Frequently Asked Questions
About The Common Room
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Q: What is The Common Room?
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A: The Common Room is a social club for young adults with high-functioning autism - a space where they feel at home, create new friendships, and immerse themselves in enriching experiences.
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Our vision for The Common Room is for every individual with high cognitive Autism Spectrum Disorder to know that there is a place in which they belong. A place that is the heart of a caring and inclusive community, that they can be a part of in a safe, comfortable environment. A place where they can go to combat the sense of loneliness and isolation, and that can be the hub for a wide variety of experiences that are enriching, interesting, and enjoyable.
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Q: How can I help to make this a reality?​
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A: Our physical space is the foundation for The Common Room and is vital for our ability to achieve our vision. The space will be designed to specifically meet our members' needs, with a fun, attractive aesthetic that does not feel institutional, therapeutic, or educational. The house will contain a mixture of comfortable "hangout" areas, kitchen and dining areas, and smaller relaxation areas where members can read a book or listen to music.
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Donations can also go to support the membership fees, activities, and excursions for our members. 90% of our target population is underemployed and may struggle financially. We want to ensure that this is not a barrier to their ability to join The Common Room and participate in activities. Your sponsorship of individual members will be vital to our ability to maintain a club that does not exclude any member due to inability to pay.
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Q: How can I learn more?
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A: Explore our website and if you have any remaining questions you can contact our Executive Director at info@thecommonroom.org.
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Ways to Give
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Q: How can I donate?
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A: We accept donations from credit cards, checks, Fidelity Charitable or Vanguard Charitable accounts.
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Q: Can I donate by mail?
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A: Yes. To donate via mail using a credit card or check, fill out the attached form (link to form) and mail to:
The Common Room
40 Lake St.
Brighton, MA 02135
If donating by check, please make checks payable to The Common Room.
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Q: Can I donate by phone?
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A: Yes. We accept donations via phone at 617-417-5580.
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Q: Can I donate using a Fidelity or Vanguard Charitable account?
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A: Yes. Our employer identification number (EIN) is 84-3107058.
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Q: Can I donate stocks or securities?
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A: Unfortunately, at this time, we are not accepting donations in the form of stocks or securities.
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Q: Can I make a recurring donation?
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A: Yes, through our donation page here.
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Taxes and Security
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Q: Is my gift tax deductible?
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A: Yes, The Common Room is exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowable under the law.
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Q: Will I get a receipt for my donation?
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A: Yes, when you donate online you will receive an email with a tax receipt. When you donate by mail you will also receive an email receipt, but please allow 5 - 10 business days for us to receive and process your donation.
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Q: Where can I obtain a copy of my tax receipt?
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A: If you wish to obtain a copy of the receipt or have any questions, please contact the Executive Director at info@thecommonroom.org or at 617-417-5580.
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Q: Are online donations secure?
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A: Yes. Your security is important to us. We use Donorbox sofware to process online payments. Donorbox uses Stripe's secure token mechanism. Donorbox and The Common Room won't have any record of the donors' card number in our database and logs, which means that hackers can never get sensitive card or bank information from us.
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