Donations: What to Know

I apologize if you feel confused about donating to the Senior Center. And, after reading our most recent newsletter, I hope you now recognize the importance of donations to our organization.

Donations v. Fundraising

First, you are welcome to make donations to LARSO. We accept and prefer unrestricted donations, which allow us to use the money as needed. Restricted donations (for specific items) are also accepted. Donating this way does not affect our State or County funding.

You can donate by check (made payable to LARSO), via PayPal on our website, or to our Endowment with the Los Alamos Community Foundation.

Fundraising affects our State funding which is why we do minimal fundraising. However, one way to bring in funds to cover more of our overhead, salaries, bonuses, etc. is through fundraising.

Presented by LARSO, Los Alamos Teen Center, Samizdat Bookstore & Teahouse, and Science Fest

Friends of the Senior Center (FOSC)

Because we can’t earn much through fundraising, the Friends of the Senior Center (similar to the Friends of the Library) have stepped up to become our fundraising arm. FOSC is looking for individuals to join them in supporting LARSO. They will be offering a series of new ways to support LARSO financially. There will be membership tiers with different benefits, a donor recognition tree at Betty Ehart, and several upcoming fundraisers.

You can donate to FOSC or LARSO. We are both shooting for the same goal of raising $110,000 per year to support our organization.

About Lunch

When you donate to lunch, we greatly appreciate it. However, although we call it a donation, it is a subsidy for the cost of your lunch. It becomes a restricted donation and can only be used for meals. In addition, the greater the number of folks who join us for lunch, the more money our State funders (Non-Metro Area Agency on Aging) provide to us. In addition, the more people who join us for lunch the lower our lunch costs are per person.

If you need clarification or have questions please reach out to me at director@losalamosseniorcenter.com.