Donor Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach out to our fundraising team, Hannah Allison and Hailey Hollowell, at donations@trla.org. Additionally, you can contact Hailey from 9:00am – 5:00pm CST (M-F) at (512) 374-2730 (calling and texting).

Yes, all cash, check, and online gifts are tax deductible due to TRLA’s IRS status as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. In-Kind gifts and ticket purchases, such as tickets to our annual event in San Antonio, are partially tax deductible. More information about the deductible amount will be provided on a case-by-case basis for these contributions.

Our EIN is 74-1675230.

After any non-recurring donation, you should have received a receipt from TRLA that can serve as proof of charitable contribution for tax deduction purposes. All donors who have given over $25 in a calendar year will receive a tax receipt by the following February listing their cumulative giving total for the prior year.

If you did not receive an individual receipt or a cumulative annual receipt, please contact us at donations@trla.org for assistance.

Additionally, you have the option to create and manage your own donor profile through Kindful, one of our fundraising management software. Here you can see your giving history and update your billing or contact information. Be sure to use the email address associated with your past giving history (if you have one).

You can create a Facebook fundraiser!

On Desktop: click “See more” on the lefthand sidebar, then click “Fundraisers.” Next, click “Raise money” to start a new fundraiser and search for “Texas RioGrande Legal Aid” when the option to choose a nonprofit appears. Facebook will guide you through the next steps.

On Mobile: go to the search bar and search “Fundraisers.” Before you finish typing, the option should come up with an icon of a yellow circle with a red heart in the middle. Click “Fundraisers” and then choose either “Create fundraiser” or “Raise money.” On the page to choose your nonprofit, search and select “Texas RioGrande Legal Aid.”

We can currently accept credit/debit, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Microsoft Pay, ACH transfer, check, cash, in-kind donations, donor-advised funds, and legacy gifts through wills and retirement accounts.

Credit cards accepted include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover networks. Read more about accepted cards on our payment processor’s website.

Yes, when donating through trla.org/donate, there is a field titled “Please check this box if you'd like to remain anonymous.” If you would like for your name to not appear on our website or written materials, please select “I would like to remain anonymous (not listed in TRLA donor recognition lists or website).”

• Our platinum-level transparency Candid profile shares financial information.

• Our finances are also audited every year by an independent accounting firm. The audit reports can be viewed here, as well as our yearly IRS Form 990s.

• Our annual Justice Report in the "By the Numbers” section shows a graphic breakdown of revenue and expenses; see the 2022 report.

• Another financial breakdown is available on the Legal Services Corporation website.

• Additionally, TRLA is overseen by a 100% volunteer board composed of 50% attorneys and 50% individuals who qualify for our services.

Please mail any physical donations, including cash, checks, donor-advised funds, and so on to our Mercedes office:

301 S. Texas Ave.

Mercedes, Texas

78570

Yes. Donation by phone call is another secure option to donate for anyone who does not wish to donate online or by mail. Please call our Individual Giving Coordinator, Hailey Hollowell, at (512) 374-2730 between 9am-5pm CST, Monday-Friday.

Please contact Individual Giving Coordinator, Hailey Hollowell, at hhollowell@trla.org, or (512) 374-2730. Please do NOT share credit card information via email, as there could be security risks associated;

Or, Make your next contribution online, using the new card or billing address and your information will be updated automatically;

Or, create and manage your own donor profile using our partner site, Kindful. Here you can update both billing and contact information, as well as see your giving history, download tax receipts, and more.

One of the simplest ways you can benefit Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) is by making a bequest in your will or trust at your death. A bequest can be a gift of a specific sum of money, a percentage of your estate, or a specific asset you wish to leave to TRLA.

If you already have a will or a revocable trust, you can provide for TRLA by making a codicil to your will or an amendment to your revocable trust. A bequest to TRLA may help reduce estate taxes and we encourage you to seek the advice of an estate planning attorney and/or accountant to discuss any potential tax implications.

Sample bequest language: “I give to Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc., a private, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization (EIN 74-1675230) currently headquartered at 301 S. Texas Ave, Mercedes, TX, 78570, the sum of $_____ (or all or a __% of my residuary estate) for the unrestricted use and purposes of the organization.”

Yes! When donating online, there is a field for this that reads: “Is your gift in honor or in memory of someone?” Followed by a field where you can write their name. Your thank you letter will include both your name and the person you're honoring or memorializing.

When donating by mail or by phone, please mention that your gift is in memory/ honor of someone else and share their name.

Automatic payroll deductions are a simple way to provide ongoing support for the cause that matters most to you. Contact your human resources department to find out how to take advantage.

At the bottom of any email you receive from us, there are buttons that say “Unsubscribe” and “Manage email preferences.” Unsubscribing will stop you from receiving any emails from our mailing list, but you will still receive receipts, annual tax receipts, and thank you emails after you donate. “Manage email preferences” shows you a list of different email interests and allows you to select which you would like to receive and which you’d not like to receive anymore.

