Ways to Give
There are many ways you can support NatureServe to help achieve our vision of a world in which the best available science informs on the ground conservation work so that biodiversity thrives.
Make a gift today to support our mission to collect, analyze and deliver critically important information guiding on-the-ground protection for over 100,000 species and ecosystems across North America.
NatureServe
Attn: Development Department
2550 South Clark Street, Suite 930A
Arlington, VA 22202
Monthly giving is steadfast support that adds up to tremendous impact! Customizable, automated payments make monthly giving easy and impactful at any amount.
Choose one of our featured species and for a minimum $25 donation, you’ll join a group adoption effort and receive individual benefits including custom smartphone wallpapers and a sticker. Alternatively, by making a gift of at least $150 and up to $5,000, you can adopt a specific species of your choice ranging in conservation rank from secure to critically imperiled. Custom adoptions give you, or someone you would like to honor, name recognition on the NatureServe Explorer public database on your chosen species’ page. Explore featured species available for adoption and learn more about custom adoptions at the link below.
Do you have a Donor-Advised Fund?
If so, please consider recommending a gift to NatureServe by clicking the easy-to-use link below to find your fund and begin the process!
Have you already made a gift to us from your Donor-Advised Fund?
When you make a Donor-Advised Fund gift, it’s possible that the sponsoring organization will not share your information with us. Please reach out to Melissa Howison at melissa_howison@natureserve.org when you’ve made a gift so we can make sure to thank you and ensure that your gift gets to where it’s intended.
How to make the most out of your Donor-Advised Fund
- Through a DAF, you have the ability to set up recurring gifts. Anyone who gives a monthly donation to NatureServe is automatically a part of The Nest!
- Check with your employer to see if they match DAF donations to double your impact!
- Do you have a beneficiary designation on file with your DAF? If not, consult your professional adviser and consider adding NatureServe as your beneficiary. Anyone who includes NatureServe in their legacy plans is recognized through our Heritage Circle (see the Heritage Circle: Planned Giving tab below).
Are you interested in a Donor-Advised Fund?
A donor-advised fund, or DAF, is an account where you can deposit assets. Over time, these assets grow through investments and are distributed to charities of your choice. You receive tax deductions for the contribution you make, making DAFs a popular choice among philanthropic individuals.
Opening a DAF is not only for the wealthy. Organizations like Fidelity and Schwab have $0 minimum contributions! If you would like to learn more about DAFs and how they can impact NatureServe’s work, reach out to Karen Fernandez at Karen_Fernandez@NatureServe.org.
The IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) allows individuals age 70½ or older to make an outright gift of as much as $100,000 annually to NatureServe from a traditional IRA. The withdrawal amount may count toward your annual required minimum distribution (RMD). Although the RMD is not required until age 72, the QCD can be particularly beneficial for donors who do not itemize and instead file the standard deduction.
To initiate a QCD, simply contact your IRA administrator to request it. The QCD must be paid directly from your IRA to NatureServe and mailed to:
NatureServe
Attn: Development Department
2550 South Clark Street, Ste 930A
Arlington, VA 22202
Note: For tax purposes, the date of the gift is the date the funds leave your IRA account (not the postmark on the envelope). It is important to allow sufficient time for the rollover check to clear to ensure that the funds are withdrawn during your preferred tax year.
Are there limits on the gift amount?
The withdrawal may not exceed $100,000 annually per individual for all such gifts. A married couple with separate IRAs may each transfer as much as $100,000 annually.
Can the Qualified Charitable Deduction offset a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)?
Under current law, every IRA account holder must withdraw a required minimum distribution (RMD) annually beginning at age 72. The RMD is treated as ordinary income for tax purposes. A qualified charitable distribution counts toward your required minimum distribution.
Do I receive an income tax deduction with a Qualified Charitable Distribution?
You do not receive a tax deduction for a QCD from a regular IRA; the transfer is not, however, recognized as taxable income. Because a QCD reduces income and is not an itemized deduction, the gift benefits even those donors who do not itemize.
Is my 401(k) eligible for making a Qualified Charitable Distribution?
No. However, it may be possible to transfer or rollover funds from a non-IRA qualified retirement plan (401(k), 403(b), etc.) to an IRA. Check with your retirement plan administrator for eligibility and guidelines. Once the new IRA is established, you may then initiate an IRA QCD.
Are there any restrictions on a Qualified Charitable Distribution?
A QCD is only eligible for outright donations and cannot be given:
- to a Donor-Advised Fund, supporting organization, or private foundation
- in exchange for benefits such as tickets to an event, membership, etc.; or
- to fund a life income gift, such as a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder unitrust. *
* You may withdraw funds from your IRA to establish a life income gift; however, the full amount of your withdrawal is treated as ordinary income for tax purposes. The charitable tax deduction from the life income gift may partially offset the withdrawal.
Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and any special occasion or person with a gift to NatureServe in honor or memory of your loved one. If requested, a note will be sent to the recipient letting them know of your thoughtful gesture.
1% for the planet
NatureServe is a proud nonprofit partner of 1% for the planet, an international organization where members contribute at least one percent of their annual revenue to environmental causes to protect the environment. If your business or corporation is a member, you can add NatureServe as one of the organizations you wish to support financially.
Not a member? Click here to find out more information and take the first steps towards becoming an environmental partner.
When you donate a vehicle to NatureServe, you become a key partner in unlocking the power of science and technology to guide biodiversity conservation. Through our partnership with Charitable Adult Rides and Services (CARS), the process of making a charitable car donation is quick and easy, and you may qualify for a tax deduction!
