution helps ensure that teachers, therapists and program leaders have the resources they need to fully support students across campus.

Unless otherwise directed, all gifts are applied to Overbrook School for the Blind’s Annual Fund. If you would like your donation to support a specific program, please select the appropriate option on the donation form.

Ways to Give

Monthly Giving

Join the Sustainers Circle

The Sustainers Circle is a special community of donors who provide steady, reliable support to Overbrook School for the Blind through monthly giving.

Monthly gifts of any size help ensure that students have access to the tools, technology, programs and opportunities they need to learn, grow and thrive all year long.

Why Monthly Giving Matters

Consistent support allows OSB to plan ahead, invest in programs and respond to student needs throughout the year. From adaptive technology and mobility training to music, athletics and career readiness, your monthly gift makes a direct and meaningful difference.

Member Benefits

As a member of the Sustainers Circle, you will receive exclusive updates and stories highlighting the impact of your monthly support, be recognized in OSB’s Annual Report and on the OSB website, and know that your generosity is creating opportunities every month.

How It Works

Choose a monthly donation amount that feels right for you. Your gift will be automatically contributed each month, and you can adjust or cancel anytime. You will also receive one annual summary for your tax records.

Click here to Join the Sustainers Circle

Tax Credit Giving

Support OSB Through Pennsylvania’s EITC Program

Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit, or EITC, program allows eligible individuals and businesses to redirect their state tax dollars to support approved Pennsylvania educational organizations like Overbrook School for the Blind.

Through an EITC contribution, donors may receive significant Pennsylvania state tax credits while supporting OSB students and programs.

How EITC Giving Works

Eligible donors contribute through a Special Purpose Entity, or SPE. The SPE then distributes funds to the approved Educational Improvement Organization selected by the donor.

Friends of Education manages SPEs with EITC credits and helps make the process easier for participating donors.

Example of Tax Credit Giving

In this example, a donor makes a $10,000 contribution. Through a direct charitable gift, the estimated out-of-pocket cost is $7,500. Through an EITC contribution to an approved Educational Improvement Organization, the estimated out-of-pocket cost is $750.

A table compares the costs of a charitable donation versus an EITC contribution, with the EITC contribution showing a significantly lower out-of-pocket cost.

Through the EITC program, donors can help direct tax dollars toward the charity of their choice instead of paying those dollars directly to the Pennsylvania Treasury.

Overbrook School for the Blind is an approved Educational Improvement Organization through Pennsylvania’s EITC program.

Contact for EITC Giving

To learn more about supporting OSB through EITC, contact Pamela Vasserman, Director of Development and Communication.

Email: pamela.vasserman@obs.org
Phone: 215-967-4732

Click Here to Learn More About EITC Giving

Planned Giving

Create a Legacy Gift

A planned gift allows you to support OSB’s future while creating a meaningful philanthropic legacy.

When you make a bequest or other planned gift commitment to OSB, you help ensure that the school can continue delivering an exceptional educational experience for generations to come.

Planned gifts may also offer tax benefits and can be structured in ways that support both your charitable goals and your family’s financial plans.

Julius Friedlander Society

Named for OSB’s founding principal, the Julius Friedlander Society honors individuals and families who have included OSB in their estate plans.

No matter the size of your planned gift commitment, OSB is grateful for your thoughtfulness and commitment to the school’s future.

Estate Giving Options

Bequest

A bequest is one of the most common ways to make a planned gift. You can include OSB in your written and executed will.

Sample Bequest Language

I give, devise and bequeath to Overbrook School for the Blind, a nonprofit organization in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sum of $_____ or _____% of my estate, or all of the residuary of my estate, to be used for general support or for the support of a specific fund or program.

Beneficiary Designation

You may designate OSB as a beneficiary of a retirement plan, savings or brokerage account, donor-advised fund or other eligible account.

Life Insurance

You may support OSB by naming the school as a beneficiary of an existing life insurance policy, donating a paid-up policy you no longer need or purchasing a new policy and naming OSB as the beneficiary.

Charitable IRA Distribution

Donors age 70½ or older may be eligible to make a gift directly from an IRA to OSB. These gifts may count toward required minimum distributions and may offer federal tax advantages.

Already Included OSB in Your Estate Plans?

If OSB is already part of your estate plans, please let us know so we can thank you and ensure your gift is used as intended.

Click here to Learn More About Planned Giving

The 1832 Society

Honoring Visionary Philanthropy

The 1832 Society recognizes generous donors who make an annual gift of $1,832 or more to support the students and programs of Overbrook School for the Blind. Named in honor of the year OSB first opened its doors, the 1832 Society celebrates a proud legacy of innovation, accessibility and education that continues to transform lives today.

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Why 1832 Matters

For nearly two centuries, OSB has empowered children and young adults with visual impairments to reach their fullest potential. The 1832 Society sustains this legacy by providing critical annual support for classroom learning, assistive technology, community experiences and specialized therapies.

A woman and a man present a diploma to a graduate in a red cap and gown on a stage, with other graduates seated in the background and a projection screen displaying a graduation image.

Member Recognition

As a member of the 1832 Society, you join a community of donors who believe in opportunity without limits. Members receive recognition in OSB’s Annual Report and on the OSB website, invitations to special events and behind-the-scenes experiences, and updates on the impact of their philanthropy throughout the year.

Questions About Giving

If you have questions about your gift, how to make a gift or how to update your credit card information, please contact OSB’s Development Office.

Office of Development and Communications
Email: development@obs.org

Click here to Make a Gift