Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make a donation?

Can I call Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans) to make a donation?

Is my donation tax-deductible?

How do I make a donation that my employer will match?

How do I put Paralyzed Veterans in my will?

What is a gift annuity?

Can I make a gift in memory or honor of someone?

Can I be added to your mailing list?

Can I get more address labels and/or greeting cards?

What is your cost of fund raising?

Can I see a copy of Paralyzed Veterans' most recent financial statement?

Can I see a breakdown by percentage of how much Paralyzed Veterans spends on fundraising and administrative costs as compared to the amount going to program services?

How many paralyzed veterans are there?

What is the difference between Paralyzed Veterans and DAV?

Doesn't the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) help the veterans? Why do you need my donation?

Are animals used in spinal cord injury research funded by PVA?

Why do you mail so many fund raising solicitations?

Why do you have so many addresses?

I contacted Paralyzed Veterans to notify you of a change in my address, name or error in the spelling of my name. I still get mailings with the incorrect information. What is the problem?

I need a receipt for tax purposes. Can you send me one?

Does Paralyzed Veterans participate in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)?

Does Paralyzed Veterans participate in workplace giving campaigns such as the United Way?

How do I make a donation?
You may make a donation online, by phone, fax, or by mail to Paralyzed Veterans. Click here to donate now.
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Can I call Paralyzed Veterans of America to make a donation?
Yes, you can call our donor services line at 1-800-555-9140
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Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes, Paralyzed Veterans is a 501c3 organization according to the Internal Revenue Service code. As such, all contributions are fully tax-deductible. Paralyzed Veterans' tax ID # is 13-1946868.
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How do I make a donation that my employer will match?
Contact your company's personnel or community relations office for eligibility requirements and to obtain a Matching Gift form. Remember, many companies match the gifts of retirees, spouses, members, and outside directors.

Send the completed form to:
Paralyzed Veterans of America
801 18th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20006
Attn: Emme Hawkins
1-800-424-8200, ext. 743 or emmeh@pva.org