Vehicle Donation ProcessStart your motorized vehicle donation by completing this form or calling (855) 500-7433. CARS accepts automobiles, boats, planes, trailers, RVs, motorcycles, campers, off-road vehicles, heavy equipment, farm machinery, and more! The only requirements are that it must be in one piece and towable, have an engine, and be tow truck accessible.
Once you get in touch with CARS, they will reach out to you to arrange the free pick-up of your vehicle donation, which typically can be arranged within 24-72 hours. You’ll receive an initial car donation receipt upon pick-up, and then CARS will work to turn your car into cash to support NatureServe. Once your vehicle is sold, CARS will provide you with any additional tax forms for your deduction.
Get Started Today!
Employer Matching Gifts
An estimated $4-$7 billion in corporate matching funds goes unclaimed every year. If you are one of the 26 million individuals working for a company that matches charitable donations, you can unlock some of that money for NatureServe’s mission. Ask at work to find out if your employer matches donations, and if they do, follow their matching guidelines to double your impact! You may need the following information:
NatureServe
2550 S Clark St, Suite 930A, Arlington, VA 22202
(703)908-1800
www. Natureserve.org
Tax ID: EIN 52-188-4438
EarthShare
EarthShare is a nonprofit organization that has worked to increase support for environmental organizations for 35 years. Many employers, both federal and private, offer EarthShare as an option in their workplace giving campaigns. As a member of the EarthShare network, NatureServe will benefit from donations made to EarthShare at participating workplaces.
If you are a federal government employee, you can support NatureServe through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC #10299).
By donating stocks or mutual funds, you may benefit from tax savings while supporting biodiversity conservation.
The fastest and easiest way to donate stock is through our online stock giving tool. You’ll be able to securely process your stock transfer in minutes!
Note: Stock transfers can take 7-10 business days to transact; you will be notified when the transaction is complete.
If you prefer to process the gift yourself or through your broker, please contact Karen Smith Fernandez, Chief Advancement Officer at Karen_Fernandez@Natureserve.org or 703-908-1883 with your name, the name of the stock being sold, and the number of shares. Letting us know allows us to credit you with your donation in a timely way and recognize the transfer when it arrives.
Important instructions can be found on this downloadable PDF.
NatureServe’s Heritage Circle recognizes individuals who have included NatureServe in their legacy plans.
A legacy or planned gift is a financial contribution pledged now but conveyed to NatureServe after your lifetime. A legacy gift to NatureServe helps to bolster our financial security and ensure that our services will continue to protect Earth’s biodiversity into the future.
To explore planned giving options in complete detail and discover which will best meet your needs, we suggest engaging an estate attorney. As a first step, read on for an overview of the most popular options for making a lasting impact after your lifetime.
Will Bequest
Structure your will to include a gift to NatureServe
Sample language:
Specific Dollar Amount
I hereby give, devise, and bequeath {specific dollar amount} OR {% of total estate} to NatureServe, a nonprofit organization located at 2550 South Clark Street, Suite 930A Arlington, VA 22202 Federal Tax ID # 52-1884438, for the organization’s general use and purpose.
Restricted bequests
I hereby give, devise, and bequeath {specific dollar amount} OR {% of total estate} to NatureServe, a nonprofit organization located at 2550 South Clark Street, Suite 930A Arlington, VA 22202 Federal Tax ID # 52-1884438, for the following (name of specific program or project).
If you are making a restricted bequest, we recommend that your attorney include the following provision to allow flexibility should it no longer be possible for NatureServe to use your gift as you originally intended:
“If, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of NatureServe, it shall become impossible or impractical for the to use this bequest to accomplish the specific purposes of this bequest, NatureServe may use my gift for such purpose or purposes as the Board determines is most closely related to the restricted purpose of my bequest.”
Retirement Plan Beneficiary
Most retirement plans are income tax-deferred, meaning you do not pay income tax on the funds contributed to your plan or on the growth of the assets within the fund. However, you are responsible for paying the tax when the funds are distributed. Your beneficiary is also required to pay the income tax that has not been paid. Charitable organizations, like NatureServe, are tax-exempt and not liable for unpaid taxes. If you name NatureServe as a beneficiary of your retirement plan, the full amount of your gift will be used for effective conservation action. To name NatureServe as a beneficiary, contact your plan administrator and request a beneficiary change form.
Arrange a Charitable Trust
With a charitable remainder trust, you receive income each year (either fixed or variable) from assets you place in the trust. After your lifetime, the balance in the trust goes to NatureServe.
Use Life Insurance to Make a Gift
You can name NatureServe as primary beneficiary of your life insurance policy or as contingent beneficiary should your other beneficiaries not survive you. After your lifetime, the benefits from your policy pass to NatureServe free of federal estate tax. Simply contact your insurance carrier and request a beneficiary change form.
You can also donate your paid-up life insurance policy to NatureServe. If the policy has cash value, NatureServe has the option of either holding the policy until the maturity date or surrendering the policy to receive the policy’s current cash value.
Designate Financial Accounts
Another way you can include NatureServe in your estate plan is by designating us as the beneficiary of a financial account, including a bank or brokerage account, or an asset, such as a certificate of deposit. All you need to do is complete a beneficiary designation form (often called a transfer-on-death or pay-on-death form) provided by the financial institution. After your lifetime, the asset passes directly to NatureServe.
Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor.