FAQs
We are here to help you, help us. Below are answers to some frequently asked questions you may have regarding your donation. Please feel free to call us at 203-688-9644 should you have a different question, or complete our contact form. We would be happy to assist you.
When you make a gift to Yale New Haven Hospital, you are part of the advanced medicine and compassionate commitment that touch so many lives in our community. Every person deserves to live the best life they are capable of living. At YNHH, we work every day to make that come true. With your support, we help make lives better.
Ways to Support YNHH & Child Life
- Host an Online Fundraiser or Virtual Toy Drive. Engage your friends and family in a fundraiser to support various areas of the Children’s Hospital. For more information on how to host your own online fundraiser, visit our DIY fundraising page diy.ynhh.org.
- Shop our Amazon Wish Lists. Our Child Life team has selected the items that are most commonly needed for our patients. You can donate these safe, approved toys directly to Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital. View our current Amazon Wish Lists.
In-Kind and Wish List Gifts: Giving Guidelines
Thank you for your interest in supporting Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital through in-kind donations. We deeply appreciate the generosity of our community and the thoughtful gifts that bring comfort and joy to our young patients and their families. To ensure the safety, health, and well-being of everyone in our care, we ask that all donations adhere to the following guidelines. Your cooperation helps us maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all.
Items We CAN Accept
To meet safety and infection prevention standards, donations must be brand new (purchased within 30 days of being donated) and unwrapped. We welcome the following items:
- Art Supplies: Small packs of markers, colored pencils, crayons
- Individual Cans of Play-Doh
- LEGO Sets: Sets with fewer than 300 pieces
- Infant Toys: Stacking rings, rattles, toy phones
- Barbie Dolls
- Phone Chargers
- Family Care Kits: Including toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, and shampoo
- Staff Appreciation Bags
Items We CANNOT Accept
- Used Items
- Gift Cards
- Handmade Items: Including blankets and hats
- Loose or Heavy Boxed Donations: All items must be kept in plastic bins, boxes, or bags
- Greeting or Handmade Cards for Patients
- Items Containing Latex or Toxic Paints/Glues
- Glitter in Any Form: Including glitter glue, stickers, paper, and nail polish
- Youth Transportation Equipment: Bikes, razor scooters, tricycles, big wheels, etc.
- Oversized Items: Large stuffed animals, large playsets, large toys, etc.
- Religious Items
- Medical Equipment or Supplies
- DVDs Rated Above PG-13
- Spark or Friction-Producing Toys
- Toys Promoting Violence
- Toys That Can Break and Leave Sharp Edges
- Toys with Numerous Small Parts That Require Close Supervision
- Items That Have Been Held in Storage
Thank You for Your Support!
Your thoughtful contributions make a significant difference in the lives of our patients and families. By following these guidelines, you help us provide safe and meaningful gifts that bring comfort and joy to those in our care. Your generosity is truly appreciated, and we are grateful to have you as part of our community.
Our Development Team will be happy to speak with you about these guidelines and all of the ways you can support Child Life. Please contact giving@ynhh.org for more information.
For information about donating to the Toy Closet Program, which provides each pediatric patient with an age-appropriate toy or small gift when they are discharged from the hospital, please click here.
There are many ways to give to YNHH. You can use your credit card on our online giving form; write a check and mail it with our printable giving form, fund a future gift through a bequest or life-income gift, or donate gifts-in-kind. Visit Other Ways to Give to learn more.
To mail a gift or pledge, please complete our printable form and mail it, along with your credit card information or check, to:
Office of Development
Yale New Haven Hospital
PO Box 1849
New Haven, CT 06508-9979
Please make your check payable to Yale New Haven Hospital.
Yes, you may choose or manually enter the fund you wish to support on the online donation form or our printable form.
Yes, online donations will receive an emailed acknowledgment right after the gift is processed. Mailed donations will receive an acknowledgement in the mail within (15) days once the gift is processed.
For a duplicate copy, please call the Office of Development at 203-688-9644 or email us at giving@ynhh.org. Be sure to include your full name and complete address, as well as the date and amount of your donation, in your email so that we can properly locate you in our database.
06-0646652
Making a tribute gift to Yale New Haven is a meaningful and enduring gesture to remember a loved one, honor someone special in your life or thank an outstanding caregiver. Visit our Tribute Giving page for more information.
The following is suggested language for an obituary or other tribute:
“In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of [NAME] to Yale New Haven Hospital Office of Development, PO Box 1849, New Haven, CT 06508”. Donations may be made out to “Yale New Haven Hospital.” Checks may be made out to Yale New Haven Hospital with (Full Name) indicated in the memo line. Donations may also be made online at givetoynhh.org/memorial.
If your employer matches charitable contributions from employees, you may be able to double or even triple the value of your gift. Visit our Matching Gifts page to learn if your employer matches gifts and more about how your employer can match your gift.
We’re truly grateful to everyone who helps support the mission of YNHH by raising funds and awareness for our vital programs, services and facilities. We have several ways to fundraise:
- Use our DIY site to set up your own personal fundraising page to support an area of the hospital that is important to you.
- Visit our Areas to Support page to learn about the many areas of the hospital that you can support.
- Learn more about hosting your own fundraiser in our Third Party Event Guidelines for fundraising.
Visit Planned Giving from more information these and other kinds of planned gifts. Or call the Office of Development at 203-688-9644 for more information.