Donate to Homeward Bound of Marin

Your donation helps us find a solution for homelessness.

mother and daughter sit on a bed surrounded by books

Many ways to donate

Community partners provide essential support to serve vulnerable families and adults as they move from crisis to stability, allowing them to thrive in our programs.

Homeward Bound of Marin has top ratings from Charity Navigator and Candid, so you can give with confidence that we will use your investment with care.

Platinum Transparency 2023 from Candid Charity Navigator 4-star Badge

Homeward Bound of Marin is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with Federal Tax Identification number is 68-0011405.

We make the most of every dollar donated

$60 provides 1 night of shelter and services
$450 provides a week of shelter and services
$1,800 provides a month of shelter and services

Other ways to give

Donate by mail

If you prefer to send a check, please mail to:

Homeward Bound of Marin

1385 N. Hamilton Parkway,

Novato, CA 94949.

Donate by phone

Call 415-382-3363 x213 to make a gift using your credit or debit card.

Give for the future

Learn about Legacy Giving with a bequest or other planned giving options.

Learn more about legacy giving
Make a gift of stock

To make a tax-deductible gift of stock, please instruct your broker to transfer securities directly to our brokerage account:

Charles Schwab
Account #9918-4666
DTC #0164, CODE 40
Account Name: Homeward Bound of Marin

Learn more about stock gift transfers
Donate your vehicle

You can donate your car, truck, boat or motorcycle to support our programs and receive a tax-deductible receipt. Vehicle donations will be handled through our nonprofit partners at CARS.

Learn more about donating your vehicle
Volunteer or donate for our wish list

To support our programs as a volunteer, please see our available opportunities. Visit our Wish List to see items needed to serve people in our programs.

Learn more about volunteering

Donor privacy policy

Homeward Bound of Marin takes your privacy seriously and treats all financial information about transactions with Homeward Bound of Marin as highly confidential. In addition, Homeward Bound of Marin does not sell, trade or share e-mail addresses, postal information or phone numbers of any donors, volunteers or other constituents, and will not send you mail on behalf of other organizations.

New veterans housing

We’re creating a new veterans housing community in Novato that can end veteran homelessness in Marin County. Your gift will help make history as the county becomes the second in California to reach that goal.

The project expands our supportive housing programs in Novato with 24 small apartments for unhoused veterans. Community support has kept these homes for heroes moving steadily toward a Grand Opening in Spring 2024.

Learn about new housing for veterans
3-story building under construction.

Our wish list

We appreciate your help to provide useful items for families and adults in our shelter and housing programs. Before delivering anything, please contact our Community Engagement Coordinator, Andrea Rey.
volunteer@hbofm.org
415-382-3363 x212.

Gift cards from Safeway, Target or other stores are much appreciated year-round. Our programs accept some items only if new and unopened. For all others, items must be in excellent, like-new condition.

Please note we do not accept used clothing or shoes. Contact our partners at Bloom Marin (Bloom – YWCA) or Goodwill (Donate Goods – SF Goodwill) about donating those items. We also cannot accept over-the-counter medications like Advil or other medical supplies.

New items that we accept

a stack of diapers

Diapers

All sizes

hands holding a package of baby wipes, pulling one out.

Baby wipes

Full-Size

bottles of soaps and shampoos, a scrub brush, q-tips, cotton balls, toothbrush and paste, a razor and cloth.

Toiletries

Toothpaste, razors, shaving cream, deodorant, bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion

a basket of cleaning supplies

Cleaning supplies

Multi-purpose cleaner, dish soap, laundry soap

Used items that we accept in excellent condition

a plate with a fork and spoon

Silverware

forks and spoons only

pots and pans on a table

Pots and pans

a hand pressing buttons on a microwave

Microwaves

5 years old or less

a person, facing away from the camera, sits on a sofa pointing a remote at the television.

Flat-screen TVs

up to 47 inches – 5 years old or less

a bicycle being pedaled

Adult bicycles

a stack of five folded sheets

Linens and bedding

Bed, pillows, heavy blankets and comforters – twin size, bath and hand towels

Advantageous ways to give

Save on taxes while investing in a mission to end homelessness!

Donating appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual fund shares that you have owned for more than one year is one of the best ways to support Homeward Bound. You gain income tax benefits and capital gains tax advantages, and Homeward Bound receives a larger sum than if you had sold the securities and donated cash. 

The benefits: 

  • You receive an income tax deduction for the fair market value of the securities on the date of transfer—even if you originally paid much less for the securities. 
  • You pay no capital gains tax when the securities are sold.
  • As a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Homeward Bound receives the full benefit of the sale. 
  • You support and sustain a mission you believe in while receiving tax savings and advantages. 

Qualified Charitable Distributions

If you are 70 1/2 or older and have a traditional IRA, you are eligible to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). A QCD is a direct fund transfer from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) to a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The distribution does not count as personal income because the money is transferred directly from the IRA to a qualified nonprofit organization. In addition, the yearly required Minimum Distribution from a traditional IRA can be rolled over as a QCD. You avoid higher income taxes and you meet the Minimum Distribution requirements for an IRA. 

The benefits: 

  • Giving to Homeward Bound through a QCD allows you to lower your taxable income and at the same time maximize your investment to help end homelessness in Marin. 
  • By designating your Minimum Distribution from your IRA as a QCD to Homeward Bound you minimize your taxable income, fulfill your yearly distribution requirement, and increase your impact to end homelessness. 

Combine a cash and securities donation to create a larger, current-year, tax deduction

During years when a larger tax deduction would be beneficial, you can strategically supplement a charitable gift of appreciated securities with a cash contribution. You can optimize this combination to reduce your taxable income while helping more people move out of homelessness for good.

Donate a vehicle 

Donating a vehicle that you no longer need is an excellent way to make a charitable gift. Homeward Bound partners with another nonprofit called CARS to facilitate vehicle gifts by organizing pickup and sale of your vehicle. The company then sends the proceeds to Homeward Bound and gives you a tax receipt. 

To ensure your charitable giving meets your individual needs and intentions, please consult a qualified legal, tax, or financial professional before making your decisions.

The Legacy Circle

Your commitment to a legacy gift supporting Homeward Bound of Marin entitles you to lifelong membership in The Legacy Circle, a group of honored investors in the future of our mission to end homelessness.

The benefits of membership begin when you declare your intentions and include an annual reception with exclusive updates on the programs that you will help fuel for years to come.

Members of The Legacy Circle receive:

  • A certificate of membership.
  • An insider update each year from Executive Director Mary Kay Sweeney with news about the impact of your life-changing support for families and individuals facing homelessness.
  • An invitation to our exclusive annual reception to meet Homeward Bound’s Leadership Team and other members of The Legacy Circle.
  • The opportunity to be listed by name in the Homeward Bound Community Report published yearly and on our website.

To join The Legacy Circle, just print out the Declaration of Intent and return to us. With your warm-hearted generosity, you play a key role in extending critical help in times of crisis and opening new doors to independence in the years to come.