Consider Making a Financial Gift

The Cara Program relies on the generosity of concerned individuals to continue empowering individuals affected by homelessness and poverty to achieve real and lasting success. We would greatly appreciate any consideration you can give in support of our mission. To donate online with a credit card, please click the button below.

If you prefer you may call us to make a credit card donation rather than use our online system. If this is of interest, please call Julie Hasel at 312/798-3327.

You can also mail us your donation:

The Cara Program
Development Office
237 S. Desplaines
Chicago, IL 60661

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If you would like to learn more about the ways in which your gift can directly support the services of The Cara Program, please feel free to contact any member of our team directly.  We would be honored to share with you the impact your gift can provide, and to host you for a site visit so you may more closely see our mission at work.  

If this is of interest, please feel free to contact (Vice President of Career and Resource Development) at 312/798-3319 or (Manager of Resource Development ) at 312/798-3327.


Matching Gifts Programs

You may be able to double or even triple your gift to The Cara Program through your employers matching gifts program. Please check this partial list of companies that have matching gifts program or contact your personnel office to see if you can take advantage of such a program. Your company's program may not be included on this list, so if you don't see your company please reach out to your benefits or human resources contact.

Put Your Individual Retirement Account to Work for The Cara Program

Thanks to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, donors age 70 ½ or older may transfer up to $100,000 from their IRAs (traditional or Roth) directly to a charitable organization without being taxed on the transfer.  To qualify under this Act, funds must be sent from your financial institution directly to a charity before December 31, 2009.  If this of interest to you, our staff would greatly appreciate the opportunity to work with you to accept such a gift and to properly convey the impact such a gift could have on our mission. 

The Cara Program is also pleased to accept donations of funds from IRAs from donors who do not qualify under this legislation; however, you may be taxed for your withdrawal.

If you are considering making such a donation to The Cara Program, please contact Katie Leisner, Development Associate, at 312/798-3331. 

And, as always please consult your financial advisor to understand how charitable giving will affect you.

Remembering The Cara Program in Your Estate

The Cara Program would be honored to accept gifts from your will, life insurance policy or retirement plans. 
If you would like to remember The Cara Program by making a gift of a specific dollar amount or percentage of your total estate, simply state this in your will.  Example: “I give to The Cara Program, an Illinois not-for-profit organization located in Chicago, (sum or percentage of residual estate) to be spent for its general purposes.”

To leave a donation through your life insurance policy or retirement plans, please contact the administrator of those funds and ask for a change of beneficiary form.

Of course, please first check with your financial or legal advisor to see what is best for you before making a bequest.   

If you are planning to leave such a gift, we would be grateful to know of your choice, so that we may take the opportunity to more closely share with you our program’s growth over the years.

If this is of interest to you, or if would like more information, please contact Katie Leisner, Development Associate, at 312/798-3331.

Donate Professional Clothing

If you would like to donate professional clothing to The Cara Program, please contact at 312/798-3302.

Needed Items:

New or gently used, clean, interview-worthy business attire, including:

• Suits (accepted colors: black, grey, brown, dark/ navy blue)
• Blazers or Jackets
• Dress Shirts/ Blouses
• Dress Pants
• Skirts
• Shoes
• Socks or Hosiery (new only please!)

Inkind Donations

If you would like make an inkind donation of any kind, please contact


Donate a Car

The Cara Program graciously accepts vehicle donations on behalf of Cara graduates whose newly secured employment may be out of reach of traditional public transportation.  The gift of a car is a significant investment in the ability for such individuals to sustain their employment, and to better care for their families in the process.

If you would like to donate your quality unwanted car to The Cara Program, please contact at 708/ 361-8845.

Donations of Time