Ways to Give

When you join our life-saving team of monthly donors, you join a committed group of people who care deeply about the health and well-being of our ocean and Great Lakes. Your support helps us sustain critical efforts throughout the year that benefit sanctuaries and monuments, as well as the communities and species that depend on them.

Here are examples of how your support can make a difference.

$5/ month- Could support the purchase of educational tools and supplies for the Ocean Guardian Schools program, a project that engages young students about the importance of keeping our ocean and Great Lakes healthy

$10/ month- Could pay for kayak rentals for volunteers to assist in removing debris from the remote shorelines of Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. This support comes through the Foundation program, Goal: Clean Seas: Channel Islands  

$15/ month- Could fund a partial sponsorship for divers to remove traps, derelict gear, and other debris that are causing damage to delicate coral reef ecosystems in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary through Goal Clean Seas: Florida Keys  

$25/ month- Could defray the costs to purchase critical safety equipment for whale entanglement rescue missions across several sanctuaries

$50/ month- Could offset costs for Blue Star dive operators to participate in stewardship activities for Mission: Iconic Reefs, a coral restoration program in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary that works to preserve and protect critical marine ecosystems.

$100/ month- Could cover the cost for a commercial fishermen to participate in integral gear innovations testing to reduce whale entanglements across various sanctuaries.

A Tribute Gift recognizes someone dear to you, whether memorializing the passing of an individual or celebrating a special occasion.

When you make a Tribute Gift to the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, you may select to notify the person you are honoring about your gift with a ecard. Your gift on their behalf allows us to help protect America’s ocean and Great Lakes sanctuaries, as well as the species that call them home.

Manage your charitable giving simply and efficiently with a donor advised fund (DAF).

With a DAF, charitably inclined individuals, families, and businesses make an irrevocable gift to a public charity that sponsors a donor-advised fund program, and may take an immediate tax deduction. Donors can then recommend grants over time to IRS-qualified 501(c)(3) public charities. DAFs also allow donors to approach their charitable giving thoughtfully by involving other family members or colleagues in their philanthropic decisions. Most DAFs accept donations of long-term appreciated securities and other assets, and donors can advise how the funds are invested, which could potentially allow tax-free growth.

Please consider recommending the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation as an organization to support through your donor advised fund. If you have a Donor Advised Fund at Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, or BNY Mellon, recommending a grant for the Foundation is now easier than ever.  Follow the below link to quickly recommend a grant while straight from this website. Neither you nor the Foundation will incur transaction fees. If you have questions, please contact us at development@marinesanctuary.org.

Make a donation conveniently through workplace giving, or increase your impact with employer matching gifts.

The Foundation is a proud participant of the Combined Federal Campaign, the world’s largest annual workplace charity campaign. Use charity #10762 to designate your gift to the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

If you would like a Foundation representative to present or host a table at your upcoming charity fair, please email event details to development@marinesanctuary.org

Did you know many companies offer a matching gift program to encourage philanthropy among their employees?  And that some companies will even match to gifts made by spouses, retirees, and for volunteer hours?

By simply completing a matching gift form (online or paper), you may be able to double, or even triple, the impact of your gift. Contributions of any amount help us protect, conserve, and create more of these special places.

Follow this link to see if your employer participates in a matching gift program.

A gift of stock to the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation allows us to support sanctuaries and marine monuments in their goal to protect essential U.S. waters and to ensure a healthy ocean and Great Lakes. Gifts of stock allow donors to bypass capital gains taxes and receive a charitable tax deduction. Please consult with a tax professional as to the amount that may be tax deductible for you.

It is the Foundation’s policy to sell the stock or security upon receipt. Per the IRS, the Foundation establishes the value of the stock by calculating the mean average price on the date ownership is transferred.

Before making such a gift, it is important to discuss your planned contribution with your financial advisor. Contact development@marinesanctuary.org for questions and information on making a transfer. Please notify the Foundation in advance of any transfer so that you will be properly credited for your gift.

Including the Foundation in your will or trust is a meaningful way to conserve our protected waters for generations to come.

Ways You Can Give Through a Will or Trust:

1. Leave a specific dollar amount or asset to the Foundation.

2. Designate a percentage of your estate to be given through your will or living trust.

3. Give the remainder, or residue, of your estate, or that which remains after bequests to loved ones have been made.

The following is an example of suggested language to include in your will/trust:

“I give and bequeath to the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, a non-profit corporation (EIN #94-3370994), with principal offices currently located at 8455 Colesville Road, Suite 1275, Silver Spring, MD 20910, <the sum of $xxx , or xx% of my estate>, to be used for the accomplishment of its general purpose <or for a specific purpose as indicated>”.

Help keep the world you love healthy for future generations by making a gift through your will or retirement account. For more information, or to pledge a gift, please contact development@marinesanctuary.org

If you already included the Foundation in a bequest or other planned gift, we hope you will let us know. Your willingness to be listed as a member of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Legacy Society encourages others to follow your example. We acknowledge and respect those who wish to remain anonymous, but we urge you to let us know of your plans on a confidential basis.