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Ways to Give

Your Donation Changes Children's Lives at Shriners Children’s Northern California

Shriners Hospitals for Children is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, commonly known as Shriners Children’s. Shriners Children's has been leading specialty pediatric healthcare since 1922. We deliver specialty pediatric care to children around the world, providing a comprehensive range of treatments and services that help improve the quality of children's lives and allow them to reach their full potential.

There are many reasons to make a charitable gift to Shriners Hospitals for Children – and your passion for helping children is likely at the top of that list. Friends like you make it possible for us to provide pediatric specialty care, regardless of the family's ability to pay or insurance status, today and for years to come.

Read on to learn how you can support Shriners Children's Northern California through ways that include planned giving, hosting and attending fundraising events, and participating in our community outreach.

Give Today

Shriners Hospitals for Children has pressing needs to meet every day. When you give an outright financial gift, you make our current work possible and help to shape the future of healthcare for children with medical needs. Outright gifts include:

Shriners Hospitals for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. Your generous gift directly helps support patient care at Shriners Children's Northern California.

Give online today.

Give through your workplace matching gift program.

Give Tomorrow

At Shriners Hospitals for Children, planned giving ensures we can continue to provide the most amazing care anywhere for generations. When we know about your future intention, we can plan for your gift and all the good it can do.

Planned giving and other types of planned philanthropy advance our research and improve the medical care we provide, benefiting patients for generations. To ensure we meet the wishes of our donors, our giving programs include careful planning and thorough consideration, as our knowledgeable fundraising staff consults with donors, their families, legal professionals and wealth advisors. Together, we’ll develop a plan for giving that aligns with your specific tax objectives and estate planning needs.

  • Bequests: Maintain full control of your financial resources during your lifetime and reduce your taxable estate by including Shriners Children’s Northern California in your will or living trust.
  • Charitable Gift Annuities: Provide a lifetime income to you and/or a loved one and earn a current income tax deduction with a gift of cash or property.
  • Gifts of Life Insurance: Earn an immediate income tax deduction and a possible premium deduction by designating Shriners Children’s Northern California as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy.
  • Gifts of Real Estate: Making a gift of real estate directly contributes to the Shriners Children’s mission. Gifts of real estate can be directed to Shriners Children’s locations in the United States. We can help ensure that your real estate assets have the greatest possible impact while also maximizing tax benefits. For more information, visit Real Estate Donations.
  • Gifts of Retirement Plans: By naming Shriners Children’s Northern California as the beneficiary of your retirement account, such as a 401(k) or IRA, you can avoid passing on heavy income and estate taxes to your heirs.
  • Gifts of Stock: Shriners Children’s is able to offer our supporters an easy method to make stock donations in 10 minutes or less. You can now donate stock from your brokerage to Shriners Children’s through a secure portal, making the gifting process fast, safe and easy. If you would like to specifically designate Shriners Children's Northern California when making your donation, please contact us for assistance.
  • Endowments and Naming Gifts: Give your family name the opportunity to represent something special at Shriners Hospitals for Children. These giving opportunities are closely aligned with a donor’s interest such as building, room or equipment namings, program-specific namings or endowed academic chair namings.
  • Cryptocurrency: Donors’ gifts change lives at Shriners Children’s, and crypto giving is a powerful way to make a difference and maximize your impact. Learn more about the tax advantages of cryptocurrency donations or, start giving today. For electronic transfer information, please contact plannedgiving@shrinenet.org.

Learn more about these planned giving areas.

Fundraisers and Special Events

There are so many ways to get involved and support Shriners Children’s Northern California. Whether organizing your own fundraiser benefiting the hospital, or participating in an existing event like our annual Walk for Love™, you will be helping patients and their families receive life-changing care.

Learn more about fundraising programs.

female patient and therapist displaying artwork

Fundraising Activities

Individuals, groups or businesses are invited to organize fundraisers and special events benefiting Shriners Children’s Northern California. Fundraisers can be event-based or groups may fundraise online by creating a fundraising page. To begin the process of organizing a fundraising event, click here.

Learn more about how to start an online fundraising campaign.

family working on laptop computer

Walk for Love

Our annual Walk for Love is a virtual Walk from Home event this year for people of all ages. Patients, families and the community are invited to participate anywhere they walk or run, at any time. Registration fees provide life-changing pediatric care in Northern California.

Learn more about Walk for Love.

Walk for LOVE participants

Shriners Children’s Northern California Endowed Programs and Academic Chairs

Endowed programs and academic chairs represent the pinnacle of excellence. They provide a means for funding exceptional contributions in teaching, medical research, universal scholarship and clinical service. A philanthropic contribution of at least $2 million, payable over a five-year period, establishes the endowment. The donor’s name is incorporated into the title of the program or the professional title of the academic chair holder. Building signage includes recognition in the appropriate area of the building or on the Philanthropic Society wall in the First Floor Lobby. Through a perpetual endowment fund, earnings are used to support the teaching and research activities of the program or academic who holds the chair.