Click here to create and manage your own donor profile on Kindful, which is the software that powers our donation plugin.

Individual donations provide necessary flexibility to meet the urgent needs of clients in times of crisis and in everyday moments where unexpected expenses arise in the legal process. Federal, state, and other grant funding comes with many rules and reporting requirements that can slow down access to funds that may be needed on a tight schedule. Donations from generous individuals and organizations help us to bridge the gaps in our other funding and continue providing high-quality legal aid to low-income Texans, 100% free.

Prior to 2002 when we merged with several other legal aid providers, TRLA stood for Texas Rural Legal Aid. To reflect our new, larger service area that is somewhat centered on the Rio Grande Valley, we changed our name. “RioGrande” became one word to preserve the acronym for “TRLA.”

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid offers free representation and legal advice in civil cases to clients who are below 125% of the Federal Poverty Level. Individual donations support cases falling in 45+ legal practice areas spanning from housing to employment, to immigration, to custody, and more. Your gift will help vulnerable Texans including working mothers, single parents, veterans, farmworkers, foster youth, LGBTQ+ individuals, and more to resolve their legal issues and receive justice.

An excerpt from the Legal Services Corporation, the primary federal funder of TRLA, explains the need for free and low-cost legal services well: “In criminal cases, legal assistance is a right. Americans accused of a crime are given legal counsel if they cannot afford it. In contrast, one generally has no right to counsel in civil matters where people risk losing their homes, livelihoods, health, and families. Indeed, most low-income Americans must ‘go it alone’ when grappling with civil legal matters – without access to legal information, advice, or representation to help them resolve the matter in our legal system.” This is where legal aid and pro bono services come in.

Both legal aid and pro bono entail legal workers offering free advice or casework, often to low-income individuals. Pro bono work is a type of volunteering for attorneys who are not employed by legal aid organizations, on top of their paid work. On the other hand, legal aid organizations employ attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants who work full (or part) time on legal aid cases for individuals below 125% of the poverty level. This greatly increases the amount of legal aid available for those in need. Additionally, licensed attorneys can choose to volunteer through a legal aid organization like TRLA to do pro bono work.

Becoming a recurring donor offers the most stability and long-term impact to our clients. As a valued member of our recurring donor family, known as our Petitioners of Justice, you will receive special benefits, including quarterly impact newsletters with exclusive content, a discount on tickets to our annual Evening of Gratitude in San Antonio, and exclusive TRLA merchandise.

In the future, we will also be creating a special lapel pin for Petitioners of Justice to wear to TRLA events, around the office, or even at the grocery store!

Contact our fundraising team at donations@trla.org or our Individual Giving Coordinator, Hailey Hollowell, at (512) 374-2730 to obtain a refund within 30 days of your transaction. If you donated online, you could also reply to the receipt or thank you email you received.

INTRODUCTION

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc. is committed to protecting the privacy of our donors and partners. We collect certain personal information from donors and partners to process donations, provide updates on our work, and build relationships. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, and disclose donor and partner information. 

INFORMATION WE COLLECT

We collect the following types of information from donors and partners: 

• Name and contact information (such as address, email address, and phone number) 

• Credit Card or Bank information for donations   

• Donation history 

• Communication preferences 

• Event attendance history 

• Volunteer hours 

• Other information that you voluntarily provide to us 

HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

We use donor and partner information for the following purposes: 

• To process donations and provide thank-you letters 

• To send updates on our work and upcoming events 

• To build relationships with donors and partners 

• To comply with legal requirements 

HOW WE DISCLOSE YOUR INFORMATION

We do not sell, rent, or lease donor or partner information to third parties for any purpose. We may share donor or partner information with third-party service providers who help us to process donations, send communications, and manage our events. These service providers are contractually obligated to keep your information confidential and to use it only for the purposes for which it was shared. Additionally, limited staff have access to the data we store on the third-party platforms. We may also disclose donor or partner information as required by law or in the good faith belief that such disclosure is necessary to protect our rights or property, or the rights or property of others. 

YOUR CHOICES

You have the right to opt out of receiving communications from us at any time. You can also request to access or update your personal information. To do so, please contact us at donations@trla.org. 

DATA SECURITY

We take reasonable steps to protect donor and partner information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. We use a variety of security measures, including physical security measures, technical security measures, and administrative security measures. For more information on how we protect your information, please review privacy policies from some of our third-party partners (Bloomerang, Kindful, MailChimp, Stripe). 

CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. If we make any material changes to this privacy policy, we will post the revised policy on our website and notify you by email or mail. 

CONTACT US

If you have any questions about this privacy policy, please contact us at donations@trla.org. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

This privacy policy is effective as of November 2023. 

Don’t see your question listed? Please email donations@trla.org for further assistance.