Nature and Culture accepts a wide variety of donations, from the usual cash and checks to stock gifts, IRA distributions, and estate gifts. We want our donors to support us in the most feasible and tax-savvy way possible while leaving a legacy for conservation. If you would like to discuss making a gift that isn’t cash or check or to explore your options, please reach out to our Director of Individual Giving, Laura Meagher.
Donate online
Donate one time or set up recurring annual or monthly gifts. Visit our donation page to learn more.
Create Your Own Fundraiser
You can help us raise money by creating your own fundraiser. Be an influencer in your community and share all the reasons you love Nature and Culture International. It’s easy to set up and share. Use your own words or we’ve included some impactful text and images to get you started. Create your fundraiser here.
Send an eCard
For birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, or just because! Anytime is a good time to share an eCard that contributes to our important work in some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. Pick from a variety of designs and donate in honor of your loved one for any special occasion.
Double the Donation
Did you know that thousands of companies match donations by employees to our organization?
Mail a Check
Send a check to our office in Del Mar. Please make checks payable to Nature and Culture International.
Make a Gift of Securities
One of the best ways to both support Nature and Culture and eliminate capital gains tax is through gifts of appreciated securities. A gift of stock allows you to make a big impact while employing prudent tax strategies by both receiving a charitable tax deduction and reducing your taxable income. Please contact us for DTC instructions.
Give through Your Retirement Plan
Leaving all or part of your retirement plan to Nature and Culture allows you to support our critical conservation actions while reducing tax burdens.
Make a gift from your required minimum distributions (RMD). Satisfy your required minimum distribution while also reducing your taxable income.
Make Nature and Culture the beneficiary of your Qualified Retirement Plan. Secure your legacy while receiving an estate tax charitable deduction.
Why donate my retirement plan?
A retirement asset, such as an IRA account, makes an excellent bequest to a qualifying charity such as Nature and Culture. If the IRA were given to your family, much of the value may be lost through estate and income taxes. By designating Nature and Culture as the beneficiary of all or part of your IRA, the full value of the gift is transferred tax-free at your death as well as receiving an estate tax charitable deduction.
Contact the administrator of your retirement plan to change the beneficiary of the plan to Nature and Culture International.
Give through Your Life Insurance
Designating Nature and Culture as the beneficiary of your life insurance policy will help conservation efforts while offering you significant tax benefits.
Why donate my life insurance policy?
Life insurance policies are another simple way to make a gift to Nature and Culture International. You can receive an immediate tax deduction by naming NCI as the full or partial owner of your policy. You can also name Nature and Culture as the beneficiary of our insurance policy and receive a tax deduction. Receive a charitable tax deduction by naming Nature and Culture as the beneficiary of your life insurance plan.
Contact your life insurance company to make the appropriate changes to benefit Nature and Culture International.
What's the difference between leaving a life insurance plan to a charity and naming them as the beneficiary?
Naming a charity as a life insurance beneficiary is simple: you write in the charity name on your beneficiary designation form. Life insurance policies allow you to pick multiple beneficiaries and even specify what percentage of the death benefit should go to each beneficiary. So you can decide that 100% of your benefit should go to a charity, 80% to your family and 20% to charity, or any other combination you’d like.
If you do have a permanent life insurance policy, it’s possible to gift the entire policy to a charity while you’re still alive. This can be a useful way to get an income-tax deduction, get rid of some of your taxable estate, and lower your heirs’ estate tax burden, all while making a charitable contribution. When you transfer a policy to a charity, the charity will be both the owner and the beneficiary. At this point, they can liquidate the policy and take the cash value. However, they can also keep the policy going, continuing to grow the cash value. If the policy stays active, you can continue to pay the premiums by paying them to the charity. Both these premiums and the policy are deductible on your income taxes.
You can also establish a charitable giving rider for your insurance policy.
Give through Your Donor Advised Fund or Charitable Trust
There are several financial vehicles that can provide income for you or a loved one during your lifetime, create significant tax deductions while providing critical resources to Nature and Culture. Deciding what vehicle to use will depend on your personal needs and financial objectives.
These include charitable remainder unitrusts and charitable remainder annuity trusts as well as charitable lead trusts and charitable gift annuities. Please consult your financial adviser about the appropriateness of these planning tools.
Please contact us for wire transfer information.
Make a Bequest Intention
Leave a legacy for conservation! Including Nature and Culture in your estate plans ensures that your impact will make a lasting difference. We can share bequest language for you and your estate planner. Afterwards, you can document your non-binding bequest intention with us. We want to celebrate your incredible legacy gift in life!
How do I make a bequest?
A bequest is one of the easiest gifts to make. With the help of an estate attorney or adviser, you can include appropriate language in your will or trust specifying a gift of any size to family, friends or Nature and Culture International as part of your estate plan.
What are the most typical types of bequests?
The language typically used in bequests gifts a percentage of your estate, a specific dollar amount or asset, or a portion of the residue (balance) of your estate.
What are the benefits of making a charitable bequest?
- Receive estate tax charitable deduction.
- Lessen the burden of taxes on your family.
- Leave a lasting legacy at Nature and Culture International.
Sample Bequest Language
Thank you for considering an estate gift to Nature and Culture International. Below is some suggested language you may use when writing your will or trust. These statements have been reviewed by estate attorneys, but we also recommend consulting your personal attorney. We are grateful you are including conservation in your legacy plans.
Corporate Name: Nature and Culture International
Type of Corporation: 501(c)(3) California non-profit corporation
Tax ID #: EIN: 33-0773524
Suggested Bequest Language for your Will or Trust:
Unrestricted Bequest:
“I give and bequeath to Nature and Culture International (EIN: 33-0773524), a non-profit corporation based in California and focused on tropical ecosystem conservation, [the sum of $_______] [_____ percent of my residuary estate] to be used to support the general needs of the organization.”
Restricted Bequest:
“I give and bequeath to Nature and Culture International (EIN: 33-0773524), a non-profit corporation based in California and focused on tropical ecosystem conservation, [the sum of $_______] [______] percent of my residuary estate] to be used for the benefit of ______ (specific country, mosaic, or initiative). If all or part of this bequest cannot be usefully applied to this purpose due to changed circumstances, it is my wish and desire that the organization use the bequest for any purpose that in their opinion will most nearly accomplish my wishes and purposes.”
By making a planned or estate gift to Nature and Culture International, you will create a lasting legacy while helping to ensure the conservation of threatened ecosystems and indigenous cultures for generations to come.
Please let us know if you have left Nature and Culture in your estate plans so we may honor your wishes and recognize you for your wonderful gift.
Please contact Laura Meagher, Director of Individual Giving, at (858) 259-0374 or lmeagher@natureandculture.org if you are interested in providing for Nature and Culture in your estate.
Or, fill out the contact form below, and we will get in touch with you shortly: