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Ways To Give
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Land Acquisition Fund. Established in 1998 the land Acquisition Fund
was our first permanent fund. Designated for the acquisition of vital
stopover habitat, all earnings from the fund are available for land
purchases in the five U.S and five Mexican states that border the Gulf of
Mexico by either GCBO or on behalf of our Site Partners.
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Permanent Fund for Operations.
Our Operating Fund was established in 1999 to ensure the long-term financial
stability of GCBO. Earnings generated by the fund will be used to help
support the operating costs of the GCBO as well as its research and
educational programming for the Gulf of Mexico community.
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Tropical Forest Forever Fund. In early 2008, we began a new conservation initiative
for the protection of wintering habitat used by vast numbers of migratory
landbirds. The majority of North America's bird populations are migratory,
thus, the protection of required wintering grounds in Latin America is
essential to their survival. With a substantial contribution from an
anonymous donor, GCBO has set-up a new permanent fund for land acquisition
in Central and South America. The fund has now grown to greater than
$250,000, and is expected to reach $500,000 within three years. Proceeds
from this new fund will provide grant dollars to proven and respected Latin
American conservation organizations for the acquisition of habitat for
migratory birds, as well as rare and threatened flora and fauna.
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Gifts of new or used
products as
deemed necessary and published on the GCBO�s Wish List will be gratefully
received and acknowledged. The value of donated items are tax deductible to
the extent allowed by federal law as long as no goods are services are
provided in return for the contribution. It is the responsibility of the
�giver� to determine the monetary value of the gift. Letters of
acknowledgement will be provided for use in tax preparation.
- Volunteer
your time.
Especially needed are In-Kind services preformed by professionals with expertise
in accounting, bookkeeping, legal services, data entry, graphics design, indoor
and outdoor maintenance, electrical services, landscaping, trail building, and
construction. We keep a tally of all volunteers� hours and use your donated time
as matching labor when requesting grants from agencies and foundations.
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Giving cash via US
currency or personal or company check.
Cash gifts of US currency are tax deductible to the extent allowed by
federal law as long as no goods are services are provided in return for the
contribution.
- Bequests of cash or
other assets by will. After you have made plans for the economic security of
yourself and loved ones, you can continue your support for bird conservation
long into the future by making a bequest to GCBO in your will. If you plan
to remember GCBO in your estate plan, you may wish to use the following
language: �After fulfilling all other provisions for my heirs, I give and
bequeath ___% of what remains of my estate (or $___) to the Gulf Coast Bird
Observatory (Tax ID #76-0553113), a charitable corporation currently having
offices at 103 West Hwy 332, Lake Jackson, TX 77566.
- Multi-year Pledge:
paying a gift over a term of years.
This allows an individual, foundation, or company to make a substantial
donation within a longer time frame (a pledge). Pledges may be fulfilled in
monthly, or one-year increments (up to five years) depending on initial
signed and dated pledge form. Annual gifts are tax deductible to the extent
allowed by federal law as long as no goods are services are provided in
return for the contribution. A Pledge Form is
available from the GCBO office.
- Stocks,
options, bonds, or mutual funds
may be donated directly to the GCBO office as Certificates, or they may be
deposited electronically into the GCBO securities account. A special bank
account has been designed specifically for the purpose of electronic transfer of
assets. Information concerning asset transfer is available by calling the GCBO
office.
--Giving depreciated assets.
If for example, stocks or bonds have decreased in value, one may want to
consider selling them and giving the cash proceeds to GCBO; depending upon an
individual�s tax structure, the donor may be able to deduct the loss and the
gift.
--Giving appreciated
assets. If one
donates appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual funds; depending upon that
individual�s tax structure, the donor may be able to deduct the fair market
value of the asset and avoid capital gains tax.
The
above information does not constitute financial advice. All donors are advised
to consult their personal financial planner and/or accountant before making a
substantial gift.
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