Donation FAQ

Donations: Frequently Asked Questions

 
  1. Is your donation page secure?
  2. What is NepRWA's EIN or Tax Id number?
  3. Are donations tax-deductible?
  4. Will I receive a receipt for my tax records?
  5. Can I donate by mail?
  6. Can I donate by phone?
  7. What are your membership levels?
  8. What is the Neponset Society?
  9. What benefits do members receive?
  10. Do you have a corporate membership program?
  11. How do I cancel or change my automatic monthly contribution?
  12. Do you accept in-kind donations of "things" as well as money?
  13. Can I give a gift membership?
  14. Can I make a memorial gift?
  15. Can I donate stock or securities?
  16. Can I donate directly from my IRA?
  17. Do you accept bequests?
  18. Can I donate real estate or conservation easements?
  19. Can I direct my gift to a specific purpose?
  20. Can I contribute toward an endowment?
  21. Can I donate anonymously?
 

Don't see your answer? Ask us at 781-575-0354 or staff@neponset.org.

 

    1. Is your donation page secure?

      Yes. Our donation page is hosted securely. Processing is handled by our industry-leading partners, stripe.com and PayPal.  To top. To donate page.
 

    1. What is NepRWA's EIN or Tax Id number?

      For security reasons, we do not post our EIN on the website. If you need our EIN, send an email to staff@neponset.org and we'll be happy to send it to you offline. To top. To donate page.
 

    1. Are donations tax-deductible?

      Yes. NepRWA is recognized by the IRS as 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. All membership gifts and donations are fully tax-deductible. Note that under federal law, items such as Annual Meeting tickets, raffle tickets and special event admission fees for which the donor receives a benefit in return may not be fully tax-deductible. To top. To donate page.
 

    1. Will I receive a receipt for my tax records?

      Yes. We acknowledge all donations with a thank you note that includes all the information needed for your tax records. Thank you notes are sent via US mail. For recurring donors we send an initial acknowledgement and a statement for tax purposes in January summarizing the previous year's gifts. To top. To donate page.
 

    1. Can I donate by mail?

      Absolutely. Make checks payable to "NepRWA" and mail to 2173 Washington Street, Canton MA, 02021. To top. To donate page.
 

    1. Can I donate by phone?

      Yes. We can accept credit card donations over the phone. Call us at 781-575-0354 and ask for NepRWA Office Manager, Rebecca Weiss, (x324) or NepRWA Executive Director, Ian Cooke, (x305). However, for security reasons, do not leave credit card information on our voicemail system. To top. To donate page.
 

    1. What are your membership levels?

      Donations of any amount are always welcome. Basic membership dues for a family or individual begin at $48 and include $72 Friend, $120 Supporter, $252 advocate, and $504+ Neponset Society levels. To top. To donate page.
 

    1. What is the Neponset Society?

      Neponset Society members are our most generous supporters -- those whose gifts total $500 or more per calendar year. Support from our Neponset Society members has a particularly significant impact on our programs and the health of the watershed. To top. To donate page.
 

    1. What benefits do members receive?

      In addition to supporting watershed protection, your member dues or contribution keeps you informed and engaged with your watershed community. You will receive our printed newsletter "News from the Neponset" which is filled with informative articles and thought-provoking discussion. You also will receive a copy of our annual report which recognizes our donors and volunteers. You'll receive special invitations to member presentations, canoe trips, our Annual Meeting and other fun activities. You'll be subscribed to our email updates with late-breaking news. You'll receive an attractive NepRWA window decal and our unique paddler's guide map featuring river access, open spaces and trails. Finally, NepRWA members have the privilege of electing the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting. Additional benefits apply at the Neponset Society level. To top. To donate page.
 

    1. Do you have a corporate / business membership program?

      Yes. Support from members of the business community is always welcome. Some businesses prefer to provide annual support through our corporate membership program, while others prefer to sponsor specific events or make targeted grants to specific program activities. Small business memberships start at $150 per year. Neponset Society Business Memberships include the following levels: $500 Sponsor, $1,000 Patron, $2,500 Benefactor and $5,000 Founder. All Corporate members receive a Member Certificate and recognition in our newsletter and annual report. Neponset Society Corporate members receive a framed watershed print and are recognized in every newsletter and on the website with a link. The general online donation form can be used to submit corporate donations. Please indicate the company name and any special instructions (such as additional newsletter recipients) in the comments field. To discuss the corporate membership program, event sponsorship opportunities, or funding for a particular project, please contact Executive Director, Ian Cooke at 781-575-0354 x305 or cooke@neponset.org. To top. To donate page.
 

    1. How do I cancel or change my automatic monthly contribution?

      Simply contact us at 781-575-0354 or staff@neponset.org, and we can immediately cancel, refund, reduce or increase the amount of your monthly credit card or PayPal donation. If you donated by PayPal, you also can login to your PayPal account and edit the "Pre-approved Payments" in your profile page. To top. To donate page.
 