For more information about donating today or planned giving opportunities that benefit Shriners Children’s Northern California, please contact:

Alan Anderson, Director of Philanthropy Northern California
Email: asanderson@shrinenet.org
Office: 916-453-2321

For more information about fundraisers, special events or in-kind donations, please contact:

Joe Wilson, Events Coordinator
Email: joseph.wilson@shrinenet.org
Office: 916-453-2321

Donate Toys, Crafts and Other Items

Due to COVID, new and unused items are being accepted at the hospital. Check out our Ideas for Giving flyer for plenty of gift ideas and to ensure your gift meets our requirements and is safe for patients. Please call us at 916-453-2321 if you would like to schedule a donation drop off. Donation staff members are available weekdays from 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. December donation hours will be weekdays from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

For more information about in-kind donations, please contact:

Abigail Swickard, Donor Development Assistant
Email: aswickard@shrinenet.org
Office: 916-453-2321

Volunteer Opportunities

Hospital Volunteers

You may apply to become a hospital volunteer if you are 18 or older. Our volunteer services department reviews your application to match your skills and availability with our volunteer needs and you'll be called for an interview if a potential match is found. If selected, you are required to provide a current TB test and vaccination records to show that you have been immunized against Tdap, COVID-19, measles, rubella and chicken pox. The screening process also includes a background check, and drug test.

Apply to volunteer today and obtain more information by emailing the volunteer services office or by calling 916-453-2087.

Patient Entertainment Volunteers

The Sacramento Ballet, the California Highway Patrol Academy, the Cal Aggie Football Team and local debutantes are just a few of the many groups that enrich the patient experience at Shriners Children’s Northern California. If your group is interested in participating, please call the therapeutic recreation & child life department at 916-453-2232.

Special Event Volunteers

Service clubs, business volunteers and other organizations are invited to support Shriners Children’s Northern California by participating in special events and fundraising activities. Our needs and activities vary from hospital events to help with fundraisers. You can learn about the available opportunities by emailing the volunteer services office or by calling 916-453-2087.

Musical Performance Volunteers

As part of the Atrium Series, both amateurs and professionals are invited to fill the hospital with music and song. School choirs, jazz bands, piano players and others are invited to perform in the hospital lobby throughout the year. The music floats through the atrium for patients, families, staff and visitors to enjoy. To schedule a performance, email volunteer services or call 916-453-2087.

Pet Therapy Volunteers

Dogs, cats, rabbits and other friendly animals bring smiles to the faces of children through the hospital’s extensive pet visitation program. You'll need to complete a Pet Partners International workshop and evaluation. Pet therapy volunteers must complete all individual hospital volunteer requirements. Please email or call 916-453-2084 for additional information.

Summer Youth Academy Volunteers

The Shriners Children’s Summer Youth Academy gives 16- and 17-year-old students the opportunity to learn about career pathways in health care. The Academy will tentatively take place in June 2025 with dates TBD. Both clinical and administrative roles that help us to provide amazing care to our patients will be explored in this weeklong intensive. The academy provides positive interactions with healthcare professionals, both clinical and administrative, while also educating students about the joys, challenges and responsibilities of healthcare careers. Potential candidates will need to complete the Summer Youth Academy Application, which includes an essay section. Please read and learn more about the specifics of your essay submission.

Applications are only accepted between February 1, 2025 and April 1, 2025, at 4 p.m. Applications submitted outside of this timeframe will not be processed. Finalists will be selected to interview for placement in the Academy.

We encourage students to embark on an exciting journey of discovery with Shriners Children’s Northern California Summer Youth Academy. For additional 2025 Summer Youth Academy information, open the Summer Youth Academy Application. Please feel free to reach out with additional questions by emailing Volunteer Services at SHCNCVolunteer@shrinenet.org or by calling 916-453-2087.

Burn Prevention Programs

Teaching children and families how to prevent the devastating effects of burns is an important part of the Shriners Children’s mission and its Be Burn Aware campaign. The Burn Team at Shriners Children’s Northern California makes learning fun with Safety Begins at Home, an interactive prevention program geared to kindergarten through third grade audiences. The program includes a media presentation, a visit from local firefighters and interactive games. Students who attend receive a T-shirt and coloring book. Teachers are invited to engage students beyond the program with prevention games and other exercises. To schedule, email Joseph Ramos or contact him by phone at 916-453-5049.

Donate Your Vehicle to Benefit Shriners Children's Northern California

Your car donation can help transform children's lives. Each vehicle donated helps Shriners Children’s deliver exceptional healthcare. Please consider any vehicle, running or not, including cars, trucks, trailers, boats, RVs, motorcycles, campers, off-road vehicles, planes, heavy equipment, farm machinery, and most other motorized vehicles. The vehicle can be in any condition and picked up from any location. Your vehicle is towed at no cost to you. Complete the online vehicle donation form or call 833-SHC-KIDS (833-742-5437) seven days a week. Learn more about the program. The process is easy, and your gift may qualify as a tax deduction.

We’re always here for our patients, regardless of a family's ability to pay or insurance status.