The Armchair Advocate

Passion, commitment, dedication and time -- four things needed in abundance for effective advocacy. The first three come easily to Compassion & Choices' members and supporters -- but time is a commodity often in short supply.

There are ways you can assist our advocacy efforts that don't involve joining a local board, testifying at the capitol or even collecting signatures. Through our online action network, you can take action on state and federal bills that affect choice in dying. You can write letters to local papers and discuss the issues with your friends and family.

Your Generous Gifts

Compassion & Choices serves terminally ill adults and their families at the end of life, teaches people to have a compassionate view of the dying process, and through the legal and political systems, works to make law and medical practice respect the choices of individuals -- all at no charge. We depend on the generosity of our loyal friends. Without you this would not be possible.

Every year, Compassion & Choices receives contributions and memberships from more than 50,000 supporters. These donors and members are part of our Friendship Circle. Cash gifts comprise the backbone of our finances. We depend on them to meet our daily obligations. Friends who make a contribution of $1,000 or more in a year become members of our President's Circle.

We can arrange for a recurring monthly or quarterly gift at your request, and will charge a credit card on the timetable you specify. Those who make recurring gifts are members of our Champions Circle.

Special Campaigns

As we see opportunities and challenges, Compassion & Choices periodically seeks to raise additional funds for special projects.

The reason? Special campaigns often have special needs. Our costs for the Supreme Court fight are estimated at $215,000 and a full-scale legislative campaign can easily cost half a million. On these occasions we challenge our donors to make a larger gift, something beyond their regular gift.

Looking Ahead -- Friends for the Long Haul

Donors who make planned gifts or include us in their estate plans become members of our Legacy Circle. They are most often gifts of cash, but sometimes involve non-cash assets such as real estate, business holdings, or other estate assets. Such gifts help us by supporting the mission you cherish and may help you through tax advantages.

Please contact our director of planned giving, Jane Sanders, at jsanders@compassionandchoices.org or 800.247.7421, for more information. We advise you to contact your personal financial advisor or attorney when considering such a gift.

You Make A Difference

We value and appreciate every single one of our members, volunteers and donors. The health and effectiveness of Compassion & Choices depends on all of us helping according to our own abilities and hearts.

To learn more about giving to Compassion & Choices or how you can assist our advocacy efforts, please call our toll-free number, 800.247.7421. You can also find information online at www.compassionandchoices.org.

With this magazine we are sending you a survey. We hope that you will take a few minutes to fill it out so that we may learn how to make our efforts serve your interests.

Peter Freedman is director of development at Compassion & Choices.