    1. Do you accept in-kind donations of "things" as well as money?

      It depends. In general, we are not set up to accept and resell in-kind donations of goods or "things." However, from time to time, a donation of goods can be very helpful. Items that may be useful for our operations include office equipment, office supplies, scientific instruments, canoes, waders and the like. Also, under some circumstances, it may make sense for NepRWA to accept a donation of an item that would be resold or auctioned to raise funds. If you have an idea for an in-kind donation, please contact us at 781-575-0354 or staff@neponset.org. To top. To donate page.
 

    1. Can I give a gift membership?

      Yes. The recipient of your gift membership will receive a letter announcing your gift and will be subscribed to our newsletter and other member benefits for a full year. The donor (you) will receive a thank you and tax receipt for the donation. To submit a gift membership using our online donation form, please add the gift membership information in the comments portion of the form. To top. To donate page.
 

    1. Can I make a memorial gift?

      Yes. All memorial gift donors will receive a thank you and tax receipt. If appropriate, we also will notify family members of the deceased of your gift. To submit a memorial gift using our online donation form, simply add the memorial information in the comments portion of the form. To top. To donate page.
 

    1. Can I donate stock or securities?

      Yes. Donations of appreciated stock or securities can provide significant tax benefits for the donor and are always welcome. Donated stock is not subject to capital gains taxes and is deductible at its full pre-tax value for income tax purposes. To arrange a gift of stock or securities, please contact Ian Cooke, Executive Director at 781-575-0354x305 or cooke@neponset.org, or instruct your broker to contact us. To top. To donate page.
 

    1. Can I donate directly from my IRA?

      Yes. If you are aged 70.5 or older, special federal legislation allows you to transfer up to $100,000 from an IRA to NepRWA, tax-free. Donated funds count toward your required minimum distributions and are not subject to federal tax (however, they are not deductible on your income taxes). This provision of the tax code seems to be regularly scheduled to expire and is then renewed at the last moment, so check on the status of this provision to ensure it remains in effect. To initiate such a donation, please contact the firm that administers your IRA, and feel free to contact Ian Cooke, Executive Director, at 781-575-0354 x305 or cooke@neponset.org if you have any questions. To top. To donate page.
 

    1. Do you accept bequests?

      Yes. NepRWA would be honored to be included in your estate plans. Donations through a bequest can include cash, securities, specific objects or even real estate. If you would like to discuss how to arrange a bequest, please contact Ian Cooke, Executive Director, at 781-575-0354 x305 or cooke@neponset.org. It is especially beneficial to discuss your bequest with NepRWA beforehand if you are considering a bequest that would be restricted to a specific program or purpose, or if you are considering a bequest of an asset other than cash or securities. To top. To donate page.
 

    1. Can I donate real estate or conservation easements?

      Yes. NepRWA can accept donations of real estate, public access easements or conservation restrictions. Such donations can be intended either for conservation purposes such as parkland, operational use such as office space, to be sold to generate revenue, or a combination of these. In many cases there are substantial tax benefits associated with donating real estate or conservation easements. If a donation of real estate might make sense for you, please contact Ian Cooke, Executive Director, at 781-575-0354 x305 or cooke@neponset.org to discuss the possibilities. To top. To donate page.
 

    1. Can I direct my gift to a specific purpose?

      Yes. Donations to NepRWA can be directed to a specific project or purpose such as water quality, habitat restoration, education programs, or underwriting an internship or fellowship. Because any restrictions you place on your gift are permanent and legally binding, we encourage donors to contact us before making a restricted donation. Please contact Ian Cooke, Executive Director, at 781-575-0354 x305 or cooke@neponset.org for more information. To top. To donate page.
 

    1. Can I contribute toward an endowment?

      Yes. NepRWA holds a modest endowment, known as the "Founder's Endowment" that was created several years ago in recognition of Elizabeth Houghton and Ruth and Waldo Holcombe. The purpose of the Founder's Endowment is to ensure the long-term continuation of the outreach, education and advocacy work begun by the Neponset River Watershed Association's first generation of leaders. Additional donations toward the Founder's Endowment are gratefully accepted. Funds contributed to the Founders Endowment are considered "permanently restricted." By law, the initial contributions to the Founder's Endowment are set aside in perpetuity to be invested under the direction of NepRWA's Finance Committee. Only the resulting income is used to fund programs consistent with the purposes of the endowment. To top. To donate page.
 

    1. Can I donate anonymously?

      Yes. If you would prefer to have your gift treated anonymously, just let us know, by adding instructions to the notes field of the online donation form, by calling 781-575-0354, or by sending a message to staff@neponset.org. We will list your gift as "Anonymous" in all of our publications and on our tax return (if applicable). Once a donor indicates that she or he wishes to be anonymous, we will continue to honor that request for all gifts until we are instructed otherwise. To top. To donate page.
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