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How do I put Paralyzed Veterans in my will?
If you would like to include Paralyzed Veterans in your will, please contact Dave Fanning, Associate Director of Individual Giving, at DavidF@pva.org or at 1-800-424-8200.
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What is a gift annuity?
A Charitable Gift Annuity is an arrangement between you and a charitable organization, such as Paralyzed Veterans, in which you transfer assets (usually cash or marketable securities) to Paralyzed Veterans. In return Paralyzed Veterans promises to pay you an annuity — a fixed dollar amount each year — for life. For more information contact Dave Fanning, Associate Director of Individual Giving, at DavidF@pva.org or at 1-800-424-8200.
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Can I make a gift in memory or honor of someone?
Yes, you can make a gift in memory or honor of someone and Paralyzed Veterans will send an acknowledgment to the person of your choice. This can be done online. Donate to Paralyzed Veterans in honor or in memory of a loved one today. You may also mail your donation in with the name to which acknowledgment should be sent. 
Paralyzed Veterans of America
801 18th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20006
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Can I be added to your mailing list?
Yes, you can be added to Paralyzed Veterans' donor mailing list. Please call 1-800-555-9140 with your request or send an e-mail to donorservices@pva.org.
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Can I get more address labels and/or greeting cards?
Unfortunately, we do not have extra address labels or greeting cards, however, we mail these items regularly to our contributors. If you are on our mailing list, you will receive cards and labels within the next month to six weeks. If you would like to be added to our mailing list, please call 1-800-555-9140 with your request or send an e-mail to donorservices@pva.org.
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What is your cost of fund raising?
Our cost of fund raising is 25% and this is normal for organizations that depend heavily on small contributions from large numbers of people via direct mail, as PVA does.  View donation breakdown.
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Can I see a copy of Paralyzed Veterans' most recent financial statement?
Yes, Paralyzed Veterans' most recent financial statement is available. View our financial information at this link. 
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Can I see a breakdown by percentage of how much PVA spends on fundraising and administrative costs as compared to the amount going to program services?
Yes, Paralyzed Veterans has prepared a complete breakdown of what percentage of your donation goes to fundraising, administration and program services.  View donation breakdown.
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How many paralyzed veterans are there?
There are an estimated 100,000 veterans with a spinal cord injury or disease. The work Paralyzed Veterans does benefits all veterans and all individuals with a disability.
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What is the difference between PVA and DAV?
PVA and the DAV work closely together on issues of mutual concern. However, only Paralyzed Veterans is concerned with the most catastrophically disabled veterans, paralyzed veterans, and our programs reflect this interest. Because DAV members are not, by and large, wheelchair users, the focus of their efforts is not solely on the issues of most concern to paralyzed veterans.
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Doesn't the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) help the veterans? Why do you need my donation?
Even before the current downsizing in the federal government and the changes in the health care industry, the VA could not do everything. In addition, even though veterans may be eligible for assistance from the VA, they may not know how to go about getting their benefits and cutting through the red tape to receive them. Paralyzed Veterans has trained service officers throughout the country who are there to assist veterans and their dependents. The services of our benefits counselors are available to Paralyzed Veterans members free of charge.
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Are animals used in spinal cord injury research funded by PVA?
Yes. Paralyzed Veterans' two spinal cord research foundations attempt to fund the most promising research projects in the country. On occasion this means research that uses laboratory animals. If you prefer that your donations not be used for this purpose, we are happy to restrict your gifts to one of our other programs or we will remove your name from our mailing list. Please call us at 1-800-555-9140 or e-mail us with your request at donorservices@pva.org.
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Why do you mail so many fund raising solicitations?
We have learned over the years that most of PVA's donors like hearing from us on a regular basis. We want to keep our donors informed of our activities, whether or not a donation is made to each solicitation. However, we realize that some donors prefer to hear from us less often. Please let us know if you would like us to limit the number of solicitations you receive via e-mail at donorservices@pva.org or call 1-800-555-9140.
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Why do you have so many addresses?
PVA's national headquarters address is in Washington, DC. In addition, the Paralyzed Veterans-managed direct mail production facility responsible for mailing most of our fund raising solicitations is in Wilton, New Hampshire. We also use several PO Boxes around the country where donors can send their gifts. We find this to be the most cost-effective method of processing donations.
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I contacted Paralyzed Veterans to notify you of a change in my address, name or error in the spelling of my name. I still get mailings with the incorrect information. What is the problem?
Paralyzed Veterans' prepares its mailings months in advance and what probably happened is that several mailings were already produced and ready to be mailed at the time we received your change. Someone should have advised you that it might take up to eight weeks before you notice the change. If you would like to make an address or name change on our mailing list, please call 1-800-555-9140 with your request or send an e-mail to donorservices@pva.org.
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I need a receipt for tax purposes. Can you send me one?
We will be happy to send you a receipt. We need your name and address including zip code to pull your record. Please e-mail your request to donorservices@pva.org. Or call 1-800-555-9140.
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Does Paralyzed Veterans participate in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)?
Yes, Paralyzed Veterans participates in the Combined Federal Campaign through our research and education foundations and our outdoor sports program. Federal employees may find the The Paralyzed Veterans of America Spinal Cord Research Foundation (SCRF) in the CFC brochure under Health and Medical Research Charities of America and may designate their gift with CFC code #12096. The PVA Education and Training Foundation (ETF) is listed in the CFC brochure under Spinal Cord Injury Military, Veterans and Patriotic Service Organizations of America and may be designated with CFC code #11958.  The PVA Outdoor Recreation Heritage Fund (ORHF) is listed in the CFC brochure under Sports Charities USA and may be designated with CFC code #11994. For more information contact Stacy Ale at StacyA@pva.org or at 1-800-424-8200, ext. 255.
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Does Paralyzed Veterans participate in workplace giving campaigns such as the United Way?
Yes, Paralyzed Veterans participates in workplace giving campaigns where employees may make pledges in the form of payroll deductions.  The Paralyzed Veterans of America Spinal Cord Research Foundation (SCRF) may be designated with United Way code #2577. The PVA Education and Training Foundation (ETF) may be designated with United Way code #2119.  The PVA Outdoor Recreation Heritage Fund (ORHF) may be designated with United Way code #8787.  For specific information, please contact Stacy Ale at StacyA@pva.org or at 1-800-424-8200, ext. 255.

PVA also accepts corporate matching gifts. For more information, please contact Jane Eakins at JaneE@pva.org or at 1-800-424-8200, ext 687.
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