Permanency. It lasts a lifetime – and so will the impact your donation makes.

The state of Massachusetts faces significant challenges specific to the welfare of children and persons with disabilities – varied complex needs and not enough resources. Yet, Bridges Homeward is ideally situated to address the wide range of challenges facing the Commonwealth. We are one of the few agencies in the Commonwealth that provides a comprehensive continuum of trauma-informed, participant-led, and family-focused services specific to child welfare.

Bridges Homeward operates over a dozen distinct programs within the areas of Foster Care, Adoption, Family Support & Stabilization and Developmental Disabilities all to stabilize, prevent out-of-home placement, and reunify or find permanent adoptive families those in care. We have the capacity to respond to the most challenging cases with services, support, and advocacy of the highest quality. 

There are many ways to give. You can do everything from making a small monthly donation to donating a car:

Make a one-time donation or a recurring monthly donation.

Currently, nearly 9,000 youth and young adults in Massachusetts need safe, stable parenting relationships, residing in foster placements statewide. Of these, 2,120 children are waiting to be adopted. In 2024 alone, Bridges Homeward received 2,722 requests for local children needing foster care placement through the MA Department of Children and Families (DCF). Additionally, the MA Department of Developmental Services (DDS) reports that as of July 2024, over 48,216 individuals are eligible for services. Bridges Homeward served over 500 of these individuals. While the state works tirelessly, the demand exceeds its capacity. 

“Regarding Developmental Services, [A]lthough progress has been made over the past five decades in including individuals with disabilities into mainstream society, services to support individuals with behavioral and developmental challenges are insufficient. There has been a significant increase in the number of children diagnosed along the autism spectrum.” ”
— Maria Mossaides, Director of the Office of the Child Advocate

  • Bridges Homeward is one of just 23 contracted Foster Care agencies in Massachusetts whose combined capacity is estimated to be only a fraction of the total client demand.

  • We are one of only four state-wide agencies contracted to provide adoption case management for Massachusetts children in foster care. 

  • We are the only Family Support Center serving the Charles River West region in Massachusetts that serves over 500 youth and adults eligible for services from the Department of Developmental Services (DDS.)

  • And, Bridges Homeward is the only provider for Chelsea, East Boston, Revere, Winthrop and Charlestown to work with first time parents aged 23 and younger.   

Bridges Homeward meets the needs of our community by recruiting, training, and partnering with amazing foster & adoptive parents committed to supporting permanent family; by empowering young parents and at-risk families to strengthen their relationships and connect with the right local resources; and by supporting individuals with developmental disabilities to grow their independence and skills to thrive within their families with the right supports. We believe that if we support all individuals to develop and nurture safe, permanent family relationships, they will reach their full potential and contribute to their communities. You can help make strong stable families a reality for more Massachusetts children and are invited to partner with us to create a community where everyone belongs to a safe, permanent family. 

After 150 years, you can still donate the old-fashioned way: by check.

Bridges Homeward
PO Box 984001
Boston, MA 02298-4001

Give now from your donor-advised fund.

  • You can donate stock, or other securities such as bonds or mutual funds.

    Simply provide your broker with detailed instructions of the gift that you would like to make to Bridges Homeward, including the name of the stock and the number of shares to be transferred from your account to Bridges Homeward’s at:

    Fidelity Investments, National Financial Services Corp.
    DTC (Depository Trust Company) #0226
    Account #Z40468572, Bridges Homeward
    Reference: Donor's Name

    Then, please contact Bridges Homeward at 617-876-4210 or donate@bridgeshomeward.org to let us know the name of the stock and the number of shares that you will be transferring to the Bridges Homeward account at Fidelity. This information will help us provide you with proper gift acknowledgment on a timely basis.

  • If you are over 70 1/2 years of age, you can make a Qualified Charitable Donation (QCD) from your IRA.

    • Charitable distributions cannot exceed $108,000 per IRA holder in a tax year

    • Transfer must be from a traditional or Roth IRA (pension, profit sharing, 401(k), 403(b), and other forms of retirement funds do not fall under this tax legislation)

    • Transfer must be made directly from the IRA adminstrator to Bridges Homeward

    • Funds must be directed to a qualified charity (or charities) such as Bridges Homeward

    You cannot take a charitable deduction for this type of contribution. The tax benefit you receive is excluding this contribution from your gross income, therefore not having to pay federal income taxes on it.

    If you would like to make a QCD from your IRA, thank you! Contact your IRA’s administrator to request that a gift be made to Bridges Homeward. Our address and tax ID are below. Then, you may contact us at donate@bridgeshomeward.org to let us know that you are sending a qualified charitable contribution. Of course, if you have any questions or comments about making your gift, please don’t hesitate to contact us at the same email. Thank you again!

  • You can remember Bridges Homeward in your will.

    You can include Bridges Homeward in your will or trust by giving a specific dollar amount or percentage of your estate or by leaving a specific asset—stocks, mutual funds, real estate, or other property. It’s never too soon to create a will or a trust. Even if you have an existing will or trust, you can add an amendment or codicil at any time. This can be an inexpensive and simple way to make a bequest to Bridges Homeward.

    Regardless of your life circumstances, you should have a plan in place to govern how your assets are distributed upon your death.

    Sample Bequest Language

    Unrestricted Gift
    I give and bequeath to BRIDGES HOMEWARD of Cambridge, Massachusetts, the sum of $___ (or, ___% of my residuary estate), for such purposes as Bridges Homeward shall determine to be in the best interests of the agency.

    Restricted Gift
    I give and bequeath to BRIDGES HOMEWARD of Cambridge, Massachusetts, the sum of $___ (or, ___% of my residuary estate), to be used for [state the specific purpose, program, or fund].

    If you would like to be in touch with someone about the possibility of including Bridges Homeward in your will, you may contact us at donate@bridgeshomeward.org. We are happy to help!

Donate a used car and it will be sold at auction to benefit the children and families we serve. Ask your employer to sponsor our Annual Circle of Friends Gala.

For more information about any of these ways to give, please contact our Fundraising Team at donate@bridgeshomeward.org or call us at 617-876-4210.

Bridges Homeward is a 501(c)(3) organization. Gifts made to Bridges Homeward are tax deductible as allowed by law.

Bridges Homeward
60 Gore Street
Cambridge, MA 02141
TAX ID04-2104057

Help families stay together.  Make a donation today.