"IRW truly, deeply changes the lives of children and their families. Join me in helping to secure its future by making a legacy gift." —Sallie Findlay, Founding Board Director

"Books make my world feel big!"

The Purple Crayon Society honors those individuals whose legacy will help sustain the mission of Island Readers & Writers for generations to come.

Members of the Purple Crayon Society understand that inspiring Maine children to read opens doors and makes their “world feel big.”

There are many ways to leave a lasting legacy…

BEQUEST – Leave a gift through your will or estate.
RETIREMENT PLAN OR IRA – Make a gift through your Individual Retirement Account or 401(k) pension plan.
INSURANCE POLICY – Name IRW as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy. You can receive a charitable tax deduction for the cash value of the policy on your federal tax return in the year you name IRW as the owner of the policy. The gift of the policy removes it from your estate and reduces your federal estate tax.
GIFTS THAT PAY YOU – Establish a charitable trust or a charitable gift annuity. These sources provide ongoing support, not just a one-time gift.
When you make a gift to IRW you can designate it for a specific program or purpose, or for “unrestricted” use. The “unrestricted” gifts go into the IRW Fund which resides at the Maine Community Foundation.

We welcome any gifts made in memory or in honor of family and friends.

We also know that bequests should be part of an overall estate plan and urge you to consult with your attorney to structure the legacy gift. We are happy to assist in your planning.

Learn More

To join the Purple Crayon Society, please contact Executive Director Jan Coates at [email protected].

To learn more about the benefits of bequests or to ask questions, please use the form below to contact IRW's Director of Communications, Kelsey Buckley.