Giving FAQs
What can my donation do?
Your charitable gifts to Valley Medical Center help in numerous ways, big and small: Our Healing Garden was built and is maintained by donations, giving our patients and families a peaceful place for reflection here at the hospital; Purchases of state-of-the-art equipment can be supported by such gifts, allowing more vital services to be available to patients.
Contributions often help us serve more people through our outreach programs like Flu Shots for Seniors, Bike Helmets for Kids, or the charity care we provide everyday in our hospital and clinics; Or the gifts may provide patients or their families that one thoughtful “extra” – such as our Cancer Services’ Wig Bank – which may further comfort them during a stressful time.
How to give?
Valley Medical Center accepts gifts of cash, stocks, bonds, real estate, life insurance proceeds and gifts from wills/estates. Gifts of equities, real estate or other appreciated assets may have additional tax advantages for the donor; Valley encourages donors to seek the advice of their professional advisors when considering charitable gifts.
Cash gifts can be made securely online via our web site at www.valleymed.org, which is provided through our partnership with the Renton Community Foundation. Or, if you prefer, a check (payable to RCF – Valley Medical Center Fund, please) can be sent to Valley Medical Center, Attn.: Chuck Tiernan, Development Director, 400 S. 43rd St., Renton, WA 98055.
For gifts of equities, insurance proceeds, real estate or planned gifts, please contact our Development Office at (425) 228-3440, ext. 3681.
Is my gift tax deductible?
Yes. Both Valley Medical Center and our partner, the Renton Community Foundation, are 501 (c) 3 charities as designated by the Internal Revenue Service. Gifts made to either the RCF Valley Medical Fund or to VMC itself are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Renton Community Foundation’s Tax Identification number is 23-7069988; Valley Medical Center’s number is 91-6000986.
Can I include Valley Medical Center in my will?
Absolutely. Valley Medical Center accepts gifts from life insurance proceeds, wills/estates and real estate in order to continually improve the services and programs available for our community.
While we always encourage donors to discuss planned giving options with an attorney or financial advisor, as well as family members, gifts such as bequests, life insurance, and charitable remainder trusts can be good options for many donors. These kinds of gifts can benefit the donor in terms of tax obligation, as well as offering the opportunity to celebrate a significant planned giving contribution during a donor’s lifetime.
How can I remember a loved one (Tributes/Memorials)?
People make charitable contributions to Valley Medical Center for many reasons, including to honor the memory of a loved one or to thank the staff for outstanding care they or a family member received. Tribute or memorial gifts are recognized annually with other donor recognitions by naming the person or tribute, then the donor.
A notice of the tribute or memorial can also be sent, at donor’s request, to the individual or family being honored. In cases of larger memorial gifts or accumulations of such over time, other recognitions, such as plaques, might be appropriate. Tribute or memorial gifts can be made without designations or to a particular funding area, depending on the donor’s preference.
How does the Renton Community Foundation partnership work?
A gift to your hospital is made easier by our partnership with the Renton Community Foundation (RCF) [page link to www.rentonfoundation.org], a 501 (c) 3 organization dedicated to fostering a legacy of philanthropy in the Greater Renton area. An “umbrella” type organization for many Renton charities, RCF has a fund specifically set up to accept gifts for VMC. The community foundation accepts gifts of cash or checks, online donations [page link to Donate Now page] via credit card, or can help people better understand how to name Valley Medical Center a gift in their estate plan or will.
Charitable gifts are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. Gifts made to the RCF – Valley Medical Center Fund are held until the hospital requests them for special projects or services. Together, RCF and Valley track whether gifts were designated for a special cause or given without such restrictions. Dollars held by RCF also offer the opportunity for solid rates of return, so charitable dollars given to Valley can grow and help us keep pace with future needs.
How are contributions acknowledged?
All gifts made to Valley Medical Center and the Renton Community Foundation’s Valley Medical Center Fund are provided with thank you/receipts for the donor’s tax records. And each year, Valley will honor donors at various levels of giving by publishing a list of their names and any tributes or memorials they requested with their contribution.
Tribute and memorial gifts are gladly accepted and, upon special request, the hospital can assist the donor with notifying the honoree or their family about the gift.
Additionally, some donations can be recognized through an inscribed brick in the Healing Garden, a plaque inscribed in honor of the donor/honoree, as well as other special considerations that might be included as part of the hospital seeking support. In the future, donors may also be honored on a perpetual monument to publicly recognize their support.
Donors always have the right to request public anonymity for their gifts. Valley Medical Center takes very seriously the wishes of all our donors and works hard to maintain the highest standards for recognizing all gifts in a warm, respectful manner.
What is the Valley Medical Center Healing Garden?
The Healing Garden opened in 2003 as a way to honor the role of mind and spirit in the practice of medicine. Located between the hospital and the adjacent Northwest Pavilion, this tranquil space was designed to be a place of reflection for staff, patients, and community members.
The garden takes its name from the fact that many herbal plants—such as peppermint and rosemary—often thrive in such environments. The space includes an herbal and fragrance garden, water fountain, multicolored brick labyrinth, and private areas with benches for meditation.
"The garden fits within Valley Medical Center's culture and philosophy of treating the whole person," says Rich Roodman, CEO. "The garden is here for the community, purchased by the community, and to be enjoyed by everyone."
Contributions to the Healing Garden are one way to honor loved ones. A number of items make lasting memorials: trees, shrubs, or benches, as well as an engraved commemorative brick or paver for the garden walk. To learn more, contact Grace Dalrymple, GoldenCare at Valley, at 425.656.5318.
The garden was constructed and continues to be maintained by donations.
What if I have other questions?
Please contact us at (425) 228-3440, ext. 3681, or simply use conventional mail service and address your inquiry to Development Department, Valley Medical Center, 400 S. 43rd St., Renton, WA 98055